Housing Officer - Temporary Accommodation

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a dedicated housing options professional to join the Safer Communities team. The role focuses on preventing homelessness, supporting tenancy sustainment, and managing temporary accommodation, including Bed and Breakfast options, sign-ups, and property readiness.

You will work with vulnerable clients, coordinate with partners, and manage practical tasks such as furniture replenishment and utility connections, while maintaining strong partnerships

Qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage workload.
• Ability to build partnerships with residents and external partners.
• Friendly, practical, and organised approach to housing support tasks.

Responsibilities

• Manage temporary accommodation properties and ensure standards for Temporary Accommodation.
• Conduct tenancy signups and address tenancy-related matters.
• Support customers to settle in, manage tenancy, and move to permanent housing.
• Oversee furniture replenishment, stock inventory and prepare properties to relet.
• Coordinate with contractors to minimise void times and ensure utilities are connected.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Organised

Education

Further education in housing/social care

Job description

Position reference: 50145589

Directorate:Place| Service:Safer Communities

Working Arrangements :Monday to Friday

Contract type: Permanent

We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch .

The successful candidate will be required to speak English to an appropriate standard.

This post requires a Basic Criminal Record Check

Prospective employees will be required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time living abroad.

Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.

At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.

We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.

There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent safer communitiesteam as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.

• We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
• Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
• If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
• We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
• Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.

About the Post:

One of the main functions of the Housing Options Team is the the prevention of homelessness, rough sleeping and tenancy sustainment. Key areas of work for the team include:

· Promoting an early intervention and prevention service to reduce homelessness and rough sleeping

· Supporting people to stay in their own home, move in a managed way or resettle after a period of instability

· Working closely with partners to address the underlying causes of homelessness and address wider support needs

A key part of achieving this vision is the development of a range of temporary accommodation options. This post will be directly involved in the management of a number of temporary accommodation properties, ensuring that they meet the standards required to be used as Temporary Accommodation. There will also be aspects of providing direct support to those in these properties as well as in other temporary accommodation, including Bed and Breakfast and hotels. This will include tenancy sign ups, dealing with a range of tenancy related matters, supporting the customers both to settle in, manage the tenancy and move on to more permanent housing. You will also be involved in the more practical elements, such as furniture replenishment, stock inventory, getting properties ready to relet, ensuring utilities are connected and liaising with contractors to ensure void times are minimised.

We are therefore seeking a highly motivated, practical and organised individual to undertake this role. You will have strong commination skills and interpersonal skills, have the ability to manage a challenging workload under pressure to tight deadlines, be able to use your own initiative demonstrating skills in work prioritisation and time management. Strong partnership working will also be essential to achieving sustainable outcomes.

The role will involve working with a range of customers, some of who are vulnerable, complex and in crisis. To do this effectively you will have experience of identifying risk and contributing to the support planning processes. To do this effectively will require the use of a range of appropriate questioning techniques and listening skills, while demonstrating empathy and building trust. A flexible approach to work including elements of home visiting, and lone working will be required

We’re committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.

At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances