Housing Options Advisor

North Northamptonshire Council; Kettering; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing support

Hybrid and flexible working

Generous leave 28–33 days

Pension scheme

Competitive salary

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking a Senior Housing Options Advisor to lead a team of Housing Options Advisers within the Housing Advice and Options Service and single homelessness service. You will oversee complex cases and drive prevention initiatives to improve outcomes for residents at risk of homelessness.

Based across service locations with office-based duties, you will shape service delivery, deliver high-quality advice, and promote best practice while managing workload, training

Qualifications

• Holds a minimum of 5 GCSEs, grade A-C, or equivalent.
• CIH Level 4 Diploma or equivalent housing qualification.
• Experience at a senior officer level within local authorities, housing associations or voluntary organisations.
• Extensive knowledge of Part 7 Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Experience in a housing options / homelessness service.
• Experience handling complex cases and providing creative housing solutions for vulnerable individuals and families.
• Good understanding of causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day triage and casework for homelessness and housing advice.
• Supervise and develop a team of Housing Options Advisers.
• Allocate and monitor workloads to ensure timely support.
• Manage a personal caseload of complex homelessness cases.
• Coach and develop staff to maintain service standards.
• Support homelessness prevention initiatives and private rented sector solutions.
• Monitor team performance against KPIs and targets.
• Build relationships with internal teams and external partners.
• Assist with budget monitoring and financial records.
• Identify opportunities for service improvement and policies.
• Provide cover for Senior Housing Options Advisers and chair meetings.

Skills

GCSEs A-C

CIH Level 4 Diploma

Senior officer experience

Part 7 Housing Act 1996 knowledge

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

Housing options service experience

Creative housing solutions

Report writing

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Time management

IT skills

Driving licence

Education

CIH Level 4 Diploma

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Making a difference through prevention, partnership and positive housing solutions. Are you passionate about preventing homelessness and supporting people to achieve sustainable housing outcomes? We are looking for a dedicated Senior Housing Options Advisor to join our Housing Advice and Options Service and single homelessness service, leading and supporting a team of Housing Options Advisers to deliver high-quality, customer-focused housing advice and homelessness services across North Northamptonshire. In this rewarding role, you will supervise a team Housing Options Advisor, providing leadership, guidance and support to ensure the delivery of a high-quality service Working collaboratively with internal and external partners, you will drive positive outcomes for residents at risk of homelessness, while also leading the development and implementation of homelessness prevention tools, initiatives and innovative approaches that strengthen early intervention and help reduce the incidence of homelessness across the area. Senior Housing Options Advisors will be primarily office-based and will work collaboratively to ensure consistent management cover across all service locations. This will require a flexible approach to attendance and visibility across sites, supporting colleagues, maintaining service resilience, and ensuring residents receive a high-quality and responsive service regardless of location. Working closely with Team Leaders, you will play a key role in shaping and improving service delivery, helping to develop effective prevention strategies and ensuring the highest standards of customer care are maintained. No two days are the same in this rewarding and fast-paced role. As a Senior Housing Options Advisor, you will lead and inspire a team of Housing Options Advisors, providing expert guidance on complex homelessness cases and supporting colleagues to achieve the best possible outcomes for residents. You will play a key role in tackling homelessness across North Northamptonshire, working closely with internal services and external partners to identify innovative housing solutions and deliver effective prevention and relief interventions. Alongside overseeing performance and managing a small caseload of complex cases, you will help shape and improve services by driving forward new prevention initiatives, developing staff, and promoting best practice. This is an opportunity to make a real difference, influencing service delivery while ensuring residents receive high-quality, compassionate and legally compliant support at some of the most challenging times in their lives.

Responsibilities

• Managing the day-to-day operation of triage and casework functions, ensuring high-quality, compliant homelessness and housing advice services.
• Supervising, supporting and developing a team of Housing Options Advisers, providing guidance on complex and challenging cases.
• Allocating and monitoring workloads to ensure cases are managed effectively and customers receive timely support.
• Managing a personal caseload of complex homelessness cases, including those requiring safeguarding and multi‑agency intervention.
• Coaching, mentoring and identifying development opportunities for team members to maintain excellent service standards.
• Supporting homelessness prevention initiatives, helping customers access practical housing solutions, including the private rented sector.
• Monitoring team performance, service outcomes and case quality against key performance indicators and targets.
• Building strong relationships with internal teams and external partners to prevent and relieve homelessness and protect vulnerable individuals.
• Assisting with budget monitoring and maintaining accurate financial records relating to service expenditure.
• Identifying opportunities for service improvement and helping to develop new policies, processes and best practice.
• Providing cover for fellow Senior Housing Options Advisers and deputising for Team Leaders when required, including chairing meetings and coordinating team activities.

Values

• Customer-focused
• Respectful
• Efficient
• Supportive
• Trustworthy

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

Qualifications

• Hold a minimum of 5 GCSE's grade A-C, a relevant housing qualification (CIH Level 4 Diploma or equivalent) or show an equivalent capability.
• Demonstratable experience at a senior officer level (or similar) within a local authority, housing association or voluntary organisation.
• Extensive knowledge of Part 7 Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and related legislation, guidance and caselaw.
• Experience of working in a housing options / homelessness service.
• Experience of handling complex cases and providing creative housing solutions for vulnerable individuals and families.
• A good understanding and knowledge of the main causes of homelessness and rough sleeping, and the barriers that people face when trying to access accommodation and support services.
• Able to produce clear, concise and persuasive written reports on complex issues and interpret statistical information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the emotional resilience to deal effectively with complex circumstances surrounding vulnerable people.
• A skilled problem‑solver and negotiator with the ability to develop practical and creative housing solutions with an organised and imaginative approach to work and the ability to manage difficult and sensitive situations.
• Ability to work well under pressure, on own initiative, and manage and prioritise own workload and team members when needed.
• Effectively work with others to achieve a positive outcome by being proactive and solution focused.
• IT and keyboard skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office and maintain accurate records and case files.
• Ability to form and develop professional and effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and service users and work effectively and enthusiastically as part of a team.
• Ability to manage a varied, complex caseload, and remain focussed on performance and outcomes.
• Willing to work outside normal office hours as necessary.
• This post will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
• Full driving licence and access to own transport for work purposes.

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.
• Competitive salary.
• A pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill‑health protection.
• Opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council.
• Generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.