Housing Options Advisor – Prevent Homelessness & Secure Homes

Leeds International; Leeds; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Leeds City Council is seeking a Housing Adviser to join the statutory homeless service at Merrion House in Leeds. You will manage a caseload, assess housing need, and help secure suitable temporary and longer-term accommodation for applicants.

Working in a fast-paced, customer‑focussed team, you’ll engage with partners, deliver a housing options service, and contribute to prevention initiatives while following legal and safeguarding requirements.

Qualifications

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas.
• Demonstrate problem solving and social skills required to provide a housing options service.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to use ICT applications including Word and email and to be able to word process reports.
• Ability to extract and analyse information from ICT systems.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a face to face housing options service, in accordance with Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act (as amended) to people who are homeless, threatened with homelessness or in some housing need, at a variety of locations including the Leeds Housing Options Service at Merrion House.
• Deliver a telephone based, or using other mediums such as email, housing options service.
• Take responsibility for caseload of homeless and housing need cases.
• Carry out homeless and other additional need assessments in accordance with Part VI and Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act (as amended)
• Write homeless decision letters in accordance with the legal framework.
• Liaise with supported housing and other temporary accommodation providers to secure suitable temporary accommodation for people owed such a housing duty.
• Help people to secure private rented options through the Private Sector Lettings scheme and through other routes such as requesting a Homeless Prevention Fund payment.
• Prepare Homeless Prevention Fund applications as required.
• Assist service managers in the quality assurance of service delivery by providing case work information held in case files or IT systems, decision letters and financial payments.
• Help develop partnering arrangements between the Leeds Housing Options Service and other public, private and third sector organisations.
• Work flexibly to help deliver an effective Housing Options Service.
• Attend meetings and forums as required relating to the delivery of the Housing Options Service.
• Undertake any other duties as required commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Skills

Flexible working

Problem solving

Clear communication

ICT skills

Data analysis

Team work

Partnership working

Needs identification

Safeguarding awareness

Handling challenging behaviour

Job description

Leeds City Council is seeking a Housing Adviser to join the statutory homeless service at Merrion House in Leeds. You will manage a caseload, assess housing need, and help secure suitable temporary and longer-term accommodation for applicants.

Working in a fast-paced, customer‑focussed team, you’ll engage with partners, deliver a housing options service, and contribute to prevention initiatives while following legal and safeguarding requirements.