Housing Options Officer

W4mp; Cherwell District; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted gym membership

Incremental pay award (April)

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Cherwell District Council is recruiting Housing Options Officers to join the Housing Services Team. The role focuses on preventing homelessness, assisting households at risk, and securing sustainable housing outcomes.

You will conduct homelessness casework, liaise with partners, and manage your own caseload to deliver an excellent housing options service. The position offers 37 hours per week, agile working, and a fixed term 12-month contract, with benefits including generous leave, pension

Qualifications

• CIH Level 3 qualification or significant recent housing experience.
• Proven experience with customers and casework.
• Understanding of homelessness legislation and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Responsibilities

• Carry out homelessness casework and determine housing outcomes.
• Liaise with partners and other parties involved in the case.
• Manage own caseload and meet deadlines within the Housing Options Team.
• Deliver an excellent housing options service to customers.

Skills

CIH Level 3

Communication skills

Negotiation

Teamwork

Casework management

Education

CIH Level 3 Qualification

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

37 hours per week, Agile working supported, Fixed Term – 12 month contract

The Job:

Cherwell District Council are currently looking to recruit additional Housing Options Officers to join our Housing Services Team.

This rewarding role offers opportunities to help our most vulnerable customers and those facing the most difficult housing situations. You will work to prevent homelessness by assisting households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to retain their accommodation or source a new sustainable housing outcome.

You will carry out homelessness casework, investigating the reasons and circumstances relating to a households homelessness. You will liaise with partners and other parties involved in the case directly and issue decisions based on your inquiries. You will manage your own caseload and you will work within our wider Housing Options Team, working hard to deliver an excellent housing options service to customers.

The Person:

We are looking for someone that has:

• CIH Level 3 Qualification and/or significant recent experience in a housing role, preferably in housing options
• A good understanding and awareness of housing issues and issues affecting homelessness
• Knowledge of housing and homelessness legislation including the requirements of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• Proven experience of working with customers
• Experience of interviewing and/or providing advice to people in difficult personal situations
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate both verbally and written
• An ability to negotiate and be confident and assertive when managing cases and working with partners or other stakeholders
• An ability to work effectively as part of a team
• An ability to manage your own caseload effectively to meet deadlines.

The Benefits:

The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We offer agile working and staff work from home and in the office to suit the business need. Other benefits include

• A generous annual leave entitlement (27 days + bank holidays)
• Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Incremental pay award (awarded annually in April after one years’ service)
• An employee assistance programme

Interview date: Friday 23 rd October 2026

For more information please contact Jayne Allsop – Senior Housing Options Officer on 01295 227976.

Cherwell District Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults