Housing Options Officer

Service Care Solutions Ltd; East Kilbride; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Service Care Solutions Ltd is recruiting a Housing Options Officer to join Medway's Strategic Housing team. You will deliver frontline housing advice, prevent homelessness, and handle statutory homelessness casework to secure suitable housing solutions for residents.

The role requires experience in homelessness prevention, housing options, and partnership-working with landlords and social care. Hybrid working pattern, full-time hours, and a focus on customer welfare.

Qualifications

• Proven experience within homelessness prevention, housing options or statutory homelessness casework.
• Strong knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and related homelessness guidance.
• Experience completing housing needs and affordability assessments and Personal Housing Plans.
• Confident communicating with vulnerable customers in difficult circumstances.
• Excellent case management, written communication and partnership-working skills.

Responsibilities

• Delivering housing options advice to customers at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
• Completing homelessness assessments in line with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Producing and monitoring Personal Housing Plans, taking reasonable steps to prevent and relieve homelessness.
• Managing a complex caseload, including investigations and recommendations on duties owed.
• Preparing Section 184 decision letters within required timescales.
• Supporting customers to access social housing, private rented accommodation, and other options.
• Completing affordability, welfare benefit and basic financial assessments, with referrals for debt/bens.
• Working with landlords, Registered Providers, Social Care, health professionals and voluntary agencies.
• Supporting households in temporary accommodation and move-on planning.
• Maintaining accurate case records and GDPR compliance.
• Responding to safeguarding concerns and other vulnerabilities.

Skills

Homelessness prevention

Housing options

Statutory housing

Vulnerable customers comms

Case management

Job description

Job Title: Housing Options Officer

Location: Chatham Kent

Contract: Temporary, 3 months

Pay: £21.54 per hour LTD

Working Pattern: Full-time, Monday to Friday

Working Style: Hybrid

Service Care Solutions are recruiting for a Housing Options Officer to join a busy Strategic Housing team in Medway. You will provide frontline housing advice, homelessness prevention and statutory homelessness casework, supporting residents to secure suitable and sustainable housing solutions.

Key responsibilities

• Delivering housing options advice to customers at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.


• Completing homelessness assessments in line with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.


• Producing and monitoring Personal Housing Plans, taking reasonable steps to prevent and relieve homelessness.


• Managing a complex caseload, including carrying out investigations and making recommendations on the duties owed.


• Preparing clear, legally robust Section 184 decision letters within required timescales.


• Supporting customers to access social housing, private rented accommodation, supported housing and other appropriate housing options.


• Completing affordability, welfare benefit and basic financial assessments, alongside referrals for debt, benefits and specialist support.


• Working closely with landlords, Registered Providers, Social Care, health professionals and voluntary agencies to achieve positive outcomes.


• Supporting households in temporary accommodation and helping to minimise length of stay through effective move-on work.


• Maintaining accurate case records and documentation, ensuring GDPR compliance and accurate HCLIC reporting.


• Responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns, domestic abuse and other vulnerabilities.

Essential requirements

• Proven experience within homelessness prevention, housing options or statutory homelessness casework.


• Strong working knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and relevant homelessness guidance.


• Experience completing housing needs and affordability assessments, Personal Housing Plans and homelessness decisions.


• Confident communicating with vulnerable customers in difficult or stressful circumstances.


• Excellent case management, written communication and partnership-working skills.