Housing Options Officer

Reed Specialist Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed Specialist Recruitment seeks a Housing Options Officer for a temporary 3-month contract in Central London. The role is hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days from home) within the Department of Community and Children's Services, People’s Directorate, delivering housing advice and homelessness prevention services.

You will assess housing needs, implement duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and draft Personal Housing Plans while liaising with agencies and benefits services.

Qualifications

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience and training relevant to the housing sector.
• Detailed technical knowledge of Housing legislation, including Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Experience in the Statutory Homelessness sector with a focus on reducing homelessness and rough sleeping.
• Proven communication skills, capable of engaging with a variety of stakeholders.
• Analytical skills with the ability to monitor data-collection methods to support and measure initiatives.
• Experience of case managing homelessness applications on dedicated software systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive housing advice service by maintaining an accurate database of information to effectively prevent homelessness.
• Assess and implement the City's housing duty to all households presenting as homeless or threatened with homelessness.
• Ensure prevention and relief duties are undertaken in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Lead on and assist with the drafting and delivery of Personal Housing Plans.
• Conduct sensitive interviews to identify the most appropriate response to the housing needs of individual households.
• Make arrangements for homeless persons to be placed in temporary accommodation and ensure appropriate charging and payment mechanisms are operated.
• Visit applicants in temporary accommodation and liaise with accommodation managers to ensure standards are met.
• Provide information and liaise with internal and external agencies to assist with benefits and welfare services.
• Assess applicants' housing needs and respond to enquiries, ensuring comprehensive checks are made to prevent fraudulent applications.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Data monitoring

Case management

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

Housing Options Officer

Contract Type: Temporary (3-month contract)

Location: Central London

Salary: £35.25 per hour (umbrella)

Job Type: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days from home)

We are currently seeking a Housing Options Officer on a temporary basis. This role is based within the Department of Community and Children's Services - People's Directorate and is crucial in providing a comprehensive advisory and assessment service for housing or homelessness assistance in Central London.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Provide a comprehensive housing advice service by maintaining an accurate database of information to effectively prevent homelessness.
• Assess and implement the City's housing duty to all households presenting as homeless or threatened with homelessness.
• Ensure prevention and relief duties are undertaken in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Lead on and assist with the drafting and delivery of Personal Housing Plans.
• Conduct sensitive interviews to identify the most appropriate response to the housing needs of individual households.
• Make arrangements for homeless persons to be placed in temporary accommodation and ensure appropriate charging and payment mechanisms are operated.
• Visit applicants in temporary accommodation and liaise with accommodation managers to ensure standards are met.
• Provide information and liaise with internal and external agencies to assist with benefits and welfare services.
• Assess applicants' housing needs and respond to enquiries, ensuring comprehensive checks are made to prevent fraudulent applications.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience and training relevant to the housing sector.
• Detailed technical knowledge of relevant Housing legislation, including Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Experience in the Statutory Homelessness sector with a focus on reducing homelessness and rough sleeping.
• Proven communication skills, capable of engaging with a variety of stakeholders.
• Analytical skills with the ability to monitor data-collection methods to support and measure initiatives.
• Experience of case managing homelessness applications on dedicated software systems.