Housing Options Officer

Reed Specialist Recruitment; London Borough of Islington; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

Reed Specialist Recruitment is seeking a Housing Options Officer on a 3-month temporary contract in Central London. The role is hybrid, with three days in the office and two from home, within the Department of Community and Children's Services - People's Directorate.

You will assess homelessness cases, draft Personal Housing Plans, and coordinate with agencies to prevent homelessness while adhering to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

Qualifications

• Degree related to housing or equivalent
• Experience in housing sector
• Knowledge of housing legislation and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• Experience in statutory homelessness sector with focus on reducing homelessness
• Proven communication skills with stakeholders
• Analytical skills to monitor data and measure initiatives
• Experience with case managing homelessness applications on software systems

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive housing advice service by maintaining an accurate information database to prevent homelessness
• Assess and implement the City’s housing duty to households presenting as homeless or threatened with homelessness
• Ensure prevention and relief duties align with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• Lead on drafting and delivering Personal Housing Plans
• Conduct sensitive interviews to identify the most appropriate response to housing needs
• Arrange temporary accommodation and manage charging and payment mechanisms
• Visit applicants in temporary accommodation and liaise with accommodation managers
• 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 checks to prevent fraudulent applications

Skills

Degree holder

Housing exp

Housing legislation

Homelessness exp

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Case management

Education

Degree level 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.