Housing Options Officer (Domestic Abuse)

Lancaster City Council; Lancaster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking an enthusiastic individual to join their Housing Options Team. The role involves providing support and advice to households facing domestic abuse, assisting clients in accessing housing solutions, and fostering relationships with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills and a commitment to customer care. A knowledge of housing legislation is desirable, with a full training package provided.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Discounts on retail and activities

Qualifications

• Experience in domestic abuse or housing support preferable, but not essential.
• Good understanding of welfare rights and debt counselling is advantageous.
• Excellent command of written English required.

Responsibilities

• Provide first point of contact for clients and agencies.
• Assist clients in maintaining accommodation or accessing private rented sector.
• Monitor temporary accommodation and assist in transitions to permanent housing.

Skills

Customer care

Communication

Organisational skills

Housing knowledge

Tools

IT proficiency

Job description

The Role

An excellent opportunity has arisen within the City Council’s Health and Housing Service to join the busy Housing Options Team to support households subject to domestic abuse. Applicants are sought.

Ideally with some previous experience of working within a domestic abuse organisation but not essential and/or persons having experience of a wide range of Welfare Rights and/or debt counselling work and/or providing support to vulnerable people with housing and other complex issues. Your role will involve providing the first point of contact for clients and agencies contacting the Housing Options Team.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, organised and motivated person who responds well to working in a pressurised environment, who can work to deadlines and targets and who can demonstrate a real commitment to providing excellent customer care and top‑quality service.

You will be a member of a busy team responsible for working with and supporting clients to either maintain existing accommodation or access the private rented sector. You will also assist clients to explore the full range of housing options available through the Housing Options team in order to prevent homelessness. You will be required to provide outreach drop‑in sessions in the community as and when required to enhance access to the service.

In addition to providing advice to members of the public on housing options, you will have a key role in monitoring the authority’s temporary accommodation and assisting move on from temporary accommodation to more permanent housing.

You will have the ability to establish good working relationships with Private Rented Sector Landlords, Registered Providers of Social Housing, local stakeholders and Council Officers. A good understanding of the Homelessness legislation and housing issues is desirable. You will be a proficient IT user with an excellent command of written English, as well as an experienced communicator with a background of working within an organisation responsible for assessing housing need. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced CRB clearance.

About You

You will identify with our organisational values of Pride, Ownership, Working Together and Ambition.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave allowance
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A range of employee benefits including discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme, the opportunity to purchase extra time off, as well as discounts on days out, activities and retail.
• Lancaster City Council has unanimously declared a climate emergency and will therefore work towards reducing carbon emissions to net‑zero by 2030. As part of this role, you will be expected to participate and work towards reducing both carbon emissions and the impacts of climate change.

We are an Investor in People, Forces Friendly employer, and an Armed Forces Covenant committed organisation. We welcome applications from defence reserves and other members of our armed forces community. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all parts of our community.

At Lancaster City Council we aim to have a diverse workforce that is representative of the district that we serve and provide a working environment where each employee feels able to bring their whole self to work.

How to apply

WE ONLY ACCEPT COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS. PLEASE DO NOT SEND A CV AS THIS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

For an application form and further details please apply online or e-mail [e-mail]. Alternatively please call in to the reception area at Lancaster / Morecambe Town Hall or telephone [phone] (24 hour answering service).

Interview date: TBC. For an informal discussion, please contact Sharon Parkinson, Principal Housing Options Manager on 01524 582621.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive we are unable to update all applicants individually. If you do not receive a response from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, then your application will have unfortunately been unsuccessful in progressing to interview.