Housing Specialist

C2C SOCIAL ACTION; Northampton; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Scheme with employer

Wellbeing sessions

Job summary

C2C Social Action is seeking a Housing Specialist to provide trauma-informed housing support to women at Northampton Women’s Centre. You will help prevent homelessness, assist with housing options, and advocate with housing providers and agencies.

The role focuses on safeguarding, empowerment and collaboration with partners, within a fixed-term contract until January 2027. This is a part-time, 16-hour-per-week post based at Northampton Women’s Centre.

Qualifications

• Experience providing housing advice, advocacy or related support.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation, housing pathways and local authority processes.
• Experience working with women facing multiple disadvantages (e.g. homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health, substance use).
• Ability to work in a trauma-informed, person-centred way.
• Strong communication and advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage a small caseload and prioritise effectively.
• Good IT skills and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one housing advice and support to women, including those at risk of homelessness or in unstable accommodation.
• Support women to explore housing options, including social housing, private rented accommodation, supported housing and temporary accommodation.
• Assist with housing applications, homelessness assessments, bids, appeals and supporting evidence.
• Support women to understand their housing rights and responsibilities.
• Advocate on behalf of women with local authorities, housing associations, private landlords and other agencies.
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings as required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with local housing providers and support services.
• Deliver all support in a trauma-informed, strengths-based and non-judgemental way.
• Recognise the impact of trauma, abuse and inequality on women’s housing experiences.
• Promote empowerment, choice and independence.
• Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, in line with organisational policies.
• Complete risk assessments and safety plans where required.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case notes and records.
• Collect monitoring data and contribute to reports as required.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and organisational policies.
• Work in line with the values, policies and procedures of Northampton Women’s Centre.
• Participate in supervision, training and team meetings.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative and supportive team culture.

Skills

Housing advocacy

Trauma-informed approach

Communication skills

Case management

Education

Relevant housing/social care qualification

Job description

Job Description

Post:

Housing Specialist

Responsible to:

Centre Manager

Hours:

16 hours per week (over 3/4 days, Monday-Friday)

Contract:

Fixed-term – 30th January 2027

Remuneration:

£12.74 per hour, payable monthly

Location:

Holiday: Northampton Women’s Centre

28 days pro rata + bank and statutory holidays

About C2C Social Action

C2C is a Christian charity working across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, supporting people at risk of or involved in the criminal justice system. Our mission is to bring hope, restoration and long-term change by addressing root causes of offending and walking alongside individuals through tailored, person-centred support.

Role Purpose

The Housing Specialist will provide trauma-informed, practical and emotional housing-related support to women accessing Northampton Women’s Centre. The role focuses on preventing homelessness, supporting women to secure and sustain safe accommodation, and advocating on their behalf with housing providers and statutory agencies.

The post holder will work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to reduce housing instability and the risks associated with homelessness, particularly for women experiencing multiple disadvantages.

Key Responsibilities

Housing Support & Casework

• Provide one-to-one housing advice and support to women, including those at risk of homelessness or in unstable accommodation.
• Support women to explore housing options, including social housing, private rented accommodation, supported housing and temporary accommodation.
• Assist with housing applications, homelessness assessments, bids, appeals and supporting evidence.
• Support women to understand their housing rights and responsibilities.

Advocacy & Multi-Agency Working

• Advocate on behalf of women with local authorities, housing associations, private landlords and other agencies.
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings as required.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with local housing providers and support services.

Trauma-Informed Practice

• Deliver all support in a trauma-informed, strengths-based and non-judgemental way.
• Recognise the impact of trauma, abuse and inequality on women’s housing experiences.
• Promote empowerment, choice and independence.

Risk Management & Safeguarding

Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, in line with organisational policies.

• Complete risk assessments and safety plans where required.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

Monitoring, Recording & Reporting

• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential case notes and records.
• Collect monitoring data and contribute to reports as required.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and organisational policies.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Work in line with the values, policies and procedures of Northampton Women’s Centre.
• Participate in supervision, training and team meetings.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative and supportive team culture.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience providing housing advice, advocacy or related support.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation, housing pathways and local authority processes.
• Experience working with women facing multiple disadvantages (e.g. homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health, substance use).
• Ability to work in a trauma-informed, person-centred way.
• Strong communication and advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage a small caseload and prioritise effectively.
• Good IT skills and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles.

Desirable

• Experience working within a women-only or specialist support service.
• Knowledge of the local housing landscape in Northamptonshire.
• Relevant qualification or training in housing, advice work or social care.
• Experience of partnership or multi-agency working.

Condition of Employment

• Subject to Adult Workforce Regulations, satisfactory DBS check, references, and further vetting as required
• Ongoing employment subject to funding
• Staff must inform their line manager immediately of any personal involvement with criminal justice services

What we will do to support you in this role

• A chance to be part of a pioneering, values-led team making a real difference
• On-going and targeted learning and development that will support and enable you to deliver the role to a high standard
• A full induction
• Continuous support and supervision including reflective practice to develop your learning and skills
• A fully supportive team environment with regular and ongoing supervision
• 28 days (pro rata) annual leave plus bank holidays
• Pension Scheme with employer contribution
• Wellbeing sessions