Scheme Housing Officer

Southern Housing; River; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Southern Housing is seeking a compassionate Scheme Housing Officer to support older residents across our Dover schemes. The role focuses on safe, independent living, tenancy management, welfare checks and resident engagement in a community-driven setting.

This part-time position (14 hours per week, across 2–3 days) may involve travel to other Kent locations. A driving licence or access to transport is required; prior care/support experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience of care or support services, including relevant legislation and good practice.
• Resilience, self-motivation and ability to work alone at your scheme(s) for most of the time.
• Ability to manage time & tasks effectively, work well under pressure both individually and in a team.
• A ‘can do’, proactive approach to problem solving.
• Able to learn and use IT and communication systems; interpersonal skills and team working.
• Able to receive and respond to customer feedback and complaints professionally at all times.
• You will hold a full driving licence with access to own vehicle, or show evidence you can meet the requirements of the role travelling by public transport.

Responsibilities

• Monitor residents’ needs and safety through annual home visits and support them where required to access appropriate support or care assessments and services.
• Understand utility and other costs in your scheme(s). Take action to reduce costs wherever possible.
• Be resilient and follow procedures calmly and effectively when there are emergencies such as the unexpected death of residents or lift breakdowns and other building problems.
• Address neighbour issues within non-ASB thresholds as per neighbourhood procedures.
• Provide efficient on-the-spot tenancy management including letting vacant homes, arrears management and monitoring services to schemes.
• Act as custodian for a scheme or group of schemes and coordinate repairs with contractors to keep buildings safe and attractive.

Skills

Care experience

Self-motivation

Time management

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

IT literacy

Driving licence

Job description

About The Role

We're looking for a compassionate and proactive Scheme Housing Officer to support older residents in living safely, independently and confidently within thriving communities. You'll be responsible for the day-to-day management of housing schemes, ensuring properties are safe, well maintained and welcoming, while providing tenancy management support, welfare checks, safeguarding oversight and resident engagement activities. Working closely with residents, colleagues, contractors and external partners, you'll play a key role in promoting wellbeing, resolving housing issues and delivering excellent customer service. This is an ideal opportunity for someone with experience in care, support or housing services who is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of older people.

Principal duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Monitor residents’ needs and safety through annual home visits and support them where required to access appropriate support or care assessments and services. Report self-neglect and other safeguarding concerns in line with our policy.
• Understand utility and other costs in your scheme(s). Take action to reduce costs wherever possible. Flag up potential overspends or anomalies to your manager.
• Be resilient and follow procedures calmly and effectively when there are emergencies such as the unexpected death of residents or lift breakdowns and other building problems.
• In line with our good neighbourhood management procedure, take appropriate action to address issues between neighbours which don’t meet the threshold to be considered anti-social behaviour (ASB).
• Provide efficient ‘on the spot’ tenancy management including supporting the letting of vacant homes; basic income maximisation and arrears management; resolving anti-social behaviour and monitoring environmental, maintenance and other services to schemes.
• Act as the custodian for a scheme or group of schemes. This means you’ll ensure that they are well run and that buildings are safe and attractive. Work with internal teams and external contractors to ensure repairs and faults are quickly remedied, and the grounds well maintained.

This is a part time position, working 14 hours per week, hours can be worked across 2 or 3 days. You will be based in our Dover schemes. Occasional travel to other Southern Housing locations in Kent may be required.

What you’ll need:

• Experience of care or support services, including relevant legislation and good practice.
• Resilience, self-motivation and ability to work alone at your scheme(s) for most of the time.
• Ability to manage time & tasks effectively, work well under pressure both individually and in a team.
• A ‘can do’, proactive approach to problem solving.
• Able to learn and use IT and communication systems Interpersonal skills and team working.
• Able to receive and respond to customer feedback and complaints professionally at all times.
• You will hold a full driving licence with access to own vehicle, or show evidence you can meet the requirements of the role travelling by public transport.

In your responses to the supporting application questions, it is important that you demonstrate how you meet each of the above criteria, using real examples wherever possible.

Closing Date: Wednesday 30th September 2026 at 23:59

Shortlisting: Friday 2nd October 2026

Interviews: W/C 12th October

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application and supporting statement as soon as possible so your application can be reviewed and considered.

About Us

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own! We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people’s lives.

A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.