Temporary Accommodation Officer

Morgan Hunt UK Limited; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Temporary Accommodation Officer in Kingston upon Thames. The role involves managing temporary housing, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and building relationships with residents and providers. Candidates should be skilled in effective management practices and capable of supporting vulnerable individuals with housing needs. This is a vital role aimed at enhancing community support and operational efficiency in housing services.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage temporary accommodation efficiently.
• Strong relationship-building skills with stakeholders.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain temporary accommodation in line with legislation.
• Conduct property inspections and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Support clients in completing housing benefit applications.

Skills

Efficient management

Relationship management

Risk identification

Digital competency

Problem-solving

Tools

Google

Job description

RB Kingston Upon Thames – Temporary Accommodation Officer

RB Kingston Upon Thames are looking for a Temporary Accommodation Officer.

Role purpose

• Ensure effective and efficient management of all temporary accommodation in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
• Ensure all repairing obligations and health & housing safety rating standards are met within the Council's own hostel accommodation and homes leased in the private sector, including those managed by external providers.
• Manage relationships with homeless households provided temporary accommodation, including action to assist in income recovery, investigate anti‑social behaviour and, where needed, recover possession.
• Build and maintain relationships with providers of temporary accommodation.
• Identify safeguarding risks, welfare and support needs of residents and the suitability of accommodation provided.
• Support the Temporary Accommodation Team Manager and the Accommodation Services Lead by contributing to the overall development of the temporary accommodation service.
• Report to the Temporary Accommodation Team Manager and have no line management responsibility.

Internal relationships

• Elected Members & Councillors
• Team Colleagues
• Head of Service
• Colleagues in Children & Adults Social Care & Housing
• Finance & Benefits Teams
• Environmental Health
• Building Control

External relationships

• Service users (and their representatives)
• Temporary accommodation providers
• Housing Association/Registered Provider partners
• All relevant partner organisations the Council does business with (strategic partnerships, local authorities, registered providers, developers, private owners, etc.) and other Government/regulatory bodies (Housing Regulator, GLA, etc.)
• Benchmarking partners
• South West London Fraud Team

Key activities

Performance

• Work with manager and colleagues to define outcomes, set targets and monitor performance within a culture of continual improvement.
• Support operational plans to ensure resources are used to best effect and impact.

Customers and Partners

• Build strong internal and external working partnerships to enable the service to be delivered in an outcome‑focused and efficient way.
• Support Kingston's commitment to community cohesion and valuing diversity and social inclusion.

Digital/New Ways of Working

• Use new technologies, particularly Google, to adopt modern, agile working practices, improve customer service and eliminate paper‑based processes.

Delivery

• Deliver a high quality temporary accommodation management service to homeless households and other occupants of temporary accommodation including Council Hostels, Private Leasing Scheme and other supported accommodation.
• Undertake property viewings and sign‑ups, support residents to retain homes by actively assisting with housing benefit applications at lettings commencement.
• Ensure rent account set‑up and closure applicable to a letting, providing information to residents on mechanisms for rent payment.
• Advise the Housing Access and Housing Solutions team of nominees' acceptance of accommodation or refusal to help secure reasons for refusal.
• Ensure periodic compliance certification, health and housing safety rating checks through a programme of periodic and responsive property visits, and provide person‑centred fire risk assessments.
• Conduct property inspections at pre‑void, void, re‑let and within a planned programme of visits to identify repair and improvement needs, produce reports and use photo‑books or other tools to monitor completion.
• Raise repair requests with accommodation providers and contractors and monitor their completion to ensure the local authority meets its obligations and providers meet contractual terms.
• Escalate any absence of repair or improvement needed, breach of compliance certification or property hazard identified within the health and housing safety rating system to providers, team leader, and if no action, refer to the Market Supply Team billing officer.
• Handle any applicable recharge for repair to occupier or provider, notifying the relevant party and referring collection charge to the Market Supply Team billing officer.
• Provide responses to enquiries related to property conditions, improvement and repair requests from accommodation providers, residents, their advocates and elected representatives.
• Proactively work to reduce void turnaround, minimising financial loss.

Recruitment Agency Information

Morgan Hunt is a multi‑award‑winning recruitment business for interim, contract and temporary recruitment and acts as an Employment Agency in relation to permanent vacancies. Morgan Hunt is an equal opportunities employer. Job suitability is assessed on merit in accordance with the individual's skills, qualifications and abilities to perform the relevant duties required in a particular role.