Housing Options Officer (Temporary)

Housing Options Officer
3 Month Temporary Assignment with possible extensions
ASAP
Circa £11 per hour
Based in Bideford

A Temporary Housing Options Officer is required until December by a Local Authority based in Bideford. The role involves providing comprehensive front-line, customer focused Housing Options service to customers seeking advice and assistance with housing.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

• Provide a comprehensive advice and information frontline service to customers seeking assistance with housing either in person or by telephone and email
• Arrange appointments for those customers who are homeless or who are likely to be threatened with homelessness
• Interview and carry out casework with customers and maintain detailed case notes
• Liaise with landlords and letting agents, parents, family members, friends, mortgage lenders, solicitors and any other relevant third parties
• Attend court as an advocate for customers where required, and assist with the completion of related paperwork
• Where an accommodation duty applies, arrange interim/temporary accommodation
• Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of the housing options and housing and homelessness legislation
• Conduct visits to appropriate locations, including customers' homes and hospitals or supported accommodation to determined needs and undertake prevention or relief work
• To participate on the Council's homelessness out of hours rota as required, responding to emergency homeless approaches over the telephone outside of normal working hours
• To carry out such other duties that may be reasonably required by the Housing Options Team Leader and/or Customer Support Manager

Person specification

Essential:

• A minimum of 4 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade C or above or be able to demonstrate equivalent qualifications, or relevant experience
• A good understanding of the work undertaken by Housing Options
• Experience working within housing or a housing related support service with either a local authority, registered provider or relevant voluntary or private sector organisation
• Excellent written and oral skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• A commitment to customer care
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Ability to learn, interpret and apply legislation relevant to the service, particularly the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended)
• IT user with excellent knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, and ability to learn and use different packages and document management systems
• Enhanced DBS check
• Commitment to implement anti discriminatory and equal opportunities policies
• Ability to travel according to the needs of the job with reasonable adjustments, if required, according to the Disability Discrimination Act

Desirable:

• Chartered Institute of Housing Level 3 Diploma in Housing Practice or equivalent
• Good knowledge of housing and homelessness legislation
• Good knowledge of Landlord and Tenant law
• Basic Welfare Benefits knowledge
• Experience of carrying out frontline Housing Options work

Apply online today!