Housing Needs Officer

Job Description

• Housing Needs Officer
• Public Sector - Local Authority
• Full Time - Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week
• Temporary Role - role to end at the end of July 2023
• £18.76 per hour PAYE / £24.86 per hour Umbrella
• IT Equipment provided
• Up to 37 days Paid Annual Leave (PAYE route ONLY)

This role will be hybrid. The first 2 weeks will be mostly office based for training and induction. This will then transition to working from home with the requirement to be in the office once a fortnight on a rota basis.The RoleTo provide a comprehensive housing advice /options/ statutory homeless service to those in housing need. A tailored service to address customers underlying causes of homelessness to produce long term solutions which will address their current and any futurehousing need.Where solutions cannot be found to prevent homelessness to assess homeless applications in accordance with current homeless legislation within strict legal timelines.Duties

• To carry out thorough , comprehensive, sensitive enquiries , fully involving the customer in the process, treating each case individually and examining all information carefully before reaching a decision

• To provide a comprehensive housing information and advice service on rehousing options, occupation rights and obligations, mortgage default and any other causes of homelessness, preventing homelessness whenever possible

• Helping the customer to make difficult decisions about their future housing including moving to areas with greater supply, which may be out of London, by providing high quality advice and information

• To inform and advise customers on landlord/tenant issues, including identifying households needing to be referred to the Tenancy Relations service because of illegal eviction or harassment, or any other landlord/tenant offence, carrying out home visitswhen required

• Ensuring applicants are aware of the nature and scope of accommodation which may be provided to them pending determination of their application for housing, and of the (limited) extent of choice available to them in terms of any future permanent housing.Making decisions about out-of- borough/ out-of-London supported housing placements

• To prevent homelessness and identify other housing solutions including negotiating with landlords to find solutions to impending homelessness such as the reduction in rent, use of DHP to cover rent arrears

• Assistance in defending possession action, which could include attending court

• Identifying barriers for customers being able to help themselves such as job/training opportunities. Finding solutions to these problems and working with the customer to overcome these obstacles. To include producing a personal housing plan for customersto follow and to refer to floating support services

• Ensuring that information obtained and given are properly recorded, carrying out preventative work whenever possible, and ensuring that applicants are kept informed of progress in determining their homelessness application

• Attending multi agency case reviews when required
• Carrying out thorough but sensitive investigations into homelessness applications, identifying the need for Bed and Breakfast, supported housing, winter shelter or other temporary accommodation

• Identifying possible fraudulent applications and recommending referral to corporate fraud including the notification to the Border agency if immigration breaches have been identified

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to demonstrate, maintain and apply in depth knowledge and understanding of landlord and tenant and homeless legislation.
• Knowledge of the issues faced by homeless households, the underlying causes of homelessness and the barriers to accessing accommodation
• Able to organise own workload effectively, work within agreed deadlines and prioritise urgent cases
• Able to think analytically and identify key casework issues to inform sound decision making
• Able to work under pressure and with customers who may exhibit challenging behaviour.
• Able to demonstrate emotional resilience
• Able to work in a multidisciplinary setting and to build working relationships with internal and external agencies
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to communicate internally and externally with customers and professionals involved in their support
• Able to use windows based applications, MS Office including Email and internet based technologie
• Able to provide a caring and responsive service to customers, listening to and understanding their individual needs and concerns and addressing those needs and concerns as far as possible within the given resource constraints

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.By applying for this role your details will be submitted to Adecco. Our Candidate Privacy Information Statement explains how we will use your information - please copy and paste the following link in to your browser https://candidate-privacy

Keyskills :
HousingLocal AuthorityPublic SectorHomelessnessHousing Needs