Homelessness Officer

Job Description

Job Title: Homelessness Prevention & Solutions OfficerLocation: Forward Drive, Harrow, HA3 8NTEmployer: Pertemps Recruitment Partnership for Harrow CouncilContract Type: Temporary OngoingHours of Work: Full-time, 35 hours (hybrid working)Rate: £ 26.94 Umbrella PayeeOverview of Homelessness Prevention & Solutions OfficerPertemps has an exciting opportunity within Harrow Council for a self-driven and motivated Homelessness Prevention and solutions Officer to join an expanding team. The role of Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer has a competitive pay rate of £ 26.94Umbrella Payee. Other benefits include excellent training and support for career development and 21 days of holiday (excluding Bank Holidays).Overview of Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer:1. Responsible for being on a weekly rota providing a general housing advice service for internal and external customers, undertaking face-to-face and telephone interviews. Manning a duty line using the 8x8 telephony system in addition to responding to electronicenquiries with the appropriate advice.2. Responsible for providing intensive, specialist support to homeless clients, taking into account their housing situation, taking into account their overall financial situation, their needs, aspirations, eligibility for assistance under the homelessness legislationand whether or not they can sustain a tenancy in the private rented sector and providing comprehensive advice on their housing options.3. Responsible for managing prioritising and investigating a caseload of people who are currently experiencing a housing crisis, providing a service that seeks to minimise the duration of that crisis by carrying out statutory assessments in line with the HomelessnessReduction Act 2017 legislation of each clients needs and circumstances and making the relevant enquiries, ensuring all internal and statutory deadlines are met.4. To understand the complex, multiple needs as well as strengths of those individuals; and develop trusting, non-dependent relationships to improve their confidence and motivation to progress towards their next step in housing.5. To empower individuals to find their solution to their housing crisis, drawing on the assistance provided by the Homeless Prevention & Solutions Team to make optimum use of the opportunities available to them. Utilising financial resources such as housingvouchers, discretionary housing payments, prevention and homelessness fund payments. Assisting in securing tenancies on properties offered by landlords/agents, the YMCA, the Procurement Team and other external agents.6. Responsible for creating individual Personal Housing Plans (PHPs) for everyone in housing need to sustain existing accommodation and/or find new housing, taking account of their circumstances and keeping the plan relevant to their needs, and circumstancesand under review.The successful candidate needs to have:o Comprehensive knowledge of all core legislation such as the Housing Act 1985, Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, housing needs issues, related legislation and case law.o Comprehensive knowledge of the private rented sector, the councils statutory function to protect citizens from illegal eviction, county court possession proceedings and prevention tools and options.o A deep understanding of national and local welfare and housing systemso A good working knowledge of housing benefit rules and the supply and demand issues related to public sector and private housing in a London council.o Expert knowledge of homelessness policy and practiceo The job involves travel for business purposeso Work outside normal office hours, on occasion to meet service requirements.o Be responsible for the securing and management of the organisations assets relevant to the post, including computer/laptop and mobile phones.About usFor almost 60 years, Pertemps Recruitment Partnership has been the market leader in providing permanent and temporary staffing solutions and we are one of the most established players in the recruitment industry. The Sunday Times has listed us as one of theBest 100 Companies to work for 14 years running. We are not a big scary faceless company, quite the opposite: we strongly believe in the personal touch with everything we do. We are proud to be accredited investor in people which is reflected across ourbusiness in the length of service and career progression of our employees.Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstonestation there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406." The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certainservices or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting fpn