Job Description

Housing Assessment Officer

Maidstone

Contract

£18.00 per hour

Our client is looking for an experienced Housing Assessment Officer.

To act as a caseworker for homeless applicants providing accurate and appropriate advice, guidance and assistance on the range of options available, with a strong focus on preventing and relieving homelessness wherever possible using a proactive and innovative approach.

To primarily work with those who are currently homeless, interviewing applicants on day of presentation including in person and home visits, assessing and investigating applications and reaching decisions in line with the council�s statutory homelessness duties. This will include making detailed enquiries to establish whether the applicant is eligible for assistance, homeless, has a priority need, has made themselves homeless intentionally and has a local connection to the area."

Job Title: Housing Assessment Officer

Grade: 6

Responsible to: Housing Assessment Manager No. of Staff Responsible For: 0

PURPOSE OF JOB

To act as a caseworker for homeless applicants providing accurate and appropriate advice, guidance and assistance on the range of options available, with a strong focus on preventing and relieving homelessness wherever possible using a proactive and innovative approach.

To primarily work with those who are currently homeless, interviewing applicants on day of presentation including in person and home visits, assessing and investigating applications and reaching decisions in line with the council’s statutory homelessness duties. This will include making detailed enquiries to establish whether the applicant is eligible for assistance, homeless, has a priority need, has made themselves homeless intentionally and has a local connection to the area.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

- To provide an effective, tailored advice service to those presenting as homeless in line with the council’s statutory homelessness duties; interviewing and assessing their circumstances and support needs and exploring the appropriate options to prevent and relieve homelessness by either helping clients remain in their home, or to access suitable alternative accommodation.

- To make enquiries which are necessary and thoroughly investigate homeless applications to determine the housing duty. This will include enquiries into Homelessness, Eligibility, Priority Need, Intentionality and Local Connection.

- To write and issue robust and lawful statutory S184 decision letters within the framework of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended), applying legislation, caselaw and the code of guidance, and making appropriate referrals to other services where a housing duty may not be owed or is coming to an end.

- To work as part of a rota as the duty officer for on the day homeless approaches and approaches from people who are threatened with homelessness.

- To stay up to date with relevant housing legislation, policies and procedures, and ensure compliance in all aspects of service delivery.

- To support vulnerable applicants such as care leavers, ex-offenders, young people and those who may have experienced issues such as Domestic Abuse, physical or mental health difficulties and substance misuse issues, with a good knowledge of the different housing options that might be available.

- To carry a caseload of homelessness relief cases, assess customers� support needs and develop, update and review Personalised Housing Plans. This Plan will have a strong focus on preventing or relieving homelessness through active engagement with council and private sector services irrespective of the customer’s priority need or intentionality status. To respond to enquiries and correspondence from clients and their advocates, including other involved agencies.

- To complete S198 referrals to other Local Authorities where an applicant’s local connection lies elsewhere.

- To ensure relevant referrals are completed to other agencies or services as required based on support needs identified.

- To advise clients on a full range of options to solve their housing problem, relevant to their circumstances and needs, including options to prevent homelessness by retaining their current accommodation or seeking alternative accommodation. This will include giving advice on income maximisation and welfare benefits advice, and debt and rent arrears advice to assist them with accessing affordable housing options, and liaising with landlords and other excluders to negotiate options to prevent evictions, for example by helping to resolve rent arrears by agreeing repayment plans or negotiation and mediation in the case of family/friend or relationship breakdowns to prevent exclusions.

- To identify when a referral is required to the Prevention or RSI (Rough Sleeping Initiative) team is required and liaise with them as appropriate.

- To maintain accurate and detailed case records, reports and & other monitoring information as required in connection with the various duties undertaken to ensure both national and local performance indicator to ensure accurate quarterly and annual Government returns, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations at all times.

- To develop effective and collaborative working relationships with colleagues within Swale Borough Council and a wide range of external statutory and non statutory services, as well as voluntary and other housing organisations.

- To conduct home visits, as well as visits to prison, hostels, hospital or other locations as may be necessary and to attend multi agency and partnership meetings as required.

- Working closely with the Housing Advice Team to support and develop processes and knowledge.

- To complete relevant safeguarding referrals to external agencies and refer clients to the Council’s safeguarding team when required, and to have a sensitive approach to working with vulnerable clients.

- Assist in the council’s reduction of temporary accommodation expenditure by ensuring that all other avenues are explored and clients are diverted away from its use where ever possible.

- To assist with case enquiries from Councillors, MPs and complaints as required.

- To assist managers/seniors with the investigation of S202 reviews as required.

- To complete administrative tasks related to the post as required.

- Commitment to the Council’s Strategic Plan

- To undertake any training and development as required

- To comply fully with the Council’s Equal Opportunity Policy

- To comply fully with the Council’s Health and Safety at Work Policy

- To assist as required in the Council’s Emergency Plan

- To comply fully with the Council’s IT Security Policy

- To undertake other duties commensurate with the grade of the post

Must demonstrate a passion for working within a housing/homelessness arena, with an understanding of the challenges and complexities around homelessness today and the impact of this.

Educated to A Level (or equivalent) or demonstrable experience working within the Housing/Homelessness Sector.

Level 3 CIH qualification in Housing Studies, or equivalent qualification.

Excellent understanding and knowledge of housing legislation, including Part 7 of Housing Act 1996 (as amended), Homeless Reduction Act 2017, Homelessness Code of Guidance and Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

As this is a customer focused role, the ability to converse at ease with customers adapting communication style to suit differing audiences whilst having an empathetic and compassionate approach, and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential.

Good knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.

Good knowledge of statutory and non-statutory services and welfare benefits

Good knowledge of data protection regulations and experience of dealing with highly sensitive data.

Knowledge and understanding of the strategic drivers impacting housing in Swale.

Local knowledge of areas/LHA rates/ Actual local rent costs

Excellent IT and administration skills, including being proficient in the use of Word, Excel and other Microsoft systems.

Knowledge of Huume system.

To hold a full clean UK driving licence.

Evidenced experience of interviewing clients or working in a front facing service to provide homelessness and housing advice, or a housing related field.

Ability to assess and identify housing and support needs and devise a bespoke personalised housing plan, with a strong focus on preventing or relieving homelessness.

Experience of working in line with Part 7 of the Housing Act (as amended), triggering homeless duties and making relevant enquiries and writing S184 homeless decisions; Eligibility, Homelessness, Priority Need, Intentional homelessness, S198 Local Connection.

Evidence of excellent negotiation and problem solving skills.

Experience of using a range of housing options to prevent and relieve homelessness, including means of accessing the private and social housing sectors, landlord incentive schemes, DHPs and Sanctuary Scheme.

Demonstrable experience of working successfully with private sector landlords to secure accommodation for clients.

A minimum of one year�s practical experience of working within a front-line customer-led service, dealing with sensitive situations and particularly with vulnerable customers with a range of support needs including; mental health, physical disabilities, victims or violence of abuse, substance misusers, ex-offenders and vulnerable young people.

The ability to remain calm while dealing with stressful situations and clients who may be abusive or threatening.

Previous experience of dealing with safeguarding concerns and issues.

Experience of managing a large caseload with evidence of strong organisational and time management skills and the evidenced ability to prioritise.

Experience of working with external and internal organisations and agencies in a range of situations E.g. domestic abuse, multi-agency case reviews.

Ability to remain calm whilst working in a high pressured and fast paced environment, in a demanding service, both under own initiative and as part of a team.

COMPETENCY PROFILE

Leadership

� Takes responsibility and be accountability for decision making.

� To be able to work on own initiative, prioritise work and manage own caseload.

� Open and honest

� Flexible in their approach and to change

Performance � Ability to focus on priorities and outcomes and keep accurate records.

� Delivers on promises

� Understands their role

Ambition � Open to new ideas and concepts

� Learns from past experience

� Challenges standard practice for improvements

� Maintains a positive outlook and is committed to own learning and development.

Customer care � Ability to establish credibility and build positive relationships with both internal and external customers.

� Understands customer requirements and adapts to ensure approach is flexible to deal with customers with complex needs.

� Proactive in keeping customers informed

� Seeks feedback

Teamwork � Ability to work as part of a team and motivate team to ensure delivery of team objectives.

� Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

� Effective negotiating, influencing and decision-making skills.

� Shares learning

� Treats colleagues with respect and trust

PLEASE ONLY apply if you have the necessary skills, experience and expertise.

The first part of our recruitment process is to send your CV. Should you be short listed Colbern Limited will contact you within 5 days or we may contact you about other job opportunities. Colbern Limited along with our clients are an equal opportunities employer