Housing Solutions Officer - Basildon Borough Council
Temporary, Full Time - 36.25hrs per week
£18.00 -£21.00 per hour
Location: Basildon
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Basildon Council to recruit into their Housing Solutions Officer role.
Salary: £18.00 - £21.00 per hour.
Contract type: Temporary 3 months contract with the potential to extend beyond.
Full time - 36.25 hours per week 09.00am – 17:15pm.
Work location: Remote working with the requirement to attend the office as and when the business requires.
**Please note applicants must have experience of using Jigsaw software and assessing homeless applications from start to finish under the HRA**
The Role
The Housing Solutions Team is part of the Housing Choice Department (the strategic housing service) and sits within the Housing Solutions Service. Its primary function is to prevent homelessness by helping customers retain their current accommodation and, where this cannot be achieved, provide access to a range of suitable alternative housing options fulfilling the Council's statutory obligations as set out in the Housing Act 2996 (as amended) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
The Opportunity
You will be responsible for assessing customers’ housing needs and wishes in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, producing and agreeing a personalised housing plan which you will keep under regular review until a long-term, sustainable housing solution is secured.
You will work holistically with customers on both their short term housing needs as well as their longer term aspirations. You will manage a caseload, drawing in support and assistance from other statutory and voluntary organisations as appropriate to help customers achieve their housing goals and increase their life opportunities moving forward.
Accountabilities
- Regularly undertake comprehensive housing needs’ assessments of customers’ who are at significant risk of homelessness and may face multiple disadvantage as a result.
- In line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 produce and agree personalised housing plans for customers which outline personal sensitive information, prioritising pro-active steps to prevent homelessness in the first instance.
- Provide specialist advice across a whole range of complex issues such as housing, welfare benefits, financial well-being and employment, referring customers to specialist agencies and departments for additional assistance where appropriate.
- Manage a caseload of customers, working with each to offer an individual and empowering service to customers in housing need, encouraging customers to choose from a range of viable options and keeping each personalised housing plan under regular review.
- Negotiate with hosts, landlords and lenders, taking any other action as appropriate in order to prevent or relieve homelessness until an alternative long-term, sustainable housing solution can be secured.
- Deliver innovative, tailored solutions to meet housing need using a variety of means including close liaison with the private rented sector team to secure good quality, affordable private rented accommodation through one of the Council’s private sector access schemes.
- Work across the Housing Solutions Service and, in particular, with colleagues in the temporary accommodation and private rented sector teams to ensure the timely provision of interim accommodation and expediency of affordable private rented sector accommodation as a long-term prevention or relief of homelessness.
- Conduct interviews with applicants under Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act as amended to undertake comprehensive investigations of both housing advice and homelessness approaches in accordance with statutory legislation, guidance and good practice and compile long detailed S184 decisions which require lengthy periods of concentration.
- Actively contribute to the compilation and collation of management and performance information as required.
- Have a working knowledge of the Jigsaw case management, ensuring that it is updated accurately with confidential client information at appropriate times.
- Keep up to date with housing and other related legislation, including homelessness, allocations, landlord and tenant legislation, benefits and welfare rights, immigration and asylum, matrimonial and family law, and other matters of a similar nature.
- Undertake all the duties within the framework of Equal Opportunities
- You must cooperate in all matters relating to Health and Safety and implement all procedures for your job role. The identification of Health and Safety related risks within the working environment must be highlighted to your management.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Must have experience of Jigsaw software
- Proven experience of assessing homelessness applications from start to finish under the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended 2002, 2011 and by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017)
Note: ECC are advertising this role on behalf of Basildon Council.
Basildon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults, and expects all employees, contractors and volunteers to share its commitment to prevent abuse, harm or exploitation.
What you should do next
If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via Working for Essex website.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email christine.simmons@essex.gov.uk