Housing Options Officer

Job Description

Job Title : Housing Options Officer
Job Category : Admin & Clerical
Location : Brecon Depot, Powys County Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £16.62
Main Purpose of Post:

Responsible for the day-to-day delivery of a comprehensive housing options service as part of an Area Housing Communities Team.

Undertake comprehensive housing assessment interviews with people requesting help finding a home, providing realistic and tangible advice and, where needed direct support, on all practicable options, liaising as necessary with housing providers from the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Provide households who are threatened with homelessness, or who are homelessness, with practical advice and assistance to help them to secure a realistic housing solution. This includes:
Adopting a ‘case manager’ role for each household.
Encouraging the maximum practical self-help by clients to secure housing that is suitable for their needs by agreeing and driving forward for each household a Personal Housing Plan.
Making decisions on the assistance to which households are entitled by reference to current legislation and applicable government guidance.
Preventing the loss of current accommodation by working proactively with households and housing providers, including families, landlords and lenders.
Securing for clients temporary or permanent accommodation where and when this is needed to meet evidenced housing needs.

Be able to offer clients of Housing Services, looking for a home, a wide range of accessible and realistic housing options by maintaining a full and practical understanding of the local housing market, including proactively developing and using working relationships with a wide range of housing providers (including social and private landlords, letting agents and developers of low-cost home ownership schemes).

Registrations, Qualifications & Training
Educated to HND/HNC level, NVQ level 4 or equivalent.
Membership of or working towards membership of a relevant professional body for example the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Experience
Experience of delivering housing advice, homelessness, housing allocation or housing support services.
Experience of working directly with members of the public, both face to face and through other communication channels.
Experience of working with vulnerable households.
Experience of working with public, voluntary and private sector agencies, organisations and housing providers and managers.
Experience of using an integrated housing information and management system.

Knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of the range of housing services provided by the Council and other organisations, across the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Knowledge of the Council’s housing responsibilities to those who want help and assistance finding a home.
Knowledge and understanding of legislation, guidance and regulations relating to homelessness and housing allocations.
Knowledge of landlord and tenant law.