Complex Housing Officer (Grade 11)

Job Description

Job Title : Complex Housing Officer (Grade 11)
Job Category : Housing
Location : The Deane House, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £16.37

This post will be a Housing Officer for the Rough Sleeping Team.

This may include unsociable hours and is a front facing work, although there is some flexibility working at home. You may be required to attend outreach/in reach sessions and assisting on spotlight counts.

*Minimum of 3 days per week on site*

Work Experience Knowledge & Skills
Essential
Effective written and verbal communication
Ability to deal inventively and sensitively with a wide range and spectrum of people in greatly varying circumstances.
Ability to establish and manage realistic
applicant expectations.
Ability to manage a diverse caseload effectively where detailed and complex investigations are required, working with precision and attention to detail.
Ability to maintain accurate detailed and timely case notes and other evidence-based records.
Good organisational and administrative skills.
Ability to speak fluent English as stated in Part 7 of the Immigration Act(2016)

Qualifications
Essential
Education qualification to at least A level standard or acquired knowledge to NVQ level 4 and ongoing commitment to continuous professional development and where required will acquire specialist accreditation and skills

Role Purpose:
Provide advice, information and assistance to applicants who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness. Help applicants to explore their housing options and find suitable
accommodation that meets their needs. To work with a range of partners and agencies to
prevent and reduce homelessness in the community.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Advice & Guidance
Offer advice and information on topics such as homelessness prevention, housing options,
tenure rights and security of tenure. Communicate with applicants or their authorised
representatives through phone, email or letter. Make advice accessible to all applicants and help
them avoid or resolve homelessness and secure long-term housing solutions.
Progress Applications
Make enquiries and collect all relevant information from the applicant including financial
statements or health information and carry out other verification checks as necessary, including
authorised communication with statutory and voluntary agencies to support decision making.
Progress all homeless applications (Part 7 application) under current legislation, ensuring
compliance to the Homelessness Code of Guidance.
Progress all housing applications (Part 6 applications) in line with the Homefinder Somerset
Choice Based Lettings scheme and ensure these are completed in a timely manner.
Assessment & Plan
Carry out an assessment of circumstances and needs to identify what has caused the
homelessness or threat of homelessness and the housing needs of the applicant and any
support needs to be able to secure and retain accommodation. Following the assessment,
create a personalised housing plan with the applicant to help them retain or find accommodation.
Decision Making
Decide on what duties are owed to the applicant (e.g., interim duty, prevention duty, relief duty),
progressing all homeless applications, notifying applicants within target times whilst ensuring all
decisions comply with current legislation. Make appropriate referrals to partner agencies and
organisations to help with issues such as access to private rented accommodation, benefits,
relationship breakdown, debt, budgeting, warrant, substance misuse, domestic abuse, rough
sleeping, mental health, health, support, complex needs and learning difficulties.