Homelessness Prevention & Assessment Officer

Job Description

Job Category : Housing
Location : Laurence House, Lewisham Council
Hours Per Week : 35.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £21.24

To provide a comprehensive high quality homeless prevention, support and advice service to
all households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
? To provide an assessment service to customers presenting to the Council to ascertain what
duties are owed to them by the authority and what alternative housing options are available to
them.
? To demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Homelessness legislation
and case law coupled with hands-on experience of preventing homelessness and making
statutory decisions.
? To develop specialist knowledge and skills in relation to customers required to enable the
delivery of a flexible and responsive housing needs service that can effectively meet changing
demands and customer pressures.
? To keep up to date, clear, accessible and accurate casework and data records and report on
performance as required.

Skills
A high level of ICT skills to use packages such as word, excel, outlook and bespoke databases
Excellent interviewing skills to extract relevant information from customers and complete accurate assessments
Excellent communication skills at all levels
Excellent negotiating skills with varied parties, including partner agencies and internal colleagues
Excellent written skills to be able to produce detailed and accurate reports and letters to the public and other professionals
Ability to avoid and manage conflict and stress

Experience
Experience of composing and issuing detailed and legally robust S184 decision letters in line with the duties owed to customers under the homelessness legislation S
Experience of producing detailed and accurate reports and letters to the public and other professionals
Experience of working in a demanding front line service in a housing environment S Experience of “front line” interviewing and of dealing effectively with confrontational situations S Experience of working with vulnerable client groups and providing appropriate support as required
Experience of giving detailed advice on a range of welfare benefits to customers to enable them to resolve their accommodation difficulties
Experience of working effectively as a part of a busy team as well as being able to manage your own case load S
Experience of advocating on customer’s behalf with other statutory and voluntary agencies and members of the public