MRJ Associates are recruiting for Housing Advice & Homeless Prevention Officer to work for our local authority clients based in Hillingdon. If this would be of interest to you then apply now Monday to Friday 36 hours Per Week – London Borough of Hillingdon Hourly rate range up to £26.13 Job Purpose The post-holder will be responsible for proactively delivering housing options advice, including security of tenure, low-cost home ownership, preventing homelessness, investigating householder circumstances and undertaking statutory assessments in order to determine the best options and resources available on a case-by-case basis. This will involve carrying and managing a case load across housing options, move-on and homeless prevention, to work with individuals supporting and directing clients to access a broad range of housing options and where appropriate making relevant onward referrals and signpost to other services. The post holder will ensure statutory requirements are met and local team targets are delivered through case work. Description of Duties To actively support the management of the service delivering a professional, responsive and individualised service to Hillingdon residents requiring housing advice and to explore and sign-post to housing options. To demonstrate understanding of the Council’s Customer Care Standards and ensure that these standards are met to deliver the Council vision of ‘putting our residents first’. To provide holistic, informed and accurate housing advice which is “right first time”, to all approaches to the service. To support, coach and empower residents to independently assess and manage their own housing situation and make informed choices To ensure that potentially homeless clients are given advice and assistance including those in housing need to whom the Council has no legal obligation to provide emergency accommodation to claim housing and other welfare benefits available to them with the aim of preventing or delaying homelessness, including the use of discretionary hardship payments (DHP). To assess and determine applications from homeless households within the terms of part VII of the Housing Act 1996 Manage the risk and respond sensitively to adults, children and young people and fleeing abuse or violence, keeping them away from further harm, by undertaking appropriate risk assessments and to provide the best possible solutions To take appropriate action to investigate and discharge the Council’s homeless duty where appropriate for cases where there is concern that temporary accommodation has been abandoned, sub-let or misused Knowledge and Experience Experience of working in a front facing team interviewing and assessing clients with a need for assistance Experience of case work and the application of case work management systems Experience of effective multi-disciplinary working Experience of working on defined operational projects, working to tight deadlines and objectives with minimum supervision Have an excellent working knowledge (or demonstrate the ability to have or acquire) of all elements of housing needs: housing advice, homelessness prevention, property allocation and choice-based lettings To have a comprehensive and cross cutting understanding of relevant policy and strategy areas, including, but not exclusively: Hillingdon’s housing strategy, homelessness strategy and related sub strategies, Hillingdon’s Health and wellbeing strategy and Hillingdon’s social housing allocations policy Qualifications; Skills and Experience Hold an appropriate qualification in a relevant field: NVQ, Diploma, relevant degree or relevant experience A good standard of education with English & Maths GCSE grade AC or equivalent Have an excellent working knowledge (or demonstrate the ability to have or acquire) of all elements of housing needs: housing advice, homelessness prevention, property allocation and choice-based lettings. MRJ Associates acts as an employment agency for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this role your details will be submitted to MRJ Associates. Our Candidate Privacy Information Statement explains how we will use your information