JOB ROLE PROFILE AND PERSON SPECIFICATION Post Title and Number: Housing Access Officer Present Grade: SO2 Dept: Housing Advisory Service Service/Section/Team: Market Management Services Reports to (title): Housing Access Team Leader Purpose of the Role: The Market Management Service was established to ensure that Enfield’s private rented sector meets resident’s needs. The aim of the Market Management is operationalised by the provision of range of PRS interventions and initiatives including emergency and temporary accommodation and PRS Housing Services, including procurement, allocation, and management services. The Housing Access Team will ensure the allocation of TA and PRS housing in line with the statutory homelessness framework and the priorities of the service. The Housing Access will manage a housing access register and coordinate PRS access to prevent and relieve homelessness, avoid new TA placements, and reduce TA through suitable final relief offers and PRSOs. The Housing Access Team will ensure the provision of effective Housing Access Team Advice and Casework and ensure all offers of housing (TA & PRS) are made in line with the statutory homelessness framework The Housing Access Team will effectively coordinate Housing Access activity to prevent and relieve homelessness, avoid new TA placements, and reduce TA through suitable final relief offers and PRSOs. The Housing Access Team will ensure the rapid and lawful allocation of housing (TA & PRS) provided by partners, including Housing Gateway, Capital Letters, and other TA and PRS initiatives The Housing Access Team will contribute to the effective management of the void and relet processes Dimensions including Structure Chart: 1. Annual budgetary amounts with which the role is either directly or indirectly concerned: N/A 2. Structure Chart: 3. Number of direct reports: N/A 4. Nature of reporting relationship between post holder and line manager • Report to Housing Access Team Leader • Attend relevant Service and Team Meetings • Regular email correspondence and telephone contact with the Head of Market Management, Housing Advisory Service Management Team and Director (where required) 5. Any other relevant statistics Key Accountabilities: Insert the most important and frequent accountabilities first. (You are not restricted to eight accountabilities) Accountabilities 1. Provide advice, guidance, and training on Team issues to internal and external partners 2. Ensure all casework and housing data is accurately recorded on notes and IT systems 3. Ensure all housing meets required national and local standards and compliance 4. Contribute the efficient and effective management of voids and relets processes 5. Ensure all homelessness casework is delivered in line with the statutory homelessness framework 6. Provide accurate and relevant housing, welfare, homelessness advice and support to applicants 7. Any other duties reasonably requested by management 8. Carry out all accountabilities in compliance with the Council’s Policies and Procedures 9. Ensure Housing Access Database is accurate and up-to-date 10. Ensure housing access processes and procedures and housing access data is used to improve PRS access and TA-move-on to applicants with more complex needs 11. Effectively coordinate Housing Access activity to prevent and relieve homelessness, avoid new TA placements, and reduce TA through suitable final relief offers and PRSOs. 12. Ensure all offers of housing (TA & PRS) are made in line with the statutory homelessness framework 13. Ensure the rapid and lawful allocation of housing (TA & PRS) provided by partners, including Housing Gateway, Capital Letters, and other TA and PRS initiatives 14. 15. Provide advice and guidance about Housing Access issues to other Services and Teams in HAS and the wider Council and contribute to the induction and training of new staff 16. Write and issue statutory offers and statutory decision notifications, including discharge of duty notifications 17. Set up properties on IT systems 18. Liaise with supplier to arrange key collection and access to Sign-up and arranging key collection, or S188 duty discharge if required 19. Negotiate with suppliers to procure units 20. Set up and close down tenancies and rent accounts on systems in liaison with casework teams 21. Complete pre-allocation checks, including Right to Rent check 22. Accompany applicants with more complex need to viewings 23. Negotiating with tenants to take properties 24. Negotiation of void periods with suppliers, including Capital Letters 25. Arrange storage and removal service where required 26. Raise payments to suppliers 27. Key Relationships (Internal and External): Internal: • Council Housing Teams • Managers across LBE • TA Procurement • Housing Assessment and Allocation Team • Housing Options and Advice Team • Voids, Repairs and Compliance Team • Customer Services Centre • Adult Social Care • Community Safety Team • Legal Services • Environmental Health • Councillors and MPs External: • Landlords and Agents • Police • London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority • Voluntary and Support Groups • Contractors • Housing Associations Partners • Partner local authorities • Probation Services, MAPPA • Housing Associations/Registered Providers • Third Sector organisations Equality and Diversity: The Council has a strong commitment to achieving equality in its service to the community and the employment of people and expects all employees to understand, comply with and promote its policies in their own work. Health and Safety: The post holder shall ensure that the duties of the post are undertaken with due regard to the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and to their personal responsibilities under the provisions of the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and all other relevant subordinate legislation. For a more detailed definition of these responsibilities, refer to the current versions of the Corporate Health & Safety Policy, Group Safety Policy and employee information leaflet entitled "Health & Safety Policy; Guidance on Staff Health & Safety Responsibilities". Corporate Health and Safety Responsibilities All employees have personal responsibilities to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others. This means: 1. Understanding the hazards in the work they undertake; 2. Following safety rules and procedures; 3. Using work equipment, personal protective equipment, substances, and safety devices correctly; and 4. Working in accordance with the training provided and only undertaking tasks where appropriate training has been received. Employees shall co-operate with the Council by allowing it to comply with its duties towards them. This requires employees to: • take part in safety training and risk assessments and suggest ways of reducing risks; and • take part in emergency evacuation exercises. Employees shall report all accidents, ‘near miss’ incidents and work related ill health conditions to their manager/supervisor/team leader. Employees shall read the Corporate Health & Safety – Organisation Part B Policy to ascertain and understand their responsibilities as an employee, line manager, Assistant Director or Director of the Council. Information Security: In order to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Council information, including information provided by customers, partner organisations, and other third parties, where applicable, employees will comply with the Council’s Information Security Policy. Statement of Commitment to Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults through safer employment practice: Enfield Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Safe recruitment of staff is central to this commitment, and the Council will ensure that its recruitment policies and practices are robust, and that selection procedures prevent unsuitable people from gaining access to children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff employed to work with or on behalf of children and young people in the Council must be competent. All staff working with Children & Vulnerable Adults should be aware of, and share the commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when applying for posts at Enfield Council. Page 5 of 11 Property Manager Last revised September 2020 Page 1 of 10 Job Role Profile and Person Specification Published 18/10/2010 Revised 20/12/2010 PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Housing Access Officer Grade: SO2 Department: Housing Advisory Service Team: Market Management KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES HOW TESTED Application – A Test – T Interview – I Job Specifics – Skills, Experience, Knowledge, Behaviours Essential: 1. Significant knowledge and experience of working to conflicting deadlines and able to manage time and resources efficiently 2. Significant knowledge and experience of delivering excellent customer service within a local authority housing and/or homelessness service 3. Significant knowledge and experience of working in partnership to improve outcomes for homelessness applicants and their households 4. Significant knowledge and experience of the management of temporary accommodation teams and schemes 5. Significant knowledge and experience of the implementation of the statutory homelessness framework (Legislation, Suitability Order, Caselaw), including assessments, prevention, relief and main duties, TA duties and accommodation offers 6. Significant knowledge and experience of the implementation of national and local welfare services, such as Universal Credit, LHA, DHP, local welfare assistance programmes 7. Significant knowledge and experience of the implementation of the PRS housing standards, such as HHSRS Gas/Electricity Compliance, EPC, Licensing, HMOs Management & Regulations, and so on. 8. Significant knowledge and experience of the implementation of Safeguarding, Social Care and Equality legislation, policy and caselaw strategies 9. Significant knowledge and experience of housing and homelessness IT systems A/T/I A/T/I Behaviours Appropriate behaviours are key to the delivery of our vision for Enfield. We want staff who will work collaboratively, flexibly and constructively, and exhibit this ethos in all their dealings with residents, colleagues and partners. Our leaders will be exemplars of the following behaviours and encourage them in staff at all levels; Takes Responsibility We want staff who are willing to make decisions and be accountable for them. Staff should have a positive can-do attitude where they see problems as challenges which can be overcome. They should accept responsibility for service delivery, be clear about their service offer and deliver what they promise. Is Open, Honest and Respectful We want staff who are comfortable and confident to acknowledge the difficulties and the barriers they face. They should also be able to constructively challenge the way things are done where there is evidence that it impedes service delivery. Challenge should be conducted in a professional, courteous manner with the aim of reaching a mutually agreeable resolution. Actively Listening and Learning We want staff who are prepared to actively listen and reflect on customer concerns with a view to understanding the customer’s point of view. Staff should be able to receive constructive criticism and be prepared to adapt the way they operate and deliver services where appropriate. Working Together to find solutions We want staff who can work collaboratively with other departments and partners, freely sharing their knowledge and skills to identify solutions to address customer concerns. Candidates: Please ensure you address these behaviours in your responses to the essential and desirable (if applicable) criteria above. A/I Other Special Requirements 1. May be required to work remotely and/or other Council locations. A Appendix A Market Management Service Organisation Chart Page 5 of 11 Job Role Profile and Person Specification Published 18/10/2010 Revised 20/12/2010 The Emergency Accommodation Officer role is responsible for negotiating and procuring Nightly Paid accommodation in order to either prevent homelessness or to fulfil The Council’s statutory duties for eligible clients, at the best price, in a cost-effective manner that provides value for money to the Council. You will allocate accommodation and ensure agreements are signed with tenants for all Temporary Accommodation types, in accordance with Enfield’s Temporary Accommodation policy, guidance and procedures. Providing appropriate information, advice and guidance to applicants with a focus on managing customer’s housing expectations. Ensuring properties are allocated and agreements signed with tenants as quickly as possible so that void turnaround times are kept to a minimum. Setting up tenancies and accounts for the properties allocated in order that the council maximise the income from rents charged. You will provide Business Support for the Nightly Paid Accommodation Team, to actively contribute to the smooth running of the service. Ensuring processes are delivered in a consistent, standardised and efficient manner.