Accommodation Assessment & Lettings Officer, London
Client: Lewisham Council
Location: London, United Kingdom
Job Category: Other
EU work permit required: Yes
Job Reference: 1bbe0ff78c1f
Job Views: 59
Posted: 22.01.2025
Expiry Date: 08.03.2025
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: £21.92
We are looking to recruit an officer responsible for the allocation of emergency temporary accommodation, setting up rent accounts and discharging interim and full housing duty. The successful candidate will work within a team of officers and participate in a duty rota to fulfil the needs of the service. A good understanding of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 is required along with experience delivering a front-line service to vulnerable clients. They will serve as a point of contact for clients placed in emergency accommodation ensuring that appropriate offers of accommodation are made and all queries are responded to in a timely manner.
Knowledge
* Excellent knowledge and detailed understanding of Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and other relevant housing and homelessness legislation, case law and guidance.
* Knowledge of Landlord and Tenant Legislation, the Housing Act 1985 and Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
* Suitability and affordability assessments for accommodation provided under homelessness provisions.
* Up to date knowledge of the welfare benefit system and its application.
* The Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
* Good knowledge of the management of voids and lettings practices.
* Comprehensive understanding of the needs of vulnerable people and how their needs can be met, including their social, emotional and wellbeing needs.
Aptitude
* Ability to maintain databases and work effectively with IT systems.
* Aptitude for working creatively and acting on own initiative.
* Committed to continuous service improvement.
* Ability to prioritise competing demands in a pressurised environment, recognize service priorities and manage a high workload within agreed targets.
* Ability to meet performance targets and deliver positive outcomes.
* Ability to liaise with professional staff from across the Council and with partners.
* Ability to take a proactive role in reviewing and developing working practices in order to continually improve service delivery.
* Aptitude for utilising new technology to help develop the service.
Skills
* Excellent prioritisation and problem solving skills.
* Excellent customer care skills.
* Excellent negotiating and influencing skills.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to understand and explain both local policies and statutory legislation.
Experience
* Experience of working in a customer demand led business in the public or private sector.
* Experience of dealing sensitively with distressed or challenging customers/service users.
* Experience of working with landlords and managing agents to access void properties and to refer clients.
* Experience of administrative systems and office work.
* Experience of responding to correspondence and resolving complaints.
* Effectively programming/prioritising/planning own workload.
* Experience of achieving performance targets and meeting departmental performance objectives.
* Self-motivated and able to work with a caseload to achieve targets and continuous improvement.
* To think flexibly and broadly, approaching situations from many perspectives.
General Education
Good standard of education to include Maths and English GCSE Grade C and above or equivalent experience.
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