Our local authority is looking for a housing options officer to join them on a temporary basis. Location – Loughborough Hourly rate - £16.26ph Purpose of role: To prevent and relieve homelessness To determine homeless applications To provide advice and assistance to homeless applicants To deliver an effective and appropriate service to all service users, fairly and without discrimination. Main Duties and Responsibilities Deliver effective, efficient, consistent, customer focused and appropriate housing services, in line with legislation and related guidance and council policies and procedures, and in partnership with other teams and organisation Deal with customer enquiries effectively and appropriately, including via email / letter, via telephone / video call, in person, in the council offices, in customers homes and at other sites as appropriate Provide advice and assistance in relation to housing rights, responsibilities, and options, in order to support customers to prevent / relieve their homelessness Investigate, assess, and determine homeless applications. Make decisions / recommendations for decisions and produce decision letters in relation to homeless applications Assess the housing circumstances, housing needs and housing related support needs of households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, identify actions required to retain / secure and sustain suitable accommodation, monitor actions and provide regular progress updates Allocate accommodation to homeless applicants, carry out related suitability assessments and ensure the best use of available accommodation Arrange, manage, and monitor interim / temporary accommodation placements, including payment of charges, satisfactory behaviour and adherence to other terms and conditions, and ensure the number and duration of placements is minimised wherever possible Participate in the housing options service duty rota inside of normal service opening hours and emergency standby and advisory duty rota outside of normal service opening hours Assist the Housing Allocations Team to provide advice and assistance, investigate, assess, and determine housing register applications and allocate accommodation to housing register applicants, when required Assist the Housing Allocations Team with the housing allocations service duty rota inside of normal service opening hours, when required Produce and maintain accurate, up to date and appropriate records in relation to all aspects of the service Protect and manage information securely, reporting information security breaches / suspected information security breaches, in line with council policies and procedures Deliver fair and equal services to customers, in line with council policies and procedures Identify and report safeguarding concerns, in line with council policies and procedures Undertake other duties commensurate with your grade, when required As this job is designated as a regulated activity (i.e., it involves certain activities in relation to children and/or vulnerable adults) or is an exempt position under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, an enhanced DBS check is essential. This post requires the post holder to attend the office in person on a rota basis