Housing Assessment Officer needed in Sittingbourne, £18ph PAYE - Reference: OR4523
MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES -
• To provide an effective, tailored advice service to those presenting as homeless in line with the statutory homelessness duties; interviewing and assessing their circumstances and support needs and exploring the appropriate options to prevent and relieve homelessness by either helping clients remain in their home, or to access suitable alternative accommodation.
• To make enquiries which are necessary and thoroughly investigate homeless applications to determine the housing duty. This will include enquiries into Homelessness, Eligibility, Priority Need, Intentionality and Local Connection.
• To write and issue robust and lawful statutory S184 decision letters within the framework of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended), applying legislation, caselaw and the code of guidance, and making appropriate referrals to other services where a housing duty may not be owed or is coming to an end.
• To work as part of a rota as the duty officer for on the day homeless approaches and approaches from people who are threatened with homelessness.
• To stay up to date with relevant housing legislation, policies and procedures, and ensure compliance in all aspects of service delivery.
• To support vulnerable applicants such as care leavers, ex-offenders, young people and those who may have experienced issues such as Domestic Abuse, physical or mental health difficulties and substance misuse issues, with a good knowledge of the different housing options that might be available.
• To carry a caseload of homelessness relief cases, assess customers support needs and develop, update and review Personalised Housing Plans. This Plan will have a strong focus on preventing or relieving homelessness through active engagement and private sector services irrespective of the customers priority need or intentionality status. To respond to enquiries and correspondence from clients and their advocates, including other involved agencies.
• To complete S198 referrals to other Local Authorities where an applicant’s local connection lies elsewhere.
• To ensure relevant referrals are completed to other agencies or services as required based on support needs identified.
• To advise clients on a full range of options to solve their housing problem, relevant to their circumstances and needs, including options to prevent homelessness by retaining their current accommodation or seeking alternative accommodation. This will include giving advice on income maximisation and welfare benefits advice, and debt and rent arrears advice to assist them with accessing affordable housing options, and liaising with landlords and other excluders to negotiate options to prevent evictions, for example by helping to resolve rent arrears by agreeing repayment plans or negotiation and mediation in the case of family/friend or relationship breakdowns to prevent exclusions.
• To identify when a referral is required to the Prevention or RSI (Rough Sleeping Initiative) team is required and liaise with them as appropriate.
• To maintain accurate and detailed case records, reports and & other monitoring information as required in connection with the various duties undertaken to ensure both national and local performance indicator to ensure accurate quarterly and annual Government returns, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations at all times.
• To develop effective and collaborative working relationships with colleagues and a wide range of external statutory and non statutory services, as well as voluntary and other housing organisations.
• To conduct home visits, as well as visits to prison, hostels, hospital or other locations as may be necessary and to attend multi agency and partnership meetings as required.
• Working closely with the Housing Advice Team to support and develop processes and knowledge.
• To complete relevant safeguarding referrals to external agencies and refer clients to the safeguarding team when required, and to have a sensitive approach to working with vulnerable clients.
• Assist in the reduction of temporary accommodation expenditure by ensuring that all other avenues are explored and clients are diverted away from its use where ever possible.
• To assist with case enquiries from Councillors, MPs and complaints as required.
• To assist managers/seniors with the investigation of S202 reviews as required.
• To complete administrative tasks related to the post as required.
This is a full time role on a temporary contract basis.
If you are interested in the role please apply on our website with your CV, alternatively you can email your CV to katie@essentialemploy.co.uk quoting the reference number.
Essential Employment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
All our roles may be subject to pre-employment checks including references so please be prepared.
Due to high volumes of CVs received we are not able to respond to all unsuccessful applications. You will always however hear from us by phone if we are able to take your CV forward to the next stage.
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