The role - Ref: 25/266
PART-TIME EMERGENCY HOUSING OFFICER
Permanent
30 hours per week (Working 4 days)
Scale 6 (£31,067 - £32,654 pro rata, per annum basic salary), plus enhanced payments for weekend and bank holiday working, on a rota basis
As an Emergency Housing Officer, we are looking for a motivated and dynamic team-player who shares our passion, enthusiasm and commitment to enhancing the life opportunities of vulnerable people here in Blackpool.
Our hostels provide emergency accommodation for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Emergency Housing Officers provide daily, daytime staffing cover across our various sites.
All our hostels are located within relatively close proximity and within no more than a 3 mile radius of each other.
We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience of working with individuals with multiple disadvantages. If you have demonstrable experience in these areas and can role-model empathetic, understanding, positive, kind and level-headed behaviours then we would like to hear from you.
If you have demonstrable experience of in any of these areas and can role-model empathetic, understanding, positive, kind and level-headed behaviours then we would like to hear from you.
As an Emergency Housing Officer, you will carry out all aspects of tenancy management, within BCH’s hostels and emergency housing dispersed accommodation settings. You will be based at one of the Emergency Housing hostels within Blackpool and will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the accommodation and for providing housing related support to homeless clients with a range of support needs.
You will ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of clients including carrying out needs and risk assessments, safety checks of the building and rooms, collection of charges and all necessary administrative functions. You will liaise with a variety of agencies and assist clients to access appropriate services.
The successful applicants will have experience of supporting vulnerable clients, be confident and self-motivated and have the ability to work independently with minimal supervision. An understanding of professional boundaries and excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
You will possess good organisational and time management skills, be able to prioritise your own workload and be competent in the use of IT systems, particularly Microsoft Office.
A minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) to include Maths and English, at grade 4/C or above is essential, together with an understanding of customer rights and choices and how to support them. A Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) qualification, or the willingness to work towards a CIH qualification is desirable.
The post involves some weekend and also bank holiday working, as part of a rota, so flexibility is required, both in terms of working hours and also work location. There are several hostel locations and travel will be required between sites.
Applicants must have a full, UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes. Any offer of appointment will be subject to satisfactory clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB check).
About Blackpool Coastal Housing
Our services include an Operations Service providing responsive repairs to our valued tenants, empty homes management and refurbishment/capital works across Blackpool. Supported Housing; including supported living in Sheltered Schemes, Young People’s Resettlement Schemes including Care Leavers and Emergency Housing for those that find themselves homeless. Our Care and Repair Service allows Blackpool residents to remain in their own homes through the Adaptations team providing the necessary aids/adaptations for this to be achieved. The More Positive Together (MPT) and MPT Steps Programmes help provide support to local residents in accessing the employment market, as well as BCH providing typical Housing Service functions of Rents, Lettings, ASB and Neighbourhoods.
We also offer a fantastic reward and benefits package which includes:
• Competitive rates of pay
• 26 days paid annual leave per annum, in addition to bank holidays
• Attractive and flexible membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, with excellent employer contributions
• An in-house wellbeing program of wellbeing, social and charitable initiatives with BCH colleagues
• Vivup - the employee benefits scheme for discounts on various high street retailers and cycle to work
• Option to join BHSF - a voluntary salary sacrifice Health Cash Plan Scheme for help with medical costs such as physiotherapy, optical, osteopathy etc.
• Option to join the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Credit Union for preferential rates on financial services
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and access to counselling services
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay schemes
• A wide variety of training and learning and development opportunities
• Staff Suggestion Scheme
• Free annual flu vaccinations and Occupational Health Support
How to apply
This is a great time to join an ambitious, thriving and expanding organisation. If you like what you’ve read and think you’ve got what it takes to join our team then take action – apply now!
For further information on this opportunity, please contact Charlotte Bremner, Emergency Housing Manager at Chralotte.Bremner@bch.co.uk
To apply, please visit our website to complete an online application, where a full job outline and person specification are available.
However, please ensure your application clearly demonstrates your suitability for this position.
Closing date for applications: Wednesday, 26th February 2025 at 12 noon*
Interview date: Thursday, 6th March 2025
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .