Internal vacancy. Applications will only be considered from existing Leeds City Council employees.
As a Housing Officer for the Local Authority Asylum Seeker Liaison team, you will become part of the Council’s statutory homeless service responsible for preventing and relieving homelessness.
As our next Housing Officer within this team, you will work in a fast-paced environment, communicating effectively with customers and partners in various settings: in person, over the telephone, via email, or at external locations. Your focus will be to provide advice and support for refugees who have been served with a 28-day notice to move on from their Home Office accommodation or who are undergoing a family reunion. You will engage with applicants to complete homeless applications, identify household support needs, and provide a personalized housing plan to secure suitable accommodation.
Within this role, you will have the opportunity to build and develop excellent partnership skills by working with a range of 3rd sector organizations and establishing connections with the home office accommodation provider to secure suitable accommodation.
You will be responsible for your own caseload and will complete homeless applications and referrals for support and accommodation. Training will be provided through an induction period.
About you
As a Housing Officer for the Local Authority Asylum Seeker Liaison Team, you will bring to the role:
* An excellent standard of customer service and the ability to engage and adapt to vulnerable applicants.
* An interest in homelessness and a passion for working with a range of professionals and partnerships.
* High motivation to work in a busy environment as part of a team.
* Ability to manage your own time efficiently and handle your own caseload.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
* Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
* A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
* A range of staff benefits to help boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice. Ensure you check your information carefully and complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Amber Khan at 0113 5351668 or email amber.khan@Leeds.gov.uk.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognized in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer, and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period. This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme, or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose:
The LAASLO (Local Authority Asylum Seeker Liaison Officer) team provides advice and support for newly granted refugees who need to move on from their NASS accommodation. We also assist customers who are bringing their family over as part of Family Reunion to access suitable housing in preparation for the arrival of their family.
The role requires close collaboration with the home office housing provider (MEARS) to transition asylum seekers with positive decisions to be rehoused within a 28-day timescale. You will work with a range of landlords to procure properties and maintain good relations. The successful applicant must be able to work to tight deadlines and link closely with other 3rd sector organizations who support customers such as RETAS, Red Cross, and PAFRAS. You will also be responsible for completing required information to the Refugee Integration Service on a monthly basis.
Main Duties
Responsibilities for Grade:
1. To provide ongoing housing support.
2. To provide housing advice for families wishing to apply for social housing, including registration and advice on choice-based letting.
3. To provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees, ensuring that standards are maintained, monitored, and that the service meets all statutory and contractual requirements.
4. To link effectively with wider support services while supporting customers throughout the housing process and transition into secure accommodation.
5. To carry a caseload and provide signposting, advice, and support in relation to all housing matters for up to 6 months.
6. To work in partnership with various organizations to enable the delivery of cross-service projects to achieve positive outcomes.
7. To maintain good practice in the use of interpreters, including assessing the need for interpretation, taking into consideration the complexity of information or advice.
8. To record accurate client information, actions taken, and advice given.
9. To be aware of, identify, and act upon issues regarding safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in accordance with the Leeds City Council Safeguarding Policy.
10. To work with volunteers in a manner that effectively complements the framework of integration support.
11. To be aware of and adhere to Leeds City Council Health and Safety Policy, being responsible for your own health and safety while at work and that of your colleagues and service users.
12. To work within all relevant policies, procedures, and systems established corporately or locally and to support the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies.
13. To carry out duties in accordance with the Council Values and culture.
14. To monitor and report hate crime wherever it is found.
Specific Responsibilities
1. To deal with sensitive and confidential information on issues relating to families on the programmes.
Qualifications
Must have relevant experience in this area of work.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION: Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following: Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills Required
1. Ability to negotiate clearly and sensitively with agencies on behalf of clients.
2. Ability to communicate complex information to confused and distressed clients.
3. Excellent listening skills with the ability to empathize.
4. Sensitivity to working in a diverse organization with a diverse group of people.
5. Good command of spoken and written English and an ability to communicate in a professional manner.
6. Competent IT skills including Excel, Word, and email.
7. Ability to take a flexible and creative approach to the demands of the post, working on own initiative as well as within a team.
8. Ability to work effectively with colleagues and interpreters to establish good working relationships, including partnership working.
9. Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities and its practical applications for own working practice.
10. Able to work effectively with communities in groups and secure their commitment to achieving learning outcomes.
11. Ability to effectively manage conflict.
12. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize own workload while delivering to a work program and adapting it to changing circumstances while ensuring deadlines are met.
13. Able to lead on responding to immediate safeguarding/health & safety issues.
14. Ability to prepare and present regular reports and keep an up-to-date record of work progress.
15. Ability to record spend accurately.
16. Ability to handle sensitive/confidential information.
Knowledge Required
1. A good knowledge of welfare benefits, housing, immigration systems, and an understanding of how these affect refugees.
2. Knowledge and understanding of the difficulties faced by newly arrived refugees, including language, mental health, and the ability to adapt service delivery to address this need.
3. Understanding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
4. A working knowledge of national policies relating to refugees.
5. An understanding of community cohesion issues.
6. A knowledge of, and evidence of the ability to communicate effectively with, many different organizations.
Experience Required
1. Sensitivity to working in a multi-cultural organization and the ability to work with colleagues from different cultures.
2. Experience of working with vulnerable groups.
3. Effectively record and evaluate community sessions, producing reports within specific timescales.
4. Working in a multi-agency setting to achieve shared objectives.
5. Experience of working with complex cases.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
1. Conscientious, honest, and reliable.
2. Willing to have a flexible approach to meet changing demands.
3. Able to undertake a flexible and varied working pattern, i.e., late evenings & weekends.
4. Committed to continuous improvement of the service.
5. Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council.
6. Prepared to be DBS Checked.
7. Willing to take personal responsibilities under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policies.
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