The role
We are currently looking to appoint a Housing Options Officer to join a high performing Housing Options Team delivering quality proactive advice and assistance to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
Qualifications
Degree standard of education or relevant professional qualification would be desirable
Duties and responsibilities
~ Offer comprehensive advice and assistance on the housing options available to households based upon their particular needs and resources at the earliest opportunity to prevent homelessness.
~ Carry out appropriate investigations into homelessness applications ensuring that all appropriate notifications, decisions and personalised housing plans be issued within relevant timescales and that case files and case notes are accurate and kept up to date.
~ Ensure that households placed in temporary accommodation receive appropriate support including assistance in claiming housing benefit for their stay.
~ To participate in and advise upon the development and review of Council policies and strategies relating to homelessness.
~ Attend meetings representing the Council in order to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other departments, agencies and organisations and colleagues.
~ To carry out any other related duties of an equivalent nature that the Council may require within the level of competence of the post-holder.
~ To actively encourage customers to be involved in providing feedback on the quality and appropriateness of the support services and ensure they are involved in the design and review of the support service.
Person Specification
~ Experience of working in a local authority homelessness/housing options service.
~ Knowledge of legislation governing homelessness and allocations, including a working knowledge of related case law.
~ Experience of using homelessness case management systems and Microsoft Office
~ A working knowledge of Landlord and Tenants law: contracts relating to formation and ending of tenancies including breach of terms of both public and private sector tenancies; unlawful eviction and harassment; also possession procedures.
~ Have experience of issuing homelessness decisions to comply with legislative requirements and Code of Guidance.
~ Be familiar with, or able to gain knowledge of local social housing and support agencies to enable good housing advice to be offered to homeless claimants, including the prevention of homelessness.
~ Experience of dealing effectively with enquiries from members of the public.
~ Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to receive, record and impart information effectively.
~ Ability to keep calm during stressful situations and to be able to interview effectively members of the public. Display tact and diplomacy and an ability to deal with confidential matters.
~ Ability to use own initiative, organise and manage own workload to meet priorities with minimum supervision
~ A commitment to developing and maintaining high levels of customer service in accordance with the Council’s Customer Service Standards.
~ A commitment to personal development.
~ Willingness to undertake additional training as required meeting the needs of the organisation and service e.g. housing legislation, case law updating, Health and Safety etc.
~ Ability to work flexibly as part of a team and collaboratively with internal and external partners
~ Ability and willingness to demonstrate the council’s values and behaviours
~ Full current driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes
~ The ability to occasionally work outside normal office hours
Benefits
• Flexible working
• Family friendly policies
• On-site free parking
• Up to 31 days' annual leave
• Option to purchase additional leave
• Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme
• Savings and loan scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Generous pension scheme
• Additional voluntary contribution to AVC
• Staff reward scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee forums (Your Voice, Health & Wellbeing)
General Statement
The information contained in this job description is provided to assist employees joining the council to understand and appreciate the work content of their post and the role they will play in the organisation. However, the following point should be noted:
• Whilst every endeavour has been made to outline all the duties and responsibilities of the post, a document such as this does not permit every item to be specified in detail. Broad headings, therefore, may have been used, in which case all the usual associated routines are naturally included in the job description.
How to apply
Download and complete the application form at
Application forms should be returned to: recruitment@rossendalebc.gov.uk OR
Rossendale Borough Council, People & Policy, The Business Centre, Futures Park, Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 0BB
Alternatively, email your name and address, quoting reference number HT1002 to recruitment@rossendalebc.gov.uk or telephone People and Policy on 01706 252513.
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you will need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.
Closing Date – Friday 27th September 2024 at 10am
Interview Date – Friday 4th October 2024
Please note we do not accept CV's
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 .