Job Role: Housing Officer

Location: Greater Manchester

Duration: 3-6 Months

Date entered: 01.12.2009

Small description:

Working as part of the Housing Options Team, Housing Options Officers play a key role in preventing homelessness within the Borough, helping people find and retain accommodation.  Through in depth casework, involving home visits, face to face and telephone interviews, Housing Advice Officers provide customer focussed, comprehensive advice and assistance to those in housing need.

Large description:

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB:
Location: Manchester

Working as part of the Housing Options Team, Housing Options Officers play a key role in preventing homelessness within the Borough, helping people find and retain accommodation.  Through in depth casework, involving home visits, face to face and telephone interviews, Housing Advice Officers provide customer focussed, comprehensive advice and assistance to those in housing need.

Housing Options Officers play a key role in developing the range of housing options available to customers and are given the opportunity to take the lead on developing projects and initiatives.  The Team is dedicated to involving customers in how services are provided and this role includes encouraging and acting upon feedback from service users.

In the small number of cases where customers cannot be assisted in avoiding homelessness, Housing Options Officers make relevant enquiries and assessments in line with legislation and see cases though to being rehoused where appropriate.



KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Housing Options Advice

1.    To provide advice on the range of housing options available with the Borough and practical assistance in finding customers' accommodation.

2.    To proactively seek out new housing opportunities for customers and share knowledge with colleagues

3.    To systematically record options advice delivered and follow up verbal advice with comprehensive letters

4.    To be able to motivate and enthuse customers to take up available options and actively pursue them

5.    To keep abreast of developments in local and national housing issues and apply to day to day work

Homeless Prevention Work

1.    To mediate with parents, friends or landlords where customers are threatened with homelessness

2.    To conduct home visits to assess customers circumstances and needs

3.    To advise tenants and homeowners of their legal rights and responsibilities

4.    To advise customers experiencing domestic abuse of the options available to them to remain in their homes (for example injunctions)

5.    To provide customers with a clear course of action to avoid losing their homes and motivate them to act upon advice given

6.    To signpost or refer customers to specialist services where required (for example debt advice or community drugs team)

7.    To work within guidelines to administer a homeless prevention fund – using own initiative to make payments to avoid customers becoming homeless

8.    To systematically record advice provided and follow up verbal advice with comprehensive letters

Homeless Assessments

1.    To develop and maintain a good knowledge of homelessness and relevant legislation (primarily 1996 Housing Act as amended by 2002 Homelessness Act), including case law.

2.    To explain the homelessness process to customers in a clear, concise manner.

3.    To make sufficient enquiries from customers, landlords and other parties to enable reasoned decisions to be made.

4.    To make accurate decisions, backed up by detailed and reasoned case notes and recommend to the Housing Options Manager where a homelessness duty needs to be accepted.

5.    To produce well reasoned, plain English decision letters where decisions are made.

6.    To refer to temporary accommodation where required and progress rehousing for customers accepted as being homeless.

7.    To ensure customers are kept informed of the progress of their case and respond to enquiries

8.    To prepare and present cases at review where decisions are challanged

Project and Link Work

1.    To proactively engage with service developments within the Housing Options Team and embrace change.

2.    To contribute ideas and take responsibility for developing areas of service improvement, including project work.

3.    To conduct advice surgeries at temporary accommodation schemes and other locations.

4.    To act as a designated link worker for specific partner agencies (for example Youth Offending Team).

General

1.    To promote and engage in customer involvement and feedback and to seek opportunities to do so.

2.    To effectively utilise ITC in the workplace, including Microsoft package Integrated  Housing Management System (Northgate).

3.    To be able to present information effectively to a range of audiences, representing Stockport Homes Ltd as required.

4.    To demonstrate commitment to meeting the needs of all sections of Manchesters diverse community.

5.    To carry out procedures and activities efficiently and effectively within the guidelines of policies and procedures, including diversity, equal opportunities, health & safety policies and other appropriate legislation governing the working environment.

6.    To attend and contribute to regular team meetings.

7.    To take responsibility for personal development, preparing and contributing to Personal Development Reviews, attending courses and identifying learning requirements. 

8.    To undertake any other duties relevant to the post.

9.    To be willing to travel and work from any of the organisation’s sites, conduct external advice surgeries

Diversity
To work inclusively and value equality and diversity in the workplace and in the provision of services to customers.  To proactively raise concerns about discriminatory practices.

Confidentiality
To ensure all personal data is dealt with in accordance with the Data Protection Act. 

Working flexibly
This is not intended to be a comprehensive description of the duties of the post.  The post holder may be required to undertake other related duties not referred to above.  However any changes to this role specifically will be made in conjunction with the post holder.

Good attendance
Good attendance is essential in achieving the effective and efficient provision of quality services.  All employees are expected to maintain the highest level of attendance.


Customer service
To ensure that all Stockport Homes’ customers receive an excellent service which meets their needs and exceeds expectations.  To actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the organisation by responding positively to customer feedback.

Location: Manchester
Salary: £15-18 per hour PAYE
Hours: 35 per week.

The successful candidate must have specific Housing Officer experience and be able to start work immediately.

For more information, please contact Victoria Brown on 0161 941 4822
CV's to victoria.brown@housingsupport.co.uk