Housing Solutions Officer

Southwark

28 Per Hour

I am recruiting for a local authority who is looking for someone to provide an effective, professional service on behalf of the Council including offering a full range of advice on housing options in the private and public sector and ensure comprehensive homelessness prevention service.

Job Role

To provide an effective, professional homelessness service on behalf of the Council including assessment and investigation of homeless approaches and applications in line with the Councils' statutory duties under Housing Act 1996 Part 7 and relevant case law.

To develop, update and review Personalised Housing Plans for customers on behalf of the council in light of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. This Plan will ensure that homelessness is prevented or relieved through

active engagement with council and private sector services.

To drive the council's reduction of temporary accommodation expenditure by ensuring that all other avenues are explored and customers are diverted away from its use.

Key Accountabilities

To provide an effective, customer-friendly and efficient service to clients presenting with housing problems; to support them in keeping their current home or in accessing a new home in the public or private housing sector.

To advise clients on full range of options to solve their housing problem, including intervention if threatened with homelessness, registering on council housing list, initiatives for council tenants, private renting, mortgage advice, moving out of London and shared ownership.

To provide a professional and effective housing options interview and homelessness investigation service; taking a full application from the service user and issuing personalised housing plans in preventing or relieving homelessness irrespective of the customer's priority need or intentionality status.

To assess the customers housing needs in accordance with the Homelessness Act 2017. A high percentage of customers presenting as homeless will be vulnerable and it is essential to assess the customers needs accurately in accordance with the Care Act 2014, the Children's Act 1989 and all relevant housing legislation.

To provide an effective homeless prevention service for single applicants and where appropriate to those whom the council may not have a statutory duty by providing advice and or assistance with private rented sector accommodation, hostels, Refuge or other means which may help them prevent homelessness either in the short or long term.