Warning This job advert has expired and applications have closed.

Housing Options Officer

Posting date:	07 November 2024
Salary:	£15.24 per hour
Additional salary information:	per hour PAYE
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	06 December 2024
Location:	BOLTON, BL1 1RU
Company:	Triumph Consultants Ltd
Job type:	Temporary
Job reference:	Bolton 0009 56A6 / 1

Summary

What's involved with this role:

Temporary Housing Options Officer

Reference no: Bolton 0009 56A6 / 1

Pay Rate: £15.24 per hour PAYE

37 Monday – Friday, normal working hours

This opening assignment is for 1-2 months

City: BOLTON

Enhanced DBS disclosure required

Needs experience in taking homeless presentations and assessments under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the homelessness reduction act 2017)

Assist and support the delivery of a high quality Housing Options & Advice Service for homeless persons, those threatened with homelessness and others in housing need.

Provide for all aspects of homelessness and housing advice casework from contact / initial application, assessment, decision, provision / securing of prevention and relief assistance through the delivery of statutory homelessness prevention, relief and other assistance via related policies and practices.
Assist vulnerable customers to access and engage in services; offering advice and support on all options; advocating and negotiating on behalf of customers; and work closely with other agencies externally & internally in order to provide options, prevent and relieve homelessness and to provide for the needs of households.

Key Responsibilities:

ASSESSMENT AND ASSISTANCE: In order to fulfil relevant duties including prevention and relief of homelessness within scope of all relevant legislation, policy and practice: receive enquiries; obtain necessary information from; undertake assessments of; and develop plans for customers seeking advice & assistance with housing related matters including homelessness, in various settings/locations as directed. Provide advice, options and assistance including via liaison, negotiation and advocacy with other services and agencies as appropriate in order to meet need.
TECHNICAL ADVICE: Have a working knowledge of: housing, homelessness and related legislation; associated Code(s) of Guidance, local policies & procedures; and have an awareness of changes in legislation, policy guidance and current practice with regard to all the issues around housing & homelessness. Keep up to date with changes to relevant policy. law and practice. Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge and understanding of related service provision and processes locally.
WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS: Actively work, liaise and negotiate with internal and external customers / agencies (including private and public sector landlords) to: prevent and relieve homelessness; increase awareness of relevant legislation; promote good practice; and where necessary instigating multi-agency case meetings on potentially difficult and complex cases.
Support and encourage customers (including those who may be homeless) through appropriate techniques and mechanisms in order that they: take responsibility for and engage in actions to address their own housing and other needs as appropriate; and are assisted with maintaining or securing suitable accommodation including through negotiation with support services to sustain successful outcomes.
PROVIDING ADVICE AND INFORMATION: Provide specialist advice and information on housing options, advice, homelessness and allocations as well as general advice on related matters as appropriate to internal and external customers and agencies including landlords. Produce as required information on services and procedures in appropriate formats for other internal & external staff, agencies and customers.
REPRESENTING THE SERVICE: Represent the Council and the service ensuring collaborative case-working, contributing to service development and reporting on progress to management in all liaison and work with internal and external services / agencies on matters concerning housing options & homelessness within the Borough. Act as liaison officer for specific temporary accommodation, other services &/or projects as required; to assist and deliver awareness / training to other internal & external staff, agencies and customers as appropriate.
MONITORING: Check and maintain all case file records in good order, ensure database records are accurate & up to date, and prepare & provide required case work monitoring and management information as required in good time. Assist in the preparation of any reports, statistical returns or analysis required concerning relevant aspects of Homes for Bolton & related services. Assist in monitoring the satisfactory re-housing of customers in compliance with legislation / Code(s) of Guidance and Council policies
UNIQUE REPORTS / LETTERS: Dealing with correspondence to and from internal / external customers including Councillors and MPs, other Departments and agencies concerning case work and related matters.
DEVELOPING THE SERVICE: Highlight emerging trends and issues with team leaders and management and engage in work to contribute to the development of services and procedures to better meet customer and policy needs.
CASH: Assist in administration of small cash float including for customers' travelling expenses, emergency accommodation or collection of fees for printed material

Qualifications:

Must be willing to undertake appropriate training and development in order to meet the requirements of the post.
Must hold a full, current and valid driving licence and a vehicle with a current valid MOT certificate.

Knowledge:

Knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and guidance
Understanding of housing need and homelessness issues
An awareness of the potential conflict of interest and political sensitivity involved in decisions and actions taken

Experience:

Experience of dealing with customers, both internal and external (including interviewing)
Demonstrable front-line experience in a closely related service area

Skills & Abilities:

Excellent customer contact, interviewing and relevant skills in order to encourage customers to adopt a particular course of action
Demonstrate effective organisational skills, with the ability to plan, develop and prioritise work in order to meet deadlines and changes in priority
Ability to work as part of a team and under own supervision using initiative
Demonstrate the ability to network effectively with a wide variety of agencies and to negotiate e.g. on behalf of customers and influence decisions and access to services.


Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.


***Qualification details and any other experience/skills relevant to the role to help support your application (and help us to help you!) – please give full details within your CV document.

Unless the DBS requirement stated above is for a Basic Disclosure, your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service.

Clients are generally looking for candidates who are local to, or who can commute easily to the place of work. It will help your application if your CV states, in broad terms, where you reside – there is no need for a full address.

Please feel free to apply to us directly via jobs@tclrec.com by quoting the job reference and exact job title.

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would ask that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, not as a PDF.

If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension, you will be working at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than umbrella pay terms. We do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.

Due to the number of CVs being sent to us under current market conditions, unfortunately we cannot respond to all applications. If you have not heard from us within 3 working days please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. We will, however, be very happy to receive future applications from you for other roles.

ALD
1

Job Ref: Bolton 0009 56A6 / 1


Anticipated Length of Assignment: Unless otherwise stated (we do carry the occasional permanent vacancy) all of our roles are technically temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Please do try to resist contacting us with requests for progress updates.

We really do read every CV sent to us. All applications will be acknowledged by a human, not a robot, provided the job remains live and provided your CV meets the “Essential Requirements” listed.

Please note that we do our level best to take down ads as soon as roles have been filled. We are not in the business of harvesting CVs.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary.