Housing Options & Advice Officer

Job Title: Housing Options & Advice Officer (Part Time)

Location: Harlow

Salary: £17,417 - £18,324 per annum

Job Type: Part time, Permanent. 18.75 hours per week (banking 15 minutes a week to be used towards the shutdown at Christmas and New Year)

Harlow Council is looking to appoint a part time Housing Options and Advice Officers to work in the Housing Options and Advice Team on a two-year fixed term contract.

Harlow is an area with significant demand and a small supply of social housing there is a clear need for the Council to continue to provide a Housing Options Service. There are many challenges the Council faces with diminishing housing options in the private sector, the increase in housing demand and the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act.

Harlow continues to review any new schemes and initiatives that become available to increase homelessness prevention opportunities and the successful applicant will need to support colleagues in the promotion and development of these.

This is a challenging role and you will need good organisational and negotiation skills and a strong commitment to customer care. Ideally, you will have a knowledge of homelessness or Housing legislation and knowledge of housing options available to prevent homelessness.

This role be both office based and working from home.

Job Purpose:

The Council is committed to providing its customers with the highest level of customer care in the delivery of a customer focused, high quality Housing Service.

The post holder will be responsible for the prevention of homelessness through timely and appropriate intervention. You will be responsible for offering advice and assistance on a range of housing options to customers to help them to maintain or secure accommodation in sectors other than local authority.

The post holder will also be responsible for investigating and assessing homeless applications made to the Council. The Council is committed to a policy of, wherever possible, preventing homelessness through the provision of advice, practical assistance and through the provision of a range of alternative options.

Where no suitable options are available and homeless applications have been made the post holder will have to manage a caseload of homeless assessments. Where necessary this may include the placement of homeless applicants in temporary accommodation.

Where an applicant is placed in either Council owned or externally provided temporary accommodation you will be expected to monitor their progress and assist them to secure permanent accommodation.

The Candidate:

• GCSE English & Maths grades A - C or minimum Level 4 or equivalent
• Able to demonstrate good literacy, numeracy and verbal communication skills
• Experience in a front-line housing service
• Able to work and carry out visits outside of normal office hours, including participation in the 'out-of-hours' rota
• Knowledge of housing legislation and law
• Knowledge of Housing Act 1996
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and be willing to attend training courses relevant to the role to continue to improve knowledge and changes affected by new case law
• Knowledge of Landlord and Tenant law, Immigration and Asylum legislation and Matrimonial law and Children Act

Closing date: Sunday 14 April 2024

Please click on the APPLY button to be redirected to the careers page to finish the application.

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of: estate agent, home finder, Resident Liaison Officer, Client Services Administrator, Customer Service Assistant, Project Assistant, Client Relationship Manager, Project Support Assistant, Construction Project Assistant, Residential Engagement Executive, Customer Service Officer, Technical Officer, Construction Project Resident Engagement, Events Assistant, General Manager, Office Manager, Construction Planning Assistant will also be considered for this role.