Senior Housing Support Officer

Senior Housing Support Officer

LOCATION: East Grinstead (Hybrid with option to work from home)

SALARY: £27,186 per annum

DURATION:Permanent

HOURS: Full Time - 37.5 hours (Mostly Mon-Fri 9-5)

Overview:

• To be responsible for reviewing referrals and ensuring that the referral process is streamlined and accessible, offering prospective residents' choice and control. This role is responsible, health and safety and income of the service.
• Housing management includes maintaining the safety and cleanliness of the property, completing the required health and safety checks. You are responsible for the income generated by Housing benefit and service charge and all related benefits administration.
• You will be responsible for generating reports for the Housing Manager and overseeing the wellbeing of 2 members of the team on a day-to-day basis. To become the 'go to' person and oversea the North district in the absence of the Housing Manager.
• The project concentrates particularly on skill building for Tenancy Sustainment and the post will require liaison with the local council housing department and private landlords to move residents to long term permanent accommodation whilst ensuring that the 'wrap round' support the resident needs is in place.

Housing Management:

• To maximise rental income through effective voids and rent arrears control. Ensuring that rental income is achieved through engagement with local housing benefit teams. Ensure that service charge arrears are minimised and that the service remains financially viable.
• To provide good assessments of new residents which include personal support plans and risk assessments meet the need of the resident and are co-produced.
• To deal with breaches of licence conditions, including rent and service charge arrears, antisocial behaviour, harassment and misuse of property
• To ensure regular property inspections are undertaken. Including ensuring compliance in areas such as Health and Safety, maintenance and HMO regulations
• To keep the Organisation's properties and facilities in a good state of repair and maintenance, ensuring any works are appropriate and cost effective.
• To carry out pre-void inspections, arrange re-letting works, obtain nominations, assess applications and complete new tenancy/licence documentation.
• To ensure prompt and appropriate responses to resident enquiries
• Develop strong partnerships with registered social landlords, private rented sector landlords and housing providers to procure and maintain accommodation options for clients within the service.
• Develop, maintain, and coordinate effective working relationships with external agencies and internal teams, promoting effective communication for and about clients ensuring the accommodation services in Mid Sussex are widely known and promoted.
• Be the lead for all financial processes such as credit card returns, petty cash recording.

Client Support

• Complete move on housing plans in conjunction with clients in an appropriate and timely manner to help develop pathways out of homelessness.
• Where needed to assist with regular 1-2-1 support to clients in order to move forward with tenancy sustainment.
• Where needed to assist with the production of support plans and risk assessments ensuring they are up to date and take account of changing needs.
• Maintain health and safety standards, encouraging residents to take responsibility for keeping their personal space and communal areas clean.
• Moving Clients Forward
• To lead on developing robust referral routes into and out of services, for example working with supported and social housing providers, the local authority and the private rented sector
• To support clients in areas such as financial inclusion, ensuring that they are supported to access appropriate welfare benefits and are able to access budgeting and debt advice.
• To contribute to the development of the Move on Housing strategy.
• To keep well informed of changes and developments in relevant housing, homelessness legislation and benefits.

Person Specification:

• Awareness of welfare benefits, housing legislation and homelessness law and policy.
• Good knowledge of strengths-based and trauma-informed working and harm minimisation in a psychologically informed way.
• Experience of leading or supervising a team with ability to cover the line manager's role and responsibilities.
• Ability to manage a caseload, including understanding individuals' current situation, their goals and aspirations.
• Coordinate wraparound support from other agencies, including, mental health and substance misuse support.
• Ability to produce well written information including qualitative and quantitative data.

For more information on this role please contact Nathan Jackson on or apply with an up-to-date CV