Housing Options Officer

HOUSING OPTIONS OFFICER

£82.60 PER DAY

FULL TIME 35 HOURS PER WEEK

SOUTHEND ON SEA

TEMPORARY CONTRACT UNTIL 30TH SEPTEMBER 2014

AN ENHANCED DBS CHECK IS REQUIRED TO BE IN SITU PRIOR TO START DATE

ABOUT THE ROLE

Southend Borough Council are looking for an experienced officer required to carry out full Housing Options interviews of potentially homeless applicants both in person and by telephone. It will involve making thorough investigations into individual Housing situations to prevent homelessness where possible. Also to investigate and make formal decisions on the Councils statutory responsibility towards applications received under part 7 Housing Act 96, as amended by Homelessness Act 2002.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- To be responsible and advise potentially homeless applicants of all the housing options available to them to prevent homelessness through housing advice and liaison with other voluntary and statutory agencies and private sector landlords
- Liaise with other Officers in the section or other Council departments in an attempt to prevent homelessness
- Contact private landlords to negotiate on behalf of the applicant to prevent homelessness
- Complete referral forms to supported housing schemes and attend nomination panels if required
- Liaise closely and carry out joint visits to tenants of South Essex Homes or local Registered Social Landlords when required ie when an applicant is threatened with eviction
- Arrange placements of homeless families in temporary accommodation as and when necessary and assist in the management and monitoring of temporary accommodation in respect to supply and demand
- Assist in the management of the temporary accommodation units including the hostel and short term leased properties
- Deal with all correspondence, telephone enquiries or face to face enquiries concerning applicants threatened with homelessness

ABOUT YOU

You will have a good basic level of education along with excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of working with homeless or vulnerable people. You will also need to have working knowledge of Housing Act 1996, as amended and extended by Homelessness Act 2002. Along with, knowledge of Landlord and Tenant legislation and private sector housing issues and Supporting People regime and Supported housing issues.

You will need to have knowledge and experience in the following:

- Meeting targets
- Managing change
- Ability to write reports and statistical data
- Good organisational and time management skills
- Ability to manage a heavy workload
- Experience of being a team player and of being able to work on own initiative
- Capability to listen and negotiate and influence effectively

SOUTHEND BOROUGH COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO SAFEGUARDING AND PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS, AND EXPECTS ALL EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS TO SHARE THIS COMMITMENT.

Our aim is to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief. All applications will be considered solely on merit.

Please note this role may be filled prior to the closing date

Working for Essex welcome applications from all suitably qualified people regardless of gender, race, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Working for Essex is a trading name of Capita Resourcing Ltd. Services offered are those of an Employment Agency and Employment Business. Applicants will be required to register with us.