Details:
- Salary: £30 - 32 - Hour
- Job Type: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-Time
- Salary Per: Hour
- Location: UB8 Uxbridge Greater London
- Date: 1 week ago
Description:
Must know the HRA (Homeless Reduction Act).
To provide a bespoke homeless prevention and intervention caseworker service to those approaching the service with a housing need.
To carry out early homeless prevention activities. Advise on a range of housing issues and welfare benefits, assessing support needs and working with multiple internal and external services to alleviate homelessness and provide households with positive options and sustainable housing solutions.
As well as preventing homelessness will be expected to carry out in-depth homelessness inquiries and make legally sound decisions under the relevant Legislation
* Through a duty system, be the first point of contact for those with a housing need, either presenting in acess, the Library or via the telephone duty line.
* To provide initial housing advice to households and details of suitable housing options in the private and public sector, including information on homelessness prevention.
* To respond to all the referrals that the Council receives under the Duty to Refer,
* To work with households and in partnership with other agencies, landlords, private and public sector services to identify those at risk of homelessness and find innovative, lasting solutions to prevent homelessness and meet housing needs.
* Take proactive steps early to prevent or relieve homelessness wherever possible by negotiating or mediating with customer’s families, landlords (both public and private), solicitors and other agencies focusing on sustaining tenancies.
* To prevent and resolve homelessness within the borough by providing confidential and impartial advice and information to customers approaching the Housing Needs Service about their housing rights and obligations under legislation and Council policy, either in Council offices or other locations as required.
* To promote and deliver the Council’s homeless prevention agenda actively and positively identifying appropriate housing options and utilising the prevention tools available, such as the DHP/Homeless Prevention Fund for customers that will resolve their accommodation problems and reduce the need for the provision of temporary accommodation within agreed timeframes.
* Identify and provide positive, effective, and often complex legal housing advice and information to customers, colleagues, and professionals from other agencies, in compliance with the Landlord & Tenant Acts, benefits legislation, Protection from Eviction Act, Housing and Homelessness Acts, and other related legislation. This will include attending court as needed to prevent homelessness.
* To provide information about debt counselling and money advice services to customers in rent or mortgage arrears, including advice on the availability of welfare benefits and prioritising debts, referring customers to early intervention debt advises, DWP, Housing Benefit Service or CAB as appropriate.
* To negotiate with landlords, Banks, Building Societies and other lenders, estate agents and solicitors on behalf of customers in rent or mortgage arrears.
* Identifying households needing to be referred to the Tenancy Relations service because of illegal eviction or harassment or any other landlord/tenant offence.
Developing Pathways
* Create individual Personal Housing Plans (PHPs) for those approaching with a housing need, to collaborate with both internal and external agencies to develop a clear pathway that sustains existing tenancies or finds new housing. Continuing review actions with the customer and other involved agencies.
* To undertake a comprehensive assessment of vulnerable customers regarding their support and housing-related needs, including the risk to themselves and others.
* To develop and maintain a sound knowledge of the support needs of vulnerable customers presenting to the Council for assistance, including physical and mental health, substance misuse, offending, learning disabilities, independent living skills, education, training, and employment needs.
* To make appropriate referrals to the Homeless Support services for clients with complex needs to ensure that a move-on pathway is developed for each household as required.
* To Liaise with other statutory services as appropriate who may owe a duty to vulnerable customers under legislation other than the homelessness acts.
* Attending multi-agency case reviews when required, meeting case conferences as appropriate and participating in training events as and when required