Housing Officer

Description:

Job Title: Housing Officer

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £25,965.41 (£27,112.48 is achieved after 18 months successful performance in the role)

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Working Pattern: 5 days per week including alternate weekends and some bank holidays

Location: Bracken Court, Leeds

For your application to be considered please ensure you attach a current CV and cover letter. 

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives. 

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

Competitive pay & generous pension 

28 days holidays plus bank holidays

Flexible working options available

Investment in your learning, personal development and technology

A wide range of benefits 

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: 

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. 

Application Process: 

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact as a Housing Officer, we encourage you to apply with your CV and cover letter. 

We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the criteria on the job description, at Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience.  

The difference you will make as a Housing Officer

This role is based at Bracken Court in Leeds.

Bracken Court contains 50 units and tenants stay for an average of between 6 months to 1 year.

We provide a Housing Management service to assist move on and make tenants ready for permanent accommodation.

You will work as part of a committed team and undertake a range of tasks to deliver an outstanding housing management service across several property types, ensuring you are always putting the customer first.

About You

We are looking for someone with:

A friendly and positive can-do attitude 

Experience in customer facing roles delivering excellent customer service

Strong administration & IT skills including report and assessment writing using Microsoft Office

Excellent communication skills both written and verbally

Ability to work under pressure in challenging situations

Strong attention to detail with analytical skills

An interest in the UK Benefits System and Housing & Immigration Law

An open mind who is willing to develop and learn new skills

Customer Service background

An interest in Housing and Housing Law, UK benefits, increasingly Immigration and Immigration Law  

Ideally the role holder will have a driving licence as the role may require travel across West Yorkshire. Business mileage is reimbursed in line with Riverside policy.

Role Profile

Deliver an Allocation & Letting Service:

Liaise with external stakeholders to deliver an effective referral pathway into the service/properties

Ensure occupancy targets are met, through lettings and refurbishment of empty properties in line with the scheme’s re-allocation procedures

Allocate properties ensuring customers meet the criteria, affordability and required landlord checks

Meet with customers to provide practical support with setting up a new tenancy, ensuring all documents are complete and liaising with external stakeholders if required

Show new customers the accommodation and communal amenities, clearly communicating tenant responsibilities and compliance to enable them to fulfil and maximise their tenancy

Visit new customers to make sure they are settling into their accommodation and are being supported to follow their tenancy agreement

Deliver a Housing Management Service:

Be responsible for ensuring empty properties are referred to Asset colleagues for void works, following the void procedure to ensure rooms are ready-to-let

Report and monitor the delivery of reactive repairs within properties to ensure they are maintained and health and safety compliant

Liaise with contractors and colleagues around planned maintenance programmes, ensuring that on-site delivery is well co-ordinated and in line with customer requirements

Undertake day-to-day housing management duties, ensuring high standards of cleanliness are maintained within services and that rooms are prepared, ready for site inspections

Proactively support customers experiencing issues that may put their accommodation at risk; where appropriate issuing warnings and Notices to Determine (NTDs) in consultation with Service Managers

Prepare files and case notes in readiness for court

Deliver a tenancy sustainment advice service to support customers to maintain their accommodation, e.g. claiming correct benefits

Work directly with customers to monitor or reduce issues of anti-social behaviour within the service

Meet regularly with customers to discuss ways to improve their accommodation, promoting involvement and consultation on matters impacting their housing

Ensure the safety of our customers by recognizing and acting on any risk by following local safeguarding procedures and escalating appropriately

Monitor and assist in maintaining health and safety requirements standards

Deliver an Administration Service:

Carryout administrative tasks to support efficient running of the service

Produce reports and other written documentation as required to support housing management delivery

Maintain and update clear, accurate and strength-based records on the appropriate digital platform

Assist schemes in daily operational tasks, including answering phones and working on Reception, as required

Other Information

You will be required to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours

You will be required to travel to different properties within the defined area as and when required

Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary

Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within Riverside’s Policy and Procedure Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR opportunities, cash handling, etc

Deliver your role in line with Riverside company values – “Our Riverside Way”

Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and reflecting practice sessions

Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely

From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager

Person specification

Essential

An understanding of the barriers faced by vulnerable and diverse customer groups and individuals with complex needs

Experience of working within house management

Be a team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude.

Previous experience in positively resolving incidents

Demonstrate initiative and confidence to make and act on decisions

Competent administrative and IT skills (to be able to produce reports and other communications) 

Desirable

Knowledge of current benefit systems

Knowledge of Housing regulations

Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results 

Experience of working within a care & support environment