Housing Options Officer

Description:

Housing Options Officer
Taunton, Somerset
Temporary, 3 Month Contract
Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week, (Apply online only)
Hybrid Working
Driving License and Own Vehicle Essential, DBS Essential,

Our Client, a local Authority in Somerset, are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Housing Options Officer to join their team in Taunton with an in immediate start. This temporary role offers an opportunity to provide crucial support to individuals and families facing homelessness. Role may require visiting applicants in their own homes, across a designated area, to provide advice.Occasional evening and weekend working. Occasional on-call duty, working outside of normal working hours, to respond to emergencies

Key Responsibilities:

Provide advice, information, and assistance to applicants who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Help applicants explore their housing options and find suitable accommodation that meets their needs.
Work collaboratively with a range of partners and agencies to prevent and reduce homelessness in the community.Requirements:

Education qualification to at least A level standard or acquired knowledge to NVQ level 4 and ongoing commitment to continuous professional development and where required will acquire specialist accreditation and skills. Essential
Knowledge of Homelessness legislation. (Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2002, Suitability Order 2012, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017) Desirable
Knowledge of Landlord and tenant law. Desirable
Knowledge of options available to somebody that is homeless or at risk of homelessness. Desirable
Equality and diversity issues and an understanding of the relevance to a housing advice service. Desirable
Effective written and verbal communication Essential
Ability to build and maintain good working relationships. Essential
Ability to deal inventively and sensitively with a wide range and spectrum of people in greatly varying circumstances. Essential
Ability to establish and manage realistic applicant expectations. Essential
Resourceful, solution focused, persuasive and skilled in overcoming barriers. Essential
Ability to prioritise workload, manage time effectively and meet deadlines. Essential
Ability to manage a diverse caseload effectively where detailed and complex investigations are required, working with precision and attention to detail. Essential
Ability to maintain accurate detailed and timely case notes and other evidence-based records. Essential
Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, use initiative and work with limited supervision. Essential
Good organisational and administrative skills. Essential
Experience of working within a Housing Options team Desirable
Experience of working in a housing association, local authority housing department or similar organisation. Desirable
Experience of dealing with the public and in particular vulnerable applicants Desirable
If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration. If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Alex at Service Care Solutions on (phone number removed) or send an E-Mail to (url removed)