Tenancy Sustainment Officer

Description:

Tenancy Sustainment Officer

Slough

Job Role

Manage a caseload of around 30 cases - people who have been placed in accommodation, providing support to maintain their tenancies and keep them away from returning to the streets. The day-to-day role will include visiting client's residence and raising issues found at an early stage. Referring clients to other support agencies and organising MART meetings.

Support people to set up and sustain their tenancy and encourage and facilitate their independence, enhanced quality of life, health and well-being, and to assist those with challenging and complex needs with short-term support plans to help maintain their tenancy.

Main Accountabilities

Assess the support needs of vulnerable clients (as early as possible, including at sign up) and work with other agencies to develop short-term support plans tailored to meet individual needs. To signpost and facilitate access to other support services. Regularly review support plans with the client and in collaboration with other support agencies to ensure the appropriate type of support remains in place. To arrange and chair multi-agency meetings to discuss individuals in need of wider support.

Support and assist residents with applications for welfare benefits and appeals, including complex housing benefit cases and backdate requests. Support and assist residents with applications for grant funding to maximize income and help to manage urgent financial crises and short or longer-term financial hardship with the aim to maintain and sustain their tenancy and prevent the loss of their home as a result of rent arrears.

Understand the implications of national legislative changes including the Welfare Benefit Reform and take action to minimize the risks to vulnerable clients' income and home by maximizing income and assessing the eligibility for welfare benefits and discretionary housing payments.

To manage the Introductory and Fixed Term tenancy process in conjunction with housing officers by highlighting vulnerabilities and support needs and working to resolve them to ensure tenants can become secure tenants. Working with Housing Officers to ensure they are following the introductory tenancy procedure and acting as the trigger to prompt further action.

Carry out regular risk assessments and, when appropriate, raise safeguarding alerts to protect and support vulnerable clients. Follow up by attending case conferences and/or Child Protection meetings to share information and facilitate the effective intervention of a range of services.

Person Requirement

Have access to a personal car for business use