Job Details
London Borough of Hillingdon is currently looking for a Housing Advice and Homeless Prevention Officer to join their team. You will play a crucial role in tackling homelessness in the borough and deliver housing options advice to people at the risk of being homeless.
Does it sound like the right fit for you? Please see details below:
ROLE PURPOSE
The post-holder will be responsible for proactively delivering housing options advice,
including security of tenure, low cost home ownership, preventing homelessness,
investigating householder circumstances and undertaking statutory assessments in order
to determine the best options and resources available on a case by case basis. This will
involve carrying and managing a case load across housing options, move-on and
homeless prevention, to work with individuals supporting and directing clients to access a
broad range of housing options and where appropriate making relevant onward referrals
and signpost to other services. The post holder will ensure statutory requirements are met
and local team targets are delivered through case work.
Housing Options and Move-On
▪ Be able to provide advice on a range of housing options, including low cost home
ownership which promotes self-service, independence and prevents
homelessness.
▪ To manage case work using expertise, knowledge of legislation and well
established networks and partnerships to move clients on from temporary
accommodation into longer term suitable and sustainable accommodation which
effectively fulfils the Councils statutory duties.
▪ To ensure that suitable housing solutions are delivered to residents consistently.
This includes reducing the use of temporary accommodation and developing
creative solutions to achieve this, including consistent use of the Social Housing
Allocations Policy and the Private Rented Sector (PRS).
▪ To develop and maintain effective relationships with private sector landlords, local
managing and lettings agents and owners of empty properties in order to secure
use of privately rented properties for households in housing need in the Borough.
▪ To engage with the Housing Register and Allocations Team, Adult Social Care and
Children’s Services to deliver a seamless service.
▪ Identify and manage safeguarding concerns and risk, introducing risk aversion
plans and make safeguarding for vulnerable individuals, including CAF referrals for
families with/and children and young people. Taking the lead professional role
where necessary and attend joint meetings, case conferences etc
▪ Manage the risk and respond sensitively to adults, children and young people and
fleeing abuse or violence, keeping them away from further harm, by undertaking
appropriate risk assessments and to provide the best possible solutions.
v1. last update March 2023. evaluated March 2023
Homeless Prevention
▪ To be able to provide expert advice on security of tenure, giving detailed advice
and be able to support tenants where there tenancy may be at risk.
▪ To be proactively managing complex case work and contributing to case reviews
where residents are at risk of homelessness to effectively fulfil the Council statutory
duties and resolve their homelessness and intervene immediately with cases to
prevent crisis homelessness.
▪ Be responsible for building effective working relationships with Adult Social Care,
Children’s Services, other Council services and external housing and support
partners to deliver a seamless service, where appropriate. Have an understanding
of the various social care legislative requirements as they affect housing.
▪ To take appropriate action to investigate and discharge the Council’s homeless
duty where appropriate for cases where there is concern that temporary
accommodation has been abandoned, sub-let or misused.
Pay rate: £29 per hour umbrella
Three to six months contract with view to extend or make permanent
