Job Details

Housing Options Officer

Location: Darlington
Contract: Temporary
Pay: As agreed

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Housing Options Officer to join a busy local authority Housing Options team in Darlington.

You will provide housing advice, assistance and support to individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. You will manage a caseload of homelessness applications, carry out statutory assessments and work with individuals, landlords and partner agencies to prevent homelessness and secure suitable accommodation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide housing advice and assistance to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their accommodation.
• Investigate and assess homelessness applications in line with the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Develop Personalised Housing Plans to help applicants secure suitable accommodation.
• Manage a caseload of homeless and potentially homeless applicants, maintaining accurate records and completing case reports.
• Explore temporary and permanent housing options, including council housing, housing associations and the private rented sector.
• Negotiate with landlords and other agencies to prevent homelessness and help applicants retain or secure accommodation.
• Arrange emergency and temporary accommodation where required.
• Carry out home visits and basic property inspections where necessary.
• Work closely with social services, housing providers and voluntary organisations to support vulnerable individuals.
• Participate in an out-of-hours service to respond to emergency homelessness situations.

Essential Requirements

• Approximately 2 years’ relevant experience in housing, homelessness, social care or a similar support environment.
• Knowledge of homelessness issues and relevant housing legislation, particularly the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Experience supporting people with housing needs and managing a caseload.
• Understanding of health and disability issues affecting housing suitability.
• Experience liaising with landlords, housing providers and external support agencies.
• Knowledge of local accommodation and housing resources.
• Ability to interpret legislation, follow policies and make informed decisions.
• Strong communication, organisation and workload management skills.
• IT literacy, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to travel independently and undertake out-of-hours duties when required.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will have previous experience within a local authority Housing Options, Homelessness Prevention or Housing Needs team. They will be confident conducting homelessness assessments, advising vulnerable applicants, preventing homelessness and arranging suitable temporary accommodation.

They must be organised, compassionate and able to manage a demanding caseload while working effectively with a range of partner agencies.