RQ1803137 – Senior Housing Options Advisor

Job Details

Work Pattern: 37 hours per week, 4 days per week – office based

PAYE Pay Rate: £30 per hour

Main Purpose of the Role

The Senior Housing Options Advisor will lead and supervise a team of 6–8 Housing Options Advisors, ensuring the delivery of effective housing advice, homelessness prevention and support services.

The role involves managing complex homelessness cases, supporting vulnerable individuals and families, and ensuring the council meets its legal responsibilities under housing legislation.

You will oversee daily team operations, provide guidance on challenging cases, monitor performance and work with external agencies to find suitable accommodation and prevent homelessness.

Typical Day Overview

  • Team Management: Supervise and support a team of 6–8 Housing Options Advisors, allocating workloads and monitoring performance.

  • Case Management: Manage a small personal caseload of complex homelessness cases involving vulnerable individuals and families.

  • Housing Advice: Provide guidance on homelessness applications, housing options, temporary accommodation and homelessness prevention.

  • Crisis Management: Support the team in dealing with urgent homelessness situations and identifying immediate housing solutions.

  • Multi-Agency Working: Liaise with social services, housing associations, support providers and other external organisations.

  • Performance Monitoring: Review team KPIs, case outcomes, service targets and ensure accurate case records.

  • Staff Development: Coach, mentor and train Housing Options Advisors, providing advice on legislation and complex cases.

  • Service Improvement: Identify ways to improve homelessness prevention services, working practices and overall service delivery.

Key Skills and Responsibilities

  • Experience managing or supervising housing or homelessness teams.

  • Strong knowledge of Housing Act 1996 Part 7 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

  • Experience managing complex homelessness cases and finding suitable housing solutions.

  • Understanding of homelessness prevention, rough sleeping and temporary accommodation.

  • Ability to provide housing advice and support vulnerable individuals and families.

  • Experience with safeguarding adults and children.

  • Strong knowledge of housing legislation, policies and procedures.

  • Ability to manage workloads, allocate cases and monitor team performance.

  • Experience working with local authorities, housing associations and external agencies.

  • Excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

  • Ability to manage challenging situations and work under pressure.

  • Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office, spreadsheets and case management systems.

Essential Requirements and Qualifications

Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A–C (or equivalent).

  • Relevant housing qualification, ideally CIH Level 4 Diploma or equivalent, or demonstrable equivalent capability.

Essential Experience:

  • Senior-level experience within a local authority, housing association or voluntary organisation.

  • Previous experience working within a Housing Options or Homelessness service.

  • Extensive knowledge of Housing Act 1996 Part 7 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

  • Experience handling complex homelessness cases and supporting vulnerable people.

  • Experience supervising staff or managing a team would be highly beneficial.

Additional Requirements:

  • Full UK driving licence and access to own transport.

  • Willingness to work outside normal office hours when required.

  • Ability to work full-time, office-based across multiple North Northamptonshire locations.

  • Satisfactory DBS clearance.