The purpose of this role is to provide a front-line, customer-focussed service to individuals and families experiencing housing difficulties.

Client Details

Our client is a Local Authority based in Braintree.

Description

The key responsibilities:

To provide a comprehensive frontline service to customers seeking advice and assistance with regards to their housing needs, irrespective of tenure, either in person or by telephone.

To participate in the Housing Options duty rota (including Triage) and respond to emergencies as required.

To take action to prevent and relieve homelessness, including visits to applicants' parents, negotiation with landlords and mortgage companies, referral to other agencies and use of the Council's Homelessness Prevention Fund.

To provide customers with expert, professional, comprehensive advice and information on all aspects of housing options work specific to their assessed needs: including undertaking basic financial and benefits assessments.

To produce Personalised Housing Plans following assessment of needs; to monitor customers' actions and to perform the authority's actions.

To help customers access a range of housing opportunities, including social housing, private rented accommodation, supported housing and shared/home ownership and to assess customers' suitability for the Council's Deposit Bond and/or Rental Loan schemes.

Profile

The successful candidate:

Good interviewing and interpersonal skills. Excellent organisational and communication skills coupled with an empathetic style. Strong IT skills and letter writing skills are also important.

Experience of providing housing advice to the public and of liaising with other statutory, voluntary or private sector organisations.

Experience of working in a housing service or a similar area of work.

Experience of issuing Personalised Housing Plan (PHP)

Experience of writing s184 decisions

Job Offer

What is on offer?

• Hybrid working
• 3 Month Contract initially
• £31.19 per hour rate
• Immediate start