Homelessness Prevention Officer

4Recruitment Services are seeking  a  Homelessness Prevention Officer to assist our client based in Oldham. The client may offer some flexibility in working from home.

The purpose to the role is:

• To deliver high quality, customer focused advice and support to people in Oldham who find themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness. This will include providing housing advice to people in the district and completing investigations into applications from customers who are at risk of homelessness as defined by the statutory duties under Housing Act 1996 Part VII, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and relevant case law.
• To provide support to the Council in delivering its statutory homelessness duties by taking homeless applications in an effective manner and ensuring the council is legally compliant, providing an out of hours service and meeting performance targets and standards.

Our client will only consider applicants CV that demonstrate knowledge/experience of assessing  homelessness applications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• To provide a professional and effective housing options interview and homelessness investigation, taking a full application from customers and ensuring duties are carried out at the relevant stages within homelessness legislation.
• To assess customer’s needs accurately in accordance with the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989 and all relevant housing legislation.
• To undertake detailed casework with customers who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. This includes an assessment of legal duties owed, housing and support needs, the production of Personal Housing Plans and consideration of all suitable interventions and potential solutions to prevent homelessness.
• To visit customers who are potentially homeless and their excluders in order to assess and validate their current circumstances, as well as advising on options available to remain in existing accommodation.
• To organise specialist, help and make referrals on behalf of customers to support them with specific problems e.g. substance misuse, mental health, debt management, benefits and council tax.
• To write and issue all required notifications, letters of referral to other authorities where the customer’s local connection lies elsewhere and outcome letters to advise the customer of the outcome of their initial interview. This includes ‘minded to letters’ and the drafting of the statutory s184 notification letters which must be approved by a manager before being sent.
• To work with colleagues who provide the Temporary Accommodation Services in placing housing in line with policy and existing processes. To update housing records and issue customers with correct notification at the time of placing and where their placement is ended.
• To provide advice or practical assistance, including placing customers where it is established that they are roofless.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge/experience of assessing  homelessness applications.
• Extensive experience of liaising with a variety of agencies.
• Experience of using computerised systems for case management purposes, letter writing & record keeping
• Experience of working with homeless people including those with varying support needs providing advice, assistance and support.
• Experience of communicating complex legal or contentious information regarding the duties owed to households in a format which is understandable to the audience
• Knowledge and understanding of the complex issues contributing to homelessness and the impact on the lives.
• Knowledge of the law governing homelessness and an understanding of the current issues in housing
• Knowledge of the range of available accommodation options and specialist services available to single homeless people
• Knowledge of the benefits and support available to people being rehoused
• Knowledge of relevant case law and Codes of Guidance in regards Housing.

What we offer:

• 24 hour one on one specialist consultant based within your geographical area
• 4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme
• Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies , please contact our Team on 0800 988 6307 or email  gpadmin@4recruitmentservices.com.