Housing Options Officer

Housing Options Officer - Oxford

Salary: £22 per hour

Full Time – Monday-Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm

Role Purpose:

• To deliver a first-class customer orientated service to prevent homelessness which provides the customer with a suitable solution regarding their homelessness and housing issues.
• Acting as a first point of contact for asylum seekers, refugees or migrants who living or recently moved from asylum dispersal accommodation, you will be aware of the barriers and challenges and have a positive attitude to problem solve and overcome them to support customers.
• To take ownership in ensuring all housing options and upstream housing advice are explored in all cases to establish and maximise opportunities for preventing homelessness.
• To carry out the statutory duties under homelessness legislations. Ensuring
• applications are taken and investigated appropriately under the terms of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996 part 7 as amended, Localism Act 2011,Code of Guidance, case law and our clients own policies.
• To be an effective member of the Housing Options Team, part of the wider Homelessness Prevention Team, as well as working collaboratively with colleagues across the department to support the objectives of the Housing Needs team; homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing and excellent customer outcomes.
• Provide a range of advice and assistance to customers, undertaking visits to take homeless applications and offer early intervention housing advice including translation services where appropriate, working closely with voluntary and community organisations to offer a joined up service to customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• To pro-actively provide to customers in housing need, a range of advice and assistance on housing and related areas, working with or signposting them to other service areas or agencies where appropriate, demonstrating strong empathy and listening skills in a calm manner to help to resolve their housing issues.
• Understanding of the specific challenges affecting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants and how to overcome to these to deliver a holistic service focused on homeless prevention including utilising a trauma informed approach.
• Awareness that you will be working with customers is different legal situations and therefore the advice will need to be tailored to their specific situation.
• Lead and manage a personal caseload which would include a number of homelessness and prevention applications and maintain an accurate and detailed casework records in line with our clients policies, procedures, code of guidance and homelessness legislation.
• Assess all applications and determine the extent of the statutory duties to homeless household and decide on the appropriate action to take in line with Housing Act 1996 part 7 (as amended), Homelessness Act 2002, Localism Act 2011, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (and any other relevant legislations) , Policies and Procedures.

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 or other vacancies in your area please contact Casey Adams on 07587327813 or via email CaseyA@4recruitmentservices.com