Portsmouth City Council - Housing Adviser

Portsmouth City Council - Housing Adviser (Gosport) (Housing)

Location: Gosport Town Hall, PO12 1EB.

Contract: Initial contract to 22nd August 2021.

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

Payrate: £13.21 an Hour.

Description:

you will be part of a team dealing with customers face to face and by telephone.

You will be required to deal with housing enquiries and homeless applications as part of duty team, manage a caseload, and make assessments of housing need within appropriate timescales.

You will be interviewing customers about their housing situation and working with customers to find solutions to their housing issues.

This may involve negotiation with landlords or family members, advising and helping customers to secure private housing,

working with other agencies and professionals and exploring all possible housing solutions to help prevent homelessness and the need to move.

Your work will involve making assessments to determine eligibility for assistance under the homelessness legislation and assessing housing need and priority for Gosport Borough Council's waiting list.

You will need to be able to clearly explain the statutory processes of homelessness and allocation of housing to customers and to other professionals.

You will need to visit customers in their own homes to understand and assess their housing need and also to make assessments of financial circumstances.

You will be required to represent Housing Advice at multi-agency meetings.

We are looking for somebody who:

Is customer focussed and able to demonstrate consistently high standards of customer service and has experience of working in a challenging front line service.

Is confident and who is a strong verbal and written communicator with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively to ensure customers understand the options available and the consequences of their choices.

You must be able to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurately spoken English.

Has excellent listening skills and is able to use the knowledge gained to fully understand customers' circumstances.

Has clear written communication skills including the ability to record information accurately and write formal letters which explain policy and legislation.

Ideally has an awareness of the Housing Act 1996 (amended) and Homelessness Legislation, though this is not essential.

Ideally has an awareness of the welfare benefits system.

Has an awareness of the private rented sector housing sector and landlord and tenant / private sector law.

Has an awareness of the issues facing vulnerable client groups as well as a commitment to equal opportunities.

Is passionate and enthusiastic about providing effective help and advice for customers to achieve positive outcomes, and able to suggest innovative solutions to problems.

Is able to manage their time effectively and professionally, even when competing priorities and heavy workloads challenge you personally.

Be pro-active and highly motivated with the ability to work quickly, accurately and consistently when under pressure, and is happy to question current procedures and suggest improvements.

Has good IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office applications, has experience of using Locata and Capita.

Has a knowledge of the local area and an awareness of the different housing providers and support agencies accessible to Gosport residents.

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 Nana Kyeremeh on 0208 514 9137 or Email nanayawk@4recruitmentservices.com