Job Description

JOB AIM AND PURPOSE (What is the job trying to do?)

To be a key member of our statutory prevention and relief housing service for anyone who is at risk of becoming homeless, or who may be homeless. To support the Housing Solutions Manager in overseeing the delivery of the service, ensuring the team is well-supported and delivering person-centred support to clients. To complete a full housing assessment (s189a) and provide solutions and advice to enable individuals to resolve their housing difficulties. This will include linking them to appropriate help and support to enable them to sustain their existing accommodation and working with them and others to find tailored housing solutions. To continually develop a comprehensive working knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 (Part 7) and write decisions on homeless applications that are articulate, comprehensive and adhere to the legislation.

4. MAIN OBJECTIVES

To be responsible for the day to day sign off of statutory decisions and to ensure quality and consistency in officers applying the legislation. Responsible for approving Bed and Breakfast bookings on behalf of the Council, including the administration of purchase orders on the invoice financial system To work with the Housing Solutions Manager to provide a joined up holistic, customer focused homelessness prevention service, ensuring consistency and accuracy within the team To ensure the statutory duties of the Council under the Homelessness legislation are delivered in a clear and transparent way in line with best practice. To provide indirect supervision to the Housing Solutions Officers and provide cover in the absence of the Housing Solutions Manager To undertake project work to enhance the working of the Housing Solutions Service. To assist in the collection and monitoring of performance data To ensure the Council are working towards achieving the objectives within the Councils Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSILBITIES OF THE POST

To ensure the Housing Solutions Service meets the statutory duties of the Council under the Homelessness legislation and are delivered in a clear and transparent way in line with the Code of Guidance & Best Practice. To assist the Housing Solutions Manager with all aspects of the management of the Housing Solutions Service. To indirectly line manage the Housing Solutions Officers and make decisions in the absence of the Housing Solutions Manager To apply, implement and participate in a duty rota to give advice on the telephone and face to face in reception. To approve & ensure robust s184, s190(2), s193(1) & s193(5) decisions relating to homelessness duties, are in line with current legislation, Code of Guidance (COG) & best practice & meets the Councils Policy. To ensure all housing solutions officers are fully supported through on call duty cover & the sign off and approval of cases. To ensure referrals are made in a timely manner, ensuring sufficient information is provided to temporary accommodation, the shared houseand external providers such as supported housing To manage a housing case load appropriate to the role and to assist customers to resolve their homeless issues with a proactive and positive approach to prevention and relief. To approve preparatory work for statutory reviews and to undertake s202 review work as required To liaise with Housing Benefit departments regarding Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP's) and to develop relationships with relevant organisations for the benefit of the team to ensure joint objectives are met. To be aware and able to give advice on all issues of housing circumstances including disrepair, illegal eviction and other private sector housing matters, maintaining an up to date knowledge of other support available. To ensure that any discharge of duty is in line with current legislation, COG & BP & meets the Councils Policy & applicants have an appropriate & robust s189/s193B/s195 decision in place. To ensure the council has the appropriate and robust policies and procedures in place and to contribute to the development of new ones when required. To approve & ensure robust s198 decisions to refer to another Local Authorities. To provide a telephone out of hour's emergency homeless service as part of a duty rota with other Housing Solutions Officers, this includes weekends & Bank Holidays. To liaise closely with other Agencies such as Surrey County Council (Children & Adults Services), Community Mental Health Teams, Police, Probation & others regarding joint working, complex cases & nominations to Supported Housing. To maintain an up to date knowledge of legislation case law, Government Guidance & professional good practice in relation to parts VI & VII Housing Act 1996 (as amended) . To disseminate knowledge and legal case law updates to the team To ensure that all case work is recorded on data recording system i.e. Locata, has integrity & will stand up to scrutiny & maintain an overview of correct assessment for the Housing Register.

Knowledge

Working knowledge of welfare benefits and welfare reform, including the benefit cap, universal credit and local housing allowance issues Considerable experience of dealing with homelessness including a good working knowledge of current legislation

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Skills and Experience

Considerable experience of assisting people with advice in respect of housing options Experience using a range of PC software including Microsoft packages and housing systems Ability to asses complex and sensitive information in an objective manner Ability to work within a team and be flexible when needed Mediation skills Report writing Ability to maintain accurate case work records
Job Types: Full-time, Temp to perm

Pay: 20.00-21.00 per hour

Experience:

Senior Housing Solutions Officer : 3 years (required) OR15469: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Addlestone KT15