Job Description

Do you want a role where you can genuinely help people, have a positive impact in your community, and finish the day knowing your work mattered?

Are you fed up with roles where the purpose gets lost in paperwork?

Do you feel like you're busy all day, but not always making a real difference to the people you're meant to be helping?

If that sounds familiar, this role may be a good fit.

This role suits someone who takes ownership, follows things through, and prefers being trusted to get on with the job.

About the role

We are seeking a Housing & Welfare Officer to support residents placed in emergency and temporary accommodation, while also overseeing the condition, readiness, and suitability of the properties they live in.

This is a housing-led, field-based role with a clear welfare identification and signposting function. You'll spend most of your time out in our properties, checking in with residents, spotting issues early, and making sure the right support is involved before problems escalate.

This role exists to bring stability.
For residents. For councils. And for the wider team.

What we do

Cornerstone manages over 230 temporary accommodation properties across Kent, working with more than 15 local authorities.

We provide safe, secure accommodation for people at difficult points in their lives and support councils by being reliable, responsive, and professional. Our reputation is built on doing the basics well and dealing with issues early.

This role plays a key part in that.

What you'll be responsible for

Supporting residents and welfare identification

You will:

Engage with residents to identify emerging needs, risks, or vulnerabilities at an early stage Act as a consistent point of contact for welfare-related concerns linked to accommodation Carry out welfare visits and follow-up checks Identify issues relating to mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, or safeguarding and escalate appropriately Signpost residents to relevant statutory services, charities, and voluntary sector support Build and maintain relationships with charities, support providers and statutory services Raise concerns early to help prevent issues escalating or placements breaking down
The role does not involve counselling, therapy, or delivering support plans.
Welfare activity is focused on observation, engagement, early identification, and referral.

Property and accommodation oversight

You will also:

Carry out regular property overviews to assess condition, safety, and suitability Complete property inspections and void inspections Identify and report maintenance issues, damage, or health and safety concerns Monitor cleanliness, occupancy levels, and general presentation Oversee void properties between placements Assist with basic room and property setup, including beds, essential furniture, and starter items Carry out visual readiness checks prior to reoccupation Support minor logistical tasks linked to property turnaround
This is a hands-on role. You will be in properties regularly.

Working with councils and internal teams

You will:

Respond to council requests for welfare visits, checks, and inspections Liaise with local authority Housing Options and placement teams Provide clear, factual updates following visits and inspections Work closely with internal operations, maintenance, and management teams Maintain accurate, proportionate, and GDPR-compliant records
You'll be trusted to assess situations on site and take appropriate action.
In return for that trust, we expect honesty, reliability, and follow-through.

What good looks like

New residents are contacted within two working days of moving in Initial in-person visits take place within two weeks Welfare checks and council requests are completed within 24 hours, where access allows Updates and paperwork are returned to councils within 48 hours Strong working relationships established with charities and support organisations At least five property inspections completed each week, alongside ad hoc visits Residents know who to contact and feel supported Councils trust the updates they receive and spend less time chasing Office staff are able to focus on their roles without distraction
You will be accountable for response times, follow-up quality, and the accuracy of updates provided to councils.

What you'll need

Experience in housing, homelessness, welfare identification, or property-related roles An understanding of local authority processes and external support agencies Strong communication and engagement skills The ability to identify needs and risks without trying to fix everything Clear boundaries and sound judgement A practical, hands-on approach with good attention to detail Comfortable carrying out light physical tasks, such as moving beds or helping with property setup Comfortable working alone and managing your own day Full UK driving licence Willingness to complete an Enhanced DBS check

Helpful, but not essential

Experience in temporary accommodation or social housing Safeguarding or conflict management training Good local knowledge of charities and support services across Kent

You'll do well here if you

Take responsibility for your work and follow things through Take ownership and are comfortable being accountable Care about people, while maintaining clear professional boundaries Stay calm under pressure and communicate clearly Are solutions-focused and accept that problems will arise Don't just deal with problems, but look for ways to reduce them happening again Are open-minded and willing to improve how things are done Are trustworthy, honest, and reliable Prefer being out in the field rather than sitting behind a desk Like reactive work and can adapt, pivot, and prioritise Want to make a positive impact on people and communities

This role will not suit you if you

Avoid difficult conversations Struggle to maintain professional or personal boundaries Find reactive work overwhelming or frustrating Tend to overpromise to keep people happy Are looking for a desk or office-based role Make excuses rather than taking ownership

A final honest note

There will be days when priorities clash and decisions need to be made quickly, sometimes with incomplete information.

But you'll finish most weeks knowing people were checked on, issues were dealt with early, and councils were kept informed.

For the right person, that's what makes the work fulfilling.

Practical details

Salary: 26,500 to 27,500 Hours: 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday No regular weekend work Occasional on-call or overtime may be required Company van provided Mobile phone, laptop, uniform, and lone working systems provided Company credit card and expenses covered Six-month probation period Ongoing training provided to upskill and stay ahead of legislation

Short application task (required)

As part of your application, please complete the short task below. This should take no more than 10-15 minutes.

Scenario

It is 10:30am.

You have a planned inspection booked late morning A local authority has requested a welfare visit to be completed by 3:00pm today The welfare visit is one hour away from the inspection A client has messaged saying they feel unsettled and do not know where to get help

Task

Briefly explain how you would prioritise these tasks and why Write one short message to the resident Write one short email to the council
If you want a role where your work has purpose, where you're trusted to do the job properly, and where helping people actually means something, we'd like to hear from you.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 26,500.00-27,500.00 per year

Benefits:

Company car Free parking
Experience:

social housing: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person