Homelessness Prevention Officer #0009FCB61

Job Description

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.

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 respond to incoming enquires by whatever means they are received and to provide timely responses where required.

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 the Council’s Out of Hours Emergency Housing Service and Cold Weather Provision on a rota basis with other colleagues. To provide advice or practical assistance, including placing customers where it is established that they are roofless.

To ensure that comprehensive, timely and accurate records are kept for all customers. To maintain computer records, reports and other monitoring information as required in connection with the duties undertaken

To comply with all relevant legislation, Government Guidance, Codes of Guidance, policies and procedures, professional and performance standards and good housing and homelessness practice.

To represent the Service and the Council at meetings in relation to the role and where required to do so.

Please be aware this is a Long Term Temporary post to start ASAP.

You must have:

• Post qualified experience.
• Enhanced DBS/Update service.
• References required for the last 5 years of employment.

Benefits of working with Semester.co.uk:

• Free on-going training opportunities upon registering as part of our commitment to you.
• Competitive Rates of pay
• In house payroll, providing weekly payments and support
• Enhanced DBS completed.
• Support and expert advice from an approachable, dedicated and friendly team
• An assigned dedicated & experienced consultant
• Various employment opportunities in your preferred geographical area

If you would like to find out more information about this role, or the other opportunities Semester.co.uk have available feel free to click the ‘Apply' button below