The Homelessness and Housing Needs Team is looking for two Homelessness Prevention Officers to join our team on 12 month fixed term contracts to deliver housing advice and assistance to households in the borough and work creatively to prevent and relieve homelessness. Knowledge and experience of working in homelessness is preferable but not essential as full training will be provided. This is an exciting opportunity to begin a career in this sector.

Responsibilities will include:

  • To provide initial advice and assistance for applicants who are threatened with homelessness, exploring all possible housing options
  • To liaise with families, landlords and other relevant agencies, in order to resolve issues which could result in homelessness
  • To provide a high level of customer service for applicants who are threatened with homelessness or who are homeless, ensuring that homelessness is prevented wherever possible, exploring all possible prevention and relief options
  • To consider and assesses homelessness applications in accordance with the Housing Act Part 7 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act
  • To makes homelessness decisions in accordance with legislation and relevant case law
  • To create Personalised Housing Plans which support applicants in improving their housing options and link to education, employment, health and other support providers
  • To work with other statutory and non-statutory services to find the best solution for meeting the housing needs of applicants
  • To comply with statutory frameworks and act in accordance to legislation within appropriate timescales
  • To provide tenancy, rights of occupation, welfare and benefits advice to applicants to enable them to either sustain their current accommodation or to sustain new accommodation
  • To make placements into temporary accommodation
  • Closing date: 11:00pm on 29 June

    Interview date: W/C 11 July

    Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, and other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks. 

    Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.