Job Title: Housing Options Officers
Location: 2 days WFH, 3 days in the Guildhall Northampton office
Rate of Pay: £28 per hour Umbrella or £21.54 per hour PAYE
Working Hours: Full time 37 hours – 2 days WFH, 3 days in the Guildhall Northampton office
Type: Initially three months as agency and then a nine-month fixed-term contract on a salary of £36,734 (pro-rata)
Opus People Solutions are working with West Northamptonshire Council to recruit for two Housing Options Officers , to work with the Housing Options Team Leaders in order to fulfil the Council’s statutory obligation to the homeless under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the homelessness Act 2002) and Localism Act 2011. Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 (allocations). To assist in the service delivery and statutory duties, powers, and policies of the Housing Options Team.
Main Responsibilities:
Receive and assess homeless applications, manage a caseload, and carry out investigations into homelessness within the framework of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (Homelessness) and make formal decisions. Refer customers to other sources of assistance where appropriate e.g. social care and health, lettings agencies, community and voluntary advice organisations.
Prevent and relieve homelessness, providing advice, guidance, and assistance on the range of options available to resolve clients housing needs. Produce personal housing plans for applicants approaching for advice and assistance, conducting home visits as appropriate.
Respond to correspondence, answer telephone enquiries, and conduct personal interviews, ensuring that computer and manual records are maintained and updated as necessary, to ensure that accurate, timely information is available.
To process housing register applications, assess applicants’ eligibility and needs. Advertise void properties and run shortlist reports to provide suitable offers and nominations to Registered Providers for properties becoming available, whilst taking due account of community issues, sensitive lettings, and neighbourhood tensions
To organise and administer the letting of temporary accommodation to clients whom the authority has a duty to accommodate, making assessments to identify the most appropriate placement for the specific household. Monitoring and taking appropriate action on licence arrears, antisocial behaviour, etc. Involvement in bringing empty properties back in to use.
Keep abreast of changes to Local and Central Government legislation and policy covering housing issues, including primary legislation and case law. Work independently but within the framework of policy and legislation.
Assist in the implementation of new legislation, support new initiatives within the service, other teams within the Council, and statutory and voluntary agencies e.g. Environmental Health, Housing Benefit, Care & Repair, Job Centre, and Social Services. Meet performance targets and support the delivery of service priorities.
To maximise personal productivity, minimise duplication and errors; and manage our information efficiently and securely to reduce risk, through effective use of Office 365 and our internal IT systems and applications.
Actively challenge and seek to eliminate any directly or indirectly discriminatory practice or behaviours.
Demonstrate awareness and understanding of other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs and ensure that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons.
For more information or to process your application for this role, please apply online now.
