Housing Advice Officer - Temp Contract
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| Job Type | Temporary / Contract |
| Location | Chesham, Buckinghamshire |
| Area | Buckinghamshire, England |
| Sector | Commercial - Operations |
| Salary | £14 - £18 per hour |
| Start Date | ASAP |
| Job Ref | DW042018HAO_1525096354 |
- Description
- JOB DESCRIPTION
Post Title: Housing Advice Officer
Directorate: Homes & Housing
JOB PURPOSE
To deliver an excellent front line service in line with the Council's vision, Core values and behaviours, resources, strategic and service priorities and to deliver services in a polite and courteous manner.
To deliver a comprehensive, customer focussed and high quality service in relation to housing options and homelessness prevention.
To assist with the prevention of and to address homelessness and housing needs through the resolution of casework.
To achieve individual performance objectives, targets and service standards to contribute to the achievement of the team plan objectives and targets.
To play an active role in the prevention and detection of fraud.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To provide comprehensive advice and assistance on homelessness and homelessness prevention giving relevant and appropriate advice on housing options and the statutory rights available.
2. Responsibility for the processing of homelessness and housing advice cases in accordance with current legislation and case law. Enabling customers to achieve sustainable and affordable solutions to their housing need.
3. Identify and provide positive, effective and often complex legal housing advice and information to customers about their rights and options, in compliance of landlord and tenant, homelessness and other related legislation including benefits.
4. To explore all available housing options in all cases to maximise opportunities for preventing homelessness. To be mindful of the client's needs and to recognise stressful, conflicting situations and to identify risks to personal and public safety. To work with external agencies to manage clients with complex needs.
5. To instruct and where appropriate to assist applicants in completing details of their monthly income and expenditure. To determine from the financial assessment whether the client is able to afford an offer of housing in the private rented sector and making timely and appropriate referrals to the Private Rented Sector team ensuring we have accurate information about customer's needs', wishes and preferences.
6. Actively assist in securing suitable alternative housing through relevant available options. To work with the Choice Based Lettings Team and Private Rented Sector Team to provide appropriate solutions for customers in order to prevent homelessness or to meet statutory housing duties.
7. To offer appropriate advice regarding financial inclusion, maximising income through welfare and housing benefits, and to help the client identify any need for appropriate debt management advice. Identifying when the client is in financial crisis and helping the client to prevent the loss of their home by making appropriate referrals and signposting to external agencies.
8. To co-operate and work with the revenues and benefit team and DWP to assist/signpost the client in making applications for any benefits they might be entitled to in order to prevent homelessness and sustain tenancies. To write letters on behalf of clients requesting a Discretionary Housing Payment.
9. To liaise with both social and private rented landlords to ensure the retentions of tenancies wherever possible in order to prevent homelessness.
10. To attend court and to provide support to the client in an advocacy role in order to prevent homelessness. To make written representations to court, and to provide support to the client in an advocacy role in order to prevent homelessness. To check that the pre-action protocols have been complied with prior to any action and to complete the N244 applications to court to vary the terms of an order, ask for suspension of possession orders and stay warrants.
11. To carry out and investigate statutory homelessness assessments under the Housing Act 1996 Part VII as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 with full regard to the statutory duty, in line with legislation, case law and guidance.
4. To explore all available housing options in all cases to maximise opportunities for preventing homelessness. To be mindful of the client's needs and to recognise stressful, conflicting situations and to identify risks to personal and public safety. To work with external agencies to manage clients with complex needs.
5. To instruct and where appropriate to assist applicants in completing details of their monthly income and expenditure. To determine from the financial assessment whether the client is able to afford an offer of housing in the private rented sector and making timely and appropriate referrals to the Private Rented Sector team ensuring we have accurate information about customer's needs', wishes and preferences.
6. Actively assist in securing suitable alternative housing through relevant available options. To work with the Choice Based Lettings Team and Private Rented Sector Team to provide appropriate solutions for customers in order to prevent homelessness or to meet statutory housing duties.
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Senior Housing Officer
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
To comply with, and actively support, the Council's equal opportunities policy and ensure practises are consistently applied in employment and service delivery.
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK
To have due regard to the responsibilities and duties set out in the Council's Health & Safety Policy in respect to personal and other people's health, safety and welfare.
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
To develop and maintain good relationships with statutory, voluntary and commercial agencies ensuring good accurate communication standards are maintained with each agency. To hold meetings as and when and develop good working practises.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Participate in current procedures to identify development and training needs to achieve service objectives and professional development.
Participate in training to achieve personal development.
