Homelessness Officer

Search Consultancy is currently looking for a Homelessness Officer to work for a Local Authority in the Cheshire area. Primary duties will be to assess clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness under the statutory framework, including providing assistance to prevent or relieve homelessness, and conduct inquiries under Part VII of the Housing Act. We are looking for an experienced officer with a good teamwork ethos. Currently the team is working from home for the near future; however ICT equipment will be issued as required.

Salary: up to £15 an hour

JOB PURPOSE:

To contribute to and participate in providing a quality comprehensive and pro-active housing advice and homelessness assessment service for all customers in order to prevent and relieve homelessness. Identify and meet housing need in the Borough.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Casework, caseload management, investigations and legal decision making - Conduct sound investigations, by carrying out assessments and developing personal housing and support plans, casework and make legal decisions in accordance with the Housing Act 1996 as amended by Homelessness Reduction Act. Whilst also ensuring that the relevant duties are discharged appropriately, in a legal and timely manner. Undertake robust recording of homeless prevention and relief cases for the purposes of data protection, audit, statistical analysis and government returns.
* Delivering positive outcomes to prevent/relieve homelessness - Using creative and innovative casework skills to deliver positive outcomes to customers assessed as at risk of homelessness within the legal time frames. With a focus on enabling customers to retain their existing home or supporting a search for an alternative home through personal housing and support plans.
* Assessing applications - Gather evidence and conduct investigations to enable the formal assessment of applications for housing against the Housing Allocations Policy and in accordance with Part 6 of the Housing Act. Make decisions and informed judgements in relation to priority assessments. Conduct assessments for interim/temporary accommodation.
* Telephone & face to face housing advice - Deliver complex and bespoke telephone advice to customers, often customers in crisis and in need of support or intervention. (Inbound and outbound calls). Investigations will also require face to face interviews and home visits.
* Case conferences - Represent the Housing Service at case conferences such as MARAC/ Child in Need/ Child Protection.
* Networking and pathway development - Develop a comprehensive network of contacts in statutory, voluntary and private sectors to further the opportunities to assess and prevent homelessness.
* Negotiations - Negotiate with landlords (social & private); families; funding providers; support providers; internal and external agencies; and other accommodation providers to secure or extend security of tenure.
* Referrals - Conducting comprehensive referrals to internal and external teams providing the level of detail required in order to avoid duplications and repetition from customers.

Why Search Consultancy Ltd?

Since our first office opened thirty years ago, we've built an enviable reputation for providing high quality recruitment service. The Health and Social Care division at Search Consultancy Ltd is one of the largest providers of temporary healthcare workers. Your dedicated consultant will provide advice and work with you to find the perfect job.

If you are interested in this position, please apply online or contact Mike Shaw at the Manchester office.

Search is an equal opportunities recruiter and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age