The Role

Job Title: Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officer

Salary Range: £36,426 to £44,139 per annum

Fixed Term (31/03/2025)

Location: Richmond

Objective of role  

Objective of role  

We have invested in our homelessness teams and have several posts to help us tackle, prevent and relieve homelessness more effectively.

With this in mind, we are looking for capable and ambitious individuals keen to help families and individuals facing homelessness.

Who are we looking for?

We are especially interested in your transferable skills in particular your ability to assess information, understand and accurately apply the assessment criteria, problem solve and communicate effectively with applicants, colleagues and agencies.

Whilst previous experience of working in a homelessness or other busy front-line public-sector role would be advantageous, it is not essential. What we would like you to be is:

• To be emotionally mature and confident to work with people facing homelessness for various reasons.
• Be a good listener and able to apply what you hear to the legal framework in which we work.
• Be organised in your work and able to keep on top of changing priorities.
• Be able to engage and work collaboratively with families and individuals who require housing assistance.
• Be able to discuss, negotiate and persuade families and their landlords to prevent and relieve homelessness.
• Be able to write reasoned decision letters, carry out interviews and produce case notes and assessments of a high standard.
• Be a motivated and engaged team player.

About the role

You will be working proactively and collaboratively with households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness to assist them to sustain their current housing where possible, or otherwise to secure alternative, suitable and affordable accommodation.

You will hold a personal caseload of households, to agree practical and reasonable steps for the Council and the household to take to prevent and/or relieve homelessness. Households will include private or social tenants, homeowners, those evicted by family members or facing relationship breakdown, and may be vulnerable and/or have complex needs.

You will provide a flexible and responsive service for applicants who are homeless or threatened with homelessness by delivering services from our offices and ensuring comprehensive housing advice is available for customers, staff and partner agencies.

You will carry out home visits to assess homelessness and the sustainability of the applicant’s current housing.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Experience of working within a customer service, housing, or lettings service.

Experience of carrying out interviews, investigations, negotiations

Experience of effective record keeping, including electronically held information.

Experience of working with people who are homeless or in other stressful situations.

Experience of working successfully to performance targets and deadlines

Excellent interpersonal skills including active listening and negotiating.

Excellent communication skills including the ability to write detailed case notes and technical letters.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline:

Closing Date:  Sunday 28 July 2024

Shortlisting Date: Week commencing Monday 29 July 2024

Interview Date: TBC

Useful Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan. For more details, please click here

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils