At a Glance
- Tasks: Support customers with housing advice and improve their living conditions.
- Company: Advance, a not-for-profit organisation transforming lives through housing support.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, professional development, discounts, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid role with travel across multiple counties and a commitment to diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Empathy, strong communication skills, and experience with databases are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30592 - 37390 £ per year.
Location: Head office Witney, Oxfordshire (Hybrid working)
Hours: 35 contracted hours per week
Salary: Up to £28,498.06 per annum (depending on experience) plus car allowance £2,280 per annum, plus a geographical allowance of £1,051.00 where applicable.
Closing Date: 01/09/2026
We regret to inform you that Advance is unable to accept any sponsorship requirements.
About the Role:
Would you like to work somewhere where you get to make a real difference every day? Are you passionate about supporting people to live independently and improving the quality of homes? Are you someone who builds great relationships, communicates clearly and enjoys a role with variety and purpose? If so, we’d love you to join us at Advance as a Housing Outreach Worker.
At Advance, our mission is to transform lives by providing safe, supportive and sustainable housing for people with a range of needs. As we continue to invest in improving and decarbonising our homes, this role plays a vital part in supporting customers throughout that journey.
This role is hybrid, working from home and on site visits covering Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Luton, and Surrey. As travel is a requirement of the role, a full, current driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
What the role involves:
- As a Housing Outreach Worker, you’ll be the first point of contact for customers — supporting them with tenancy advice, guiding them through property improvements, and helping them sustain safe and comfortable homes.
- Your day-to-day work will include:
- Managing a wide range of confidential enquiries and taking appropriate action or signposting customers as needed
- Provide housing advice and housing management services to customers.
- Manage a wide range of confidential telephone enquiries and correspondence, using initiative or escalating appropriately
- Complete void inspections, arrange repairs and redecoration, and follow void procedures
- Support pre-tenancy viewings, sign-ups and ensure correct occupancy agreements are completed
- Set up and maintain accurate tenant records on Open Housing systems
- Ensure customers pay rent and service charges; assist with housing benefit claims and support rent arrears recovery
- Assist with anti-social behaviour complaints and neighbour disputes following organisational procedures
- Carry out property and tenancy visits to ensure compliance and liaise with external professionals where needs change
- Promote customer participation and facilitate access to wider organisational services
- Support customers to claim welfare benefits successfully
- Undertake tenancy visits to improve living conditions and sustain tenancies
- Keep all manual and digital records accurate and updated; respond to service requests within timescales
- Support Tenant Involvement and Community Investment events and initiatives
- Assist with Fire Risk Assessment and water safety actions
- Ensure accessible health and safety information for fire, gas, and electrical appliances
- Ensure fire and water checks are completed and recorded on site
Who we’re looking for:
We’re looking for someone who brings empathy, professionalism and a passion for customer service. You’ll thrive at Advance if you naturally demonstrate our PRIDE Values: Partnership, Respect, Inclusion, Drive and Efficiency.
You’ll also bring:
- Experience using databases and producing accurate records (essential)
- GCSEs in Maths and English (or equivalent)
- Strong experience using databases and analysing data to produce recommendations
- High competence in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Knowledge/experience of housing management or housing legislation (desirable)
- Experience working in a performance-target environment (desirable)
- Experience working with customer groups including people with mental or physical disabilities (desirable)
- Understanding of court processes and advocacy (desirable)
- Ability to build excellent relationships with customers and colleagues
- Experience of housing management, performance environments or supporting people with disabilities is desirable but not essential - we're committed to providing training and development.
Training and development will be offered as part of our offer to ensure the successful candidate can undertake the role.
If you are a person who likes to make a difference and experience of working in a diverse housing organisation then this is the job for you!
The role requires an Enhanced DBS.
For more information about the role please contact, Stephen Allen on Email: Stephen.Allen@advanceuk.org & phone on 01993 226475
About the organisation:
Advance is a national, not-for-profit provider of housing and support services for people with disabilities and mental health conditions. Our vision is to transform lives; providing the best quality housing and support services so that people can live the lives they choose, achieve their personal goals, feel valued and know their voices are heard.
We recognise that our people are our greatest asset and we’re passionate about making Advance a great place to work. We invest in our staff, providing the training and support you need to succeed in your role, gain industry-recognised qualifications and realise your career aspirations.
We are an equal opportunities employer who values its staff and the difference they make to their customers. There is no place for racism or discrimination of any kind in Advance. As an organisation, we will not tolerate it. We are firmly committed to recruiting the best colleagues regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation and to supporting customers from similarly diverse backgrounds.
All newly appointed staff receive an induction, during which they will learn about our PRIDE values, our expectations of how they should treat our customers and our commitments in relation to how they will be treated as a member of staff.
Benefits of working for Advance:
We value our staff and the difference they make to the lives of our customers, which is why we offer the following benefits:
- Paid holiday (from 25 days up to 30 days with long service in addition to bank holidays, pro rat for part time hours)
- Sector specific training is provided as part of induction plus opportunities for professional development.
- Access to Perks at Work where you can obtain great discounts of cinema tickets, shopping vouchers and much more
- Long service awards payable in 5 years increments
- Golden Hello/refer a friend receive up to £500
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Free DBS (Disclosures and Barring Service)
- Excellent opportunities to progress your career within Advance
- Enrolment in a pension scheme with matched contributions above the statutory minimum (if you work enough hours to meet the threshold for enrolment)
Advance is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing and the Care Quality Commission and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. You will be required to provide evidence of right to work. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this role, the cost of which will be covered by Advance.
Safeguarding:
At Advance, Safeguarding is embedded in our organisational culture - it's reflected in our values, our behaviours, and the way we work together. We believe that creating a safe environment is not just about compliance, but about cultivating trust, openness, and accountability at every level.
As the organisation’s Safeguarding Lead, Ryan Brummitt, Executive Director of Support, oversees our safeguarding arrangements and ensures that concerns are acted upon quickly, sensitively and in line with national legislation and local safeguarding procedures.
We believe that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you are a customer, family member, colleague or partner organisation, if you have any concerns about the welfare or safety of someone we support — or of any member of our team — please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Together, we can ensure that Advance remains a safe, supportive and inclusive organisation for all.
We value diversity and therefore welcome applications from everyone interested in working at Advance. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Advance Housing & Support Ltd reserves the right to close this job once sufficient applications have been received.
Housing Outreach Worker in Oxford employer: Advance Housing and Support Ltd
Advance Housing and Support Ltd is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Southend-on-Sea. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer flexible working hours and comprehensive career development opportunities, ensuring that our team members can thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact in the lives of those we support.
Contact Details:
Advance Housing and Support Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Outreach Worker in Oxford
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Advance Housing and Support Ltd.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Advance Housing and Support Ltd!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Advance Housing and Support Ltd, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Advance Housing and Support Ltd or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Outreach Worker in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Advance Housing and Support Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Advance Housing and Support Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Advance Housing and Support Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
