At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide housing advice and support to prevent homelessness and secure sustainable solutions.
- Company: Sheffield City Council, dedicated to transforming homelessness services.
- Benefits: Generous holiday entitlement, flexible working options, and opportunities for personal development.
- Other info: Join a diverse team focused on early intervention and positive outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while building a supportive community.
- Qualifications: Experience in sensitive situations, strong communication skills, and a commitment to inclusivity.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We are seeking to appoint Casework Officers to join our Homelessness and Supported Housing Service at a time of significant transformation. We are reshaping how we deliver services, with a clear focus on early intervention, prevention, and improving outcomes for residents across Sheffield.
The Role
You will provide high-quality, strengths-based housing advice and casework, supporting residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Your focus will be on preventing homelessness wherever possible—offering early advice, identifying risks, and coordinating support before situations escalate into crisis. Where prevention is not possible, you will work with customers to secure sustainable housing solutions, reducing the need for temporary or emergency accommodation.
Depending on the team, you will carry out some or all of the below:
- Work with customers with a wide range of housing needs, from one-off advice to managing a caseload
- Carry out homelessness assessments and make decisions in line with legislation
- Provide practical advice and tailored housing solutions
- Identify barriers early, including affordability, tenancy history, and support needs
- Support access to suitable accommodation and wider support services
- Work proactively to prevent crisis and promote long-term housing stability
- Engage with people experiencing long-term or more complex patterns of rough sleeping, using a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach
- Work with landlords to increase private rented housing options and match customers to suitable properties, ensuring a smooth move into settled accommodation
- Maintain accurate records and meet statutory timescales
Our Approach
We are building a service that is:
- Prevention-led
- Focused on avoiding crisis and reducing emergency and temporary accommodation
- Strengths-based
- Collaborative and partnership-driven
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for people who are empathetic, resilient and motivated to make a difference. You will bring:
- Experience of working with people in sensitive or challenging situations
- The ability to manage a caseload and make sound decisions
- Strong communication skills and the ability to adapt your approach
- Confidence working at pace and managing competing demands
- A commitment to inclusive, customer-focused services
You will also:
- Be confident supporting people in crisis while maintaining a calm, empathetic approach
- Be committed to strengths-based practice, helping people take positive steps forward
- Work effectively with colleagues and partners to achieve the best outcomes
We recognise that there is no single “ideal” background for this role. What matters is your ability to work with people, build trust and deliver positive outcomes. We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of Sheffield, and we welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of a service focused on early help and prevention
- Help reduce homelessness and improve long-term outcomes
- Work in a supportive team with opportunities to develop
- Make a meaningful difference to people’s lives every day
We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly. Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.
If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade. Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.
Casework Officer in Sheffield employer: Beighton
Join Sheffield City Council as a Casework Officer and be part of a transformative service dedicated to preventing homelessness and improving lives across the city. With a strong focus on early intervention, you will work in a supportive team that values diversity and inclusion, offering flexible working opportunities and generous holiday entitlements. This role not only allows you to make a meaningful impact but also provides ample opportunities for personal and professional growth within a collaborative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Casework Officer in Sheffield
✨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 Beighton.
✨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 Beighton!
✨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 Beighton, 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 Beighton 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 Casework Officer in Sheffield
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 Beighton:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Beighton! 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 Beighton
✨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.
