Temporary Accommodation Officer

Care first Recruitment LTD are currently recruiting for a Temporary Accommodation Officer for various London Boroughs\\n\\nLocations\\n\\n-Redbridge\\n\\n-Sutton\\n\\n-Brent\\n\\n-Hammersmith and Fulham\\n\\nRole Purpose\\n\\n * The Temporary Accommodation Officer will provide a contract management service for accommodation procured from use in discharging the council’s duties under section 188 and 193 of the Housing Act 1996 to provide temporary accommodation\\n\\n * This role will range from ensuring the efficient management of individual properties, hotels or hostels, through to blocks or estates.\\n\\n * To work directly with providers to ensure they conform with agreements and effectively manage the accommodation provided to council customers\\n\\n * To convey an efficient, high quality and customer-focussed service for a varied client group including high numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged households.\\n\\n * To provide good quality accommodation\\n\\n * To have knowledge of homelessness legislation, housing legislation, welfare benefit expertise and adult and social care knowledge\\n\\n * Manage a patch of properties of differing types and operate as the key link point with point with the provider of those units\\n\\n * To be responsible for contract liaison with managing agents and individual landlords providing leased and other temporary accommodation.\\n\\n * Re-negotiate leases with landlords to maintain supply of properties and contract performance of partners in the provision of a range of properties\\n\\n * Inspect properties which are to be secured during the lease and at the point of hand-back\\n\\n * Ensure all leased property documentation insurances and certificates are obtained and verified prior to use.\\n\\n * Maintain a record of any complaints relating to temporary accommodation and liaise with the provider to ensure issues have been addressed especially where complaints of housing standards raised.\\n\\n * To respond to complaints of anti-social behaviour made concerning residents in temporary accommodation, investigating and recommending whether accommodation should continue to be provided and whether the housing duty should be discharged.\\n\\n * Ensure effective administration of accommodation records on housing systems\\n\\n * Ensure that a high standard of customer care is provided at all times and that customers are dealt with courteously and professionally.\\n\\n * Respond to condition issues that require a customer to be provided with alternative temporary accommodation to ensure customer are rehoused as soon as possible\\n\\n * Identify and investigate opportunities for existing temporary accommodation customers to move into the private rented sector in discharge of the homeless duty\\n\\n * Achieve targets for visiting and responding to customer complaints, following up issues and achieving resolution\\n\\n * Ensure property of appropriate standard, meets all requirements in terms of safety and compliance and quality\\n\\n * Recognising the critical impact of homelessness on customers, and delivering early, accurate and high quality advice\\n\\n * Responsibility for accurate record keeping and use of systems to ensure comprehensive ability to report on customers individual service provision and overall homeless trends\\n\\n * To ensure that casework is proactively managed and key deadlines – for the provision of actions on customers individual plans, as well as key process deadlines on casework management are adhered to\\n\\n * To answer members enquiries and draft responses to complaints / enquiries on individual cases as required.\\n\\n * To provide statistical information on performance.\\n\\nExperience\\n\\n-Experience of working within a private rented sector housing industry\\n\\n-Experience of managing accommodation\\n\\n-Experience of keeping manual and computer records.\\n\\n-Experience of working in a similar role\\n\\nKnowledge\\n\\n-Candidates must have a good knowledge of all housing legislation, guidance and homelessness legislation as covered by the 1996 Housing Act Part VII and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, housing advice law (security of tenure, disrepair, rent arrears) the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, housing allocations as covered by the Housing Act 1996 part VI and other housing legislation, welfare benefit expertise and adult and children social care and health knowledge\\n\\n-Good knowledge of housing benefit rules and regulations, welfare benefits and issues relating to private rented tenancies\\n\\n-Knowledge of Temporary Accommodation and health and safety legislation and undertaking/ monitoring risk assessments and housing inspections\\n\\nSkills\\n\\n * Effective numeracy skills\\n\\n * Ability to prioritise work effectively & meet deadlines\\n\\n * Excellent customer service skills /Ability to achieve customer satisfaction\\n\\n * Committed to securing the best possible service and outcomes for customers\\n\\n * Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing\\n\\n * Ability to use computer systems including word processing, spreadsheets and databases for correspondence, reports and performance monitoring\\n\\nNo Mandatory Qualifications required however you are required to have a minimum of 18 months experience\\n\\nYou will need to pass a background checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to starting this role