Homeless Intervention Officer – AR

The role of Homeless Intervention Officer is a statutory role specifically focused on intervening early, preventing homelessness and managing our crisis response aims of alleviating homelessness where this has occurred.

Working directly with those affected by homelessness by:

• Triaging new approaches and providing quality advice to delay or stop homelessness in its tracks to all groups of customers including vulnerable customers who are in priority need, undertakes assessments to understand the council’s duty.
• Undertaking all necessary enquiries and prevention activity via Personal Housing Plans.
• Making and checking statutory homeless decisions which are subject to legal challenge.
• Working closely with internal and external partners and agencies to resolve homelessness.
• Assessing who requires Transitional Accommodation.
• Ensuring that the council meets the requirements of Part 7, Housing Act 1996 and Homeless Reduction Act.
• Considering safeguarding issues and referrals, especially concerning children, older people and those claiming homelessness due to domestic abuse.
• Conducting full assessment of all eligible applicants who present as homeless or threatened with homelessness and issuing notification letters in accordance with the legislation.
• Working collaboratively with applicants to draw up an agreed personalised housing plan and continually reviewing the plan by updating the advice and support provided to the applicants.
• Assisting in delivering a comprehensive and proactive homelessness prevention and advice service.
• Liaising with friends and family, landlords, letting agents, General Practitioners, Health Care workers, internal and external partners in the process of preventing or relieving homelessness and determining duties owed to applicants.
• Taking all reasonable steps to relieve homelessness irrespective of priority need.
• Conducting assessment interviews at Council offices and making home visits to homeless applicants.
• Applying and implementing homelessness laws and the code of guidance, including the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002, the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and other relevant guidance and legislation whilst carrying out assessments of applicants’ housing and support needs.
• Explaining the full range of housing solutions available to customers to help prevent or relieve homelessness as well as mediating to help resolve potentially homeless cases irrespective of tenure (excluding fear of violence).
• Ensuring full and accurate recordings of client’s details, all advice and support provided and maintaining accurate written and computer records, reports and other monitoring information as required, in connection with the various duties and case management and in line with relevant policies and procedures.
• Managing client’s expectations advising as to potential housing solutions including private rented and hostel accommodation and as to the lower supply of social housing compared to demand.
• Undertaking a holistic assessment of current housing issues and seeking out appropriate solutions where possible at an early stage to prevent homelessness and where possible prevent the use of interim accommodation by preventing homelessness.
• Making referrals to the Mental Health or other relevant professional panels and attending or participating in case conferences as requested.
• Keeping up to date with relevant case law particularly in respect of the tests of vulnerability and priority need and with reference to responsibilities under the Equality Act and Care Acts.
• Identifying and referring cases to the homeless outreach workers/services, e.g. those with a history of rough sleeping or complex needs where resettlement is needed to enable rehousing by social or other housing providers.
• Working closely with the temporary accommodation team to support the client with rehoming to permanent accommodation.
• Providing information to clients on the operation of the Council’s Housing Register, advice on a household’s position on the register, extending areas of choice and prospects of assistance with housing and updating systems as necessary.
• Completing assessments on suitable accommodation for applicants for temporary or long-term accommodation to end the homeless duty.

This role is likely to be two days in the office per week, candidates must be able to attend CBC office locations when requested. There will be a requirement to attend team meetings as and when required.