At a Glance
- Tasks: Help prevent homelessness by providing expert housing advice and support to those in need.
- Company: Join a dedicated council team focused on community welfare and housing solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with the chance to work collaboratively across various sectors.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by securing stable housing solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing advice or case management is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 38844 - 40817 £ per year.
To deliver the Council’s statutory duties to prevent and relieve homelessness by providing high-quality housing advice, assessment, and case management services to households experiencing housing difficulties. The postholder is responsible for supporting individuals and families to sustain existing accommodation wherever possible, minimise the use of temporary accommodation, and secure suitable long-term housing solutions. This includes undertaking statutory homelessness assessments, creating and managing Personal Housing Plans, negotiating with landlords and other stakeholders, and making legally robust decisions in accordance with homelessness legislation. The role involves managing complex cases, including those subject to reviews, complaints, ombudsman investigations, and judicial review proceedings.
Key Responsibilities
- Homelessness Prevention and Housing Advice
- Provide specialist housing advice and support to individuals and households experiencing housing crises.
- Deliver homelessness prevention and relief services in accordance with statutory duties and local policies.
- Conduct face-to-face, telephone, and electronic interviews with customers.
- Assess housing needs and explore all available options to prevent homelessness and secure sustainable accommodation.
- Support customers to access the private rented sector, supported housing, hostels, refuges, and other appropriate housing options.
- Promote alternatives to social housing and manage customer expectations regarding local housing availability.
- Case Management and Statutory Duties
- Manage and prioritise a diverse caseload, ensuring statutory deadlines and performance targets are met.
- Undertake statutory homelessness assessments, including determining eligibility, homelessness status, priority need, intentional homelessness, and local connection.
- Develop, implement, and regularly review Personal Housing Plans (PHPs).
- Issue statutory decision letters, including Section 184 decisions and other notifications required under homelessness legislation.
- Make referrals to other local authorities and relevant agencies where appropriate.
- Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date case records and management information.
- Prevention, Negotiation, and Tenancy Sustainment
- Negotiate and mediate with landlords, agents, family members, and other parties to prevent homelessness.
- Support customers with housing affordability assessments, welfare benefit applications, and access to financial assistance schemes.
- Facilitate access to prevention funding, discretionary housing payments, rent deposits, and rent‑in‑advance schemes.
- Provide tenancy sustainment support to help customers maintain accommodation and reduce repeat homelessness.
- Assist customers with possession proceedings, including guidance on Section 21 notices and court processes.
- Liaise with housing benefit and Universal Credit teams to ensure appropriate support is in place.
- Partnership Working
- Develop effective working relationships with internal departments and external organisations, including social care, health services, probation, domestic abuse services, landlords, housing providers, and voluntary sector agencies.
- Attend multi‑agency meetings, case conferences, and court hearings where required.
- Represent the Council professionally when dealing with councillors, MPs, legal representatives, and the Ombudsman.
- Complex Casework and Compliance
- Respond promptly to complaints, reviews, legal challenges, and judicial review enquiries.
- Identify and refer suspected fraud or misrepresentation cases for further investigation.
Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer – AR in London employer: Carrington Blake Recruitment
As a Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer with the Council, you will be part of a dedicated team committed to making a real difference in the community. Our supportive work culture fosters collaboration and professional growth, offering opportunities for training and development in housing services. Located in a vibrant area, we provide a fulfilling environment where your contributions directly impact individuals and families facing housing challenges.
Contact Details:
Carrington Blake Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer – AR in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer – AR in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Carrington Blake Recruitment. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
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Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Homelessness Prevention & Solutions Officer – AR, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Carrington Blake Recruitment
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Carrington Blake Recruitment. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
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Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
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