At a Glance
- Tasks: Support households at risk of homelessness with practical solutions and effective case management.
- Company: Join a dedicated Housing Needs Service in Slough focused on making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive pay of £28.43 per hour, hybrid work model, and impactful community engagement.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them secure stable housing.
- Qualifications: Experience in homelessness prevention and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 28.43 - 28.43 £ per hour.
We are currently recruiting for an experienced Early Intervention & Prevention Officer to join the Housing Needs Service in Slough. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled housing professional to support households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, providing early intervention, practical solutions and effective case management to prevent homelessness wherever possible. The successful candidate will play a key role in helping residents sustain existing accommodation or secure suitable alternative housing, working collaboratively with landlords, partner agencies and internal services to achieve positive outcomes.
The Role
As an Early Intervention & Prevention Officer, you will be responsible for managing a caseload of households requiring housing support and delivering effective homelessness prevention services. Key responsibilities will include:
- Carrying out timely housing assessments and developing personalised housing plans.
- Working proactively with households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
- Providing advice and support to prevent homelessness and identify sustainable housing solutions.
- Negotiating with private landlords, letting agents, family members and other relevant parties.
- Supporting residents experiencing rent arrears, affordability challenges, relationship breakdown or loss of private rented accommodation.
- Identifying suitable private rented sector accommodation and assisting applicants with access to deposits, rent in advance and other available financial support.
- Working closely with internal teams and external partner agencies to overcome barriers and improve housing outcomes.
- Maintaining accurate case records and ensuring cases are progressed within statutory timescales.
- Delivering measurable prevention and relief outcomes to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will have:
- Recent experience working within homelessness prevention, housing options or a similar housing service environment.
- Experience undertaking statutory housing assessments under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).
- A strong understanding of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and its practical application.
- Proven experience managing complex housing cases and achieving positive outcomes.
- Strong negotiation skills with the ability to work effectively with landlords, tenants and partner organisations.
- Experience supporting access to private rented accommodation and tenancy sustainment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with vulnerable households in a professional and empathetic manner.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
- Experience within local authority housing services, homelessness prevention teams or housing options services would be highly desirable.
Why Apply?
This role provides an opportunity to make a real difference by supporting residents at an important stage in their housing journey. You will be joining a dedicated Housing Needs Service focused on early intervention, prevention and achieving sustainable housing solutions.
Early Intervention & Prevention Officer in Slough employer: Cleantech People
Join a respected national organisation as a Senior HR Assistant in Coventry, where you'll enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture. With hybrid working arrangements, you only need to be in the office one day a week, allowing for a great work-life balance while gaining valuable experience in a busy recruitment function. This role offers excellent opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic HR team committed to delivering high-quality services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Early Intervention & Prevention Officer in Slough
✨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 Cleantech People.
✨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 Cleantech People!
✨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 Cleantech People, 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 Cleantech People 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 Early Intervention & Prevention Officer in Slough
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 Cleantech People:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Cleantech People! 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 Cleantech People
✨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.
