Medium Sites Housing Officer - Swindon/Reading/Milton Keynes/Newbury (Ref:CRH372)

Job title: Medium Sites Housing Officer

Department: Operations

Reporting to: ODA/Medium Site Team Leaders

Location: Swindon/Reading/Milton Keynes/Newbury

Contract type: Permanent

Hours of work: 40 hours p/w (Mon - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm with some out of hours coverage until 8pm)

Salary: £32,000.00 per annum

*Candidates must have a full UK Driving Licence and access to their own vehicle*

The Medium Sites Housing Officer ensures that services and properties across the medium-sites portfolio comply with contractual obligations, statutory requirements and Clearsprings Ready Homes procedures. The role safeguards Service Users by checking that accommodation is safe, habitable and fit for purpose, and that welfare and support processes are delivered effectively. Through inspections, audits, accurate reporting and close working with accommodation teams and subcontractors, the role identifies risks, drives timely corrective action and supports consistent service improvement.

Key Relationships:

Line manager and wider Operations team; Housing Officers and accommodation staff; CRH Safeguarding Team and Service Centre; subcontractors and designated agents; Service Users; UKVI and other statutory or regulatory bodies; local support agencies, schools, healthcare providers and other relevant community stakeholders.

Scope and Decision Making:

Works across an assigned portfolio under the direction of the line manager, planning and conducting routine audits, inspections, welfare checks and compliance reviews. Uses professional judgement to identify and record risks, defects, safeguarding concerns and non-conformances; initiates follow-up through approved CRH systems and escalates significant or unresolved issues. Provides evidence-based findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders. The role has no budgetary or formal people-management responsibility stated but supports and trains colleagues and subcontractor staff as required.

Core Responsibilities:

• Assure contractual and statutory compliance across the assigned property portfolio through planned audits, inspections and evidence-based follow-up.
• Safeguard Service Users by verifying welfare arrangements, escalating concerns and working with specialist teams to secure appropriate action.
• Identify, record and monitor property defects, service non-conformances and certification requirements through to resolution within contractual timescales.
• Build effective working relationships with accommodation teams, subcontractors, Service Users, UKVI and local stakeholders to maintain required service standards.
• Produce timely, accurate inspection reports, risk findings and improvement recommendations, sharing good practice to strengthen team and organisational performance.
• Support effective Service User move-on, access to healthcare, education and local support, and delivery of contractual welfare-check requirements.

Procedures:

• Monitor service quality, complaints, safeguarding reporting and follow-up action across CRH-managed and subcontracted accommodation.
• Audit subcontracted properties quarterly; inspect CRH-managed properties monthly; verify that one welfare checks per Service User are completed monthly; and conduct the additional welfare checks directed by the line manager, prioritising vulnerable Service Users.
• Inspect services and service areas, including at least 10% of rooms within an accommodation, and review risk registers, staff directions and supporting documentation.
• Raise defects and non-conformances on CRH systems, confirm appropriate certification is in place, and record evidence that corrective actions have been completed within contractual timescales.
• Ensure new subcontractor staff receive and record a CRH induction and make service expectations clear to CRH and subcontracted teams.
• Meet designated agents and accommodation or subcontractor staff at least monthly and facilitate UKVI or statutory inspections and audits as directed.
• Maintain accurate records and provide periodic reports and detailed responses to UKVI and other stakeholders as directed by the line manager.

Connect and Collaborate:

• Work closely with the line manager, team members, Safeguarding Team, Service Centre, accommodation staff and subcontractors to deliver joined-up services.
• Attend meetings, support and train colleagues on the job, and provide agreed cover for other team members.
• Maintain effective relationships with local support agencies and remain available during significant emergencies as required.

Responsive:

• Keep up to date with written and verbal communications and respond promptly to emerging risks, queries and service issues.
• Ensure complaints, incidents, HPNs, defects and stakeholder queries are raised, recorded and progressed appropriately.
• Adapt activity to changing priorities while maintaining accurate property, welfare, certification and compliance records.

Talented:

• Apply role-specific contractual, safeguarding and property-compliance knowledge to produce reliable findings and practical recommendations.
• Monitor personal workload and development, completing required learning and agreed development activity.

Trusted:

• Act with integrity and sound judgement, take accountability for agreed actions and preserve the confidentiality and security of personal data.
• Disclose information only to specifically authorised parties in accordance with company requirements.

Agile and Diverse:

• Adapt positively to changing operational needs, undertake other duties within the scope of the role and support other local company projects where required.
• Treat Service Users, colleagues and stakeholders with dignity, respect and inclusion.

Professional:

• Maintain a current understanding of relevant legislation and AASC contractual requirements.
• Communicate professionally and represent CRH positively during inspections, meetings and stakeholder engagement.

Safeguarding, Compliance and Conduct:

• Comply with all company policies, procedures, professional standards and contractual requirements relevant to the role.
• Promote safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of work.
• Complete mandatory training and maintain any required vetting, checks, licences or professional registrations.
• Act professionally and respectfully when working with colleagues, residents, service users, partners and stakeholders

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of housing or accommodation service delivery, property standards, safeguarding and health and safety requirements.
• Experience of conducting inspections, audits or compliance checks and following actions through to completion.
• Experience supporting people with varied needs and responding appropriately to welfare or safeguarding concerns.
• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and accurate record-keeping in a regulated or contractual environment.

Skills and Abilities:

• Communicate clearly and professionally with Service Users, colleagues, subcontractors, regulators and community stakeholders.
• Plan and prioritise a mobile workload, meet inspection and reporting deadlines, and respond effectively to changing risks and demands.
• Identify risk, analyse evidence, exercise sound judgement and produce concise reports with clear recommendations.
• Use relevant IT systems to maintain complete and accurate records of inspections, welfare activity, defects and corrective action.
• Build constructive working relationships, challenge non-compliance appropriately and support colleagues through guidance and on-the-job training.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Right to work in the UK and ability to meet the vetting and background-check requirements confirmed for the role.
• Ability to travel regularly across the assigned portfolio and to be available during significant emergencies when required.

Desirable Criteria:

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience in asylum accommodation, supported housing or another regulated residential service.
• Familiarity with UKVI inspections, AASC service standards, fire-risk actions or property compliance certification.

Skills and Abilities:

• Experience using housing-management, compliance, inspection or case-recording systems.
• Ability to support induction, coaching or practical training for colleagues and partner staff.

Behaviours and Values:

• Demonstrates CRH values through collaboration, responsiveness, integrity, adaptability, inclusion and professional conduct.
• Takes accountability, treats others with respect and maintains a consistent focus on Service User safety and service quality.

Qualifications and Development:

• Relevant training or qualification in housing, property compliance, safeguarding, health and safety, audit or risk management, or equivalent practical development.

Additional:

• Experience contributing to service improvement, sharing good practice or working across organisational boundaries would be beneficial.

• 25 days annual leave plus national bank holidays
• Westfield Health Membership (offering cashback on health services plus discounts for retailers and gym memberships)
• Life Cover (2 x basic salary)
• Employer pension contribution (4% employer, 4% employee)
• Laptop/Phone/other equipment if required as part of job role
• Referral Scheme
• Mileage expenses (claimable from home)

Diversity Statement

Clearsprings Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Modern Slavery Statement

Clearsprings Groups conduct robust checks on any new employee including eligibility to work in the UK to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.

Safeguarding Statement

Clearsprings Group is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expect all employees to share this commitment.

All successful applicants will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check in line with their job role.

This role is not open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer withdrawn.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if there is a higher level of interest that expected.