Housing Options Assistant

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, accepting of all, and free from discrimination and bias. The Housing and Homelessness Service is a very busy environment and faces several challenges to meet the housing needs of citizens of Coventry. The team have grown significantly during the last 12 months, reflecting the fact that Housing & Homelessness are now a key council priority.

The team is responsible for the delivery of the following service functions:

• Provision of the statutory homeless service
• Provision of temporary accommodation
• Management of the housing register
• Co-ordination of support to citizens rough sleeping
• Commissioning of homeless services
• Responsibility for housing strategy

The Council has a strategic vision that is clearly set out in both the Homelessness and the Rough Sleeping Strategies which was approved in 2025.

Our Values

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

We’re looking for Housing Options Assistants to help us tackle homelessness in Coventry and respond to residents in need. You’ll listen, assess needs, and help people access the right support at the right time. You’ll gather essential information, carry out initial assessments, and provide clear advice to customers – whether face-to-face, over the phone, or online. Your work will directly contribute to preventing homelessness and supporting some of Coventry’s most vulnerable residents. This is a brand-new team, offering a very exciting opportunity to help shape the way we support customers from the very beginning. With multiple full-time roles available, it’s a great time to join us and be part of something new and ambitious.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess people’s housing and support needs to understand the intervention required.
• Manage enquiries, referrals, and appointments for homelessness assessments.
• Carry out initial assessments to ensure customers receive appropriate help, at the appropriate time.
• Work with partners across the public, voluntary, and community sectors to signpost effectively.
• Keep accurate records and ensure data is entered correctly into our systems.
• Support the delivery of homelessness prevention work and assist the team in delivering a high-quality service to residents.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.

Who are we looking for?

You don’t need specific experience of homelessness legislation – we’ll support you to learn that. But we do need someone who can bring the right skills, approach, and values from day one.

• Strong interpersonal skills with a calm and understanding manner.
• The ability to communicate clearly with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.
• Confidence in using ICT systems and writing clear case notes and client correspondence.
• The ability to work in a busy environment and adapt to changing needs.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise your workload.
• A team player who can also work independently when required.
• Experience using multiple communication channels (phone, email, letter, face to face).
• Experience working within a team and supporting vulnerable people.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans, those currently in care or who have previously been in care, and individuals who consider themselves to be disabled or have a long-term health condition.

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled ‘Coventry City Council Application Process’. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date(s): Week commencing 17th February.

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant, and diverse. At Coventry, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together, and find better ways of doing things. To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities. If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package.