At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide housing advice and support to help residents resolve homelessness.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Sutton, a vibrant community focused on health and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days leave, flexible working, and a supportive environment for career growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating a welcoming community.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills in a meaningful role.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing advice and a strong understanding of housing legislation required.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Found in zone 5 with good transport links in and out of London, Sutton boasts award-winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing and great schools. As well as high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, providing quality services and success in addressing our financial challenges, whilst involving residents in key issues and high street changes. Sutton is continuously investing in the health, wellbeing and education of our residents and the future generation, as set out in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan.
As a Targeted Housing Adviser, a proactive, holistic, and personalised approach is required to housing advice and support will deliver housing needs assessments and personal housing plans to support residents to resolve homelessness. This role will take a casework approach to seek out solutions for customers, developing and reviewing person-centred support plans with both short and long-term aims. This requires being responsible for making relevant robust enquiries and assessing eligibility for accommodation in accordance with the, specifically Part VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended 2002), Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and Renters Right Act 2025.
A key part of your role will be issuing robust decision letters, preparing documents for court and attending court to meet the requirements of prevailing legislation and case law. This role requires a creative problem-solver who can identify risks and take appropriate action to mitigate against them. There is a need to forge effective working relationships with internal and external organisations to provide advice and support to vulnerable adults and young people. You will also contribute to the continuous improvement of our policies and procedures to ensure we deliver a quality service.
You will have an in-depth working knowledge of housing options and housing legislation, specifically Part VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996, Regulation of Investigatory Power Act 2000 (RIPA) and Investigatory Powers Act 2016, Homeless Code of Guidance, Renters Right Act 2025, Localism Act 2011, Deregulation Act 2015, Housing Act 2004, Protection from Eviction Act 1977, security of tenure, welfare and Housing Benefits. You must have experience providing support, advice, and guidance in a complex environment and are looking for experience in a similar role and have a high level of competence.
We are looking for someone with a customer-focused attitude who can show empathy while resolving complex issues. You will be able to interpret and explain complex legislation to a variety of audiences and make clear, consistent decisions. You must be able to manage expectations through negotiation and influence to effect positive changes in customer behaviour. You will be highly organised, able to manage a caseload and monitor the progression of tasks to meet deadlines. You will also be capable of collecting and evaluating information to draw conclusions supported by reasoned argument. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are essential, as is the ability to maintain accurate case records using IT systems. You must possess relevant experience working within a homelessness or housing advice service, with a proven track record of delivering support, advice, and casework guidance in a complex statutory or voluntary sector environment.
Based in Housing Advice Services, this is a vital front-line role to make a tangible difference to prevent and relieve homelessness. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work-life balance, some of which include:
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 26-32 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade
- Enhanced Maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
- Two volunteering days per year
- Flexible Working - Smarter Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
- Adjustable and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks
- Learning and development portal offering a range of courses
- Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle leasing scheme
- Confidential health & wellbeing and counselling support
We are proud to be a diverse and welcoming Borough and we strive to create a workforce which reflects the community we serve, and instil a sense of belonging in our staff. We celebrate and respect differences and appreciate the value of having a diverse workforce, therefore we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. To support our workers and their families we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums and inclusive staff networks who help drive our diversity agenda. We are also proud to be a disability confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for a role.
As an accredited London Living Wage Employer all our employees are guaranteed the London Living Wage regardless of their length or type of contract. The UK has a points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non‑EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance. Sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
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 result to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Targeted Housing Advisor employer: LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
The London Borough of Sutton is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment that prioritises employee growth and well-being. With generous leave entitlements, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, employees can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to the community's ambitious vision for the future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Targeted Housing Advisor
✨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 LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
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✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
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✨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 LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON 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 Targeted Housing Advisor
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 LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON! 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 LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON
✨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.
