At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support the homeless and manage housing services.
- Company: Join Melton Borough Council, dedicated to improving community housing solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, remote work options, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vulnerable lives while working in a supportive, dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Customer-focused with knowledge of homelessness legislation and strong organizational skills.
- Other info: Disability Confident employer offering interviews to qualified applicants with disabilities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Housing Options Service is a very busy environment and faces several challenges to meet the housing needs of citizens of Melton. Changes within the last 12 months have enabled a new role of a Senior Housing Options Officer to be created to provide additional expertise and support to the Strategic Lead, Supporting Communities.
The Team are responsible for the delivery of the following service functions:
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Provision of the statutory homeless service
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Provision of temporary accommodation
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Management of the housing register
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Allocation of council housing
By becoming part of a Team who are focused on preventing households from becoming homeless, as well as providing tailored support and interventions when someone does become homeless, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our borough.
What is the job role?
An exciting opportunity has become available within the Housing Options team.
As a Senior Housing Options Officer, you’ll be responsible for supporting the Council to carry out homelessness duties under The Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. You will be responsible for line management of 2 x housing options officers, a triage and allocations officer and housing options support officer whilst maintaining a caseload of clients.
You will have oversight of use of temporary accommodation, of all homeless cases and assist officers with points of legislation when required. In this fast-paced service area, you will need to be creative, adaptable, and hardworking in order to prevent homelessness and provide excellent case management services to our customers.
The main duties of this role include:
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Providing line management responsibility to housing options officers, the triage and allocation officer and housing options support officer.
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Conducting case sampling of homeless and housing register cases and report on findings.
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Completing assessments with customers who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
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Making decisions in line with homelessness legislation and communicating to applicants in writing.
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Mediating between applicants and landlords.
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Working on a rota basis to cover front line homelessness functions.
The successful candidate will be customer focused, be organised and have a thorough understanding of homeless legislation. You will also fully understand the difficulties faced by people facing homelessness and have a proactive attitude tor evolving difficult situations. You will be a team player but confident to work independently and have a flexible attitude to working under pressure. We are looking for an individual with a positive outlook and a desire to deliver a quality service to the community we serve.
A thorough working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite of applications is key and you will have a good working knowledge of excel. You must be able to maintain and update electronic information systems in accordance with data protection regulations., Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.
At Melton Borough Council we are continually looking at how we can improve our service and processes and want someone to help us to deliver it!
Working for Melton BC provides an excellent range of benefits and family friendly working policies. These include flexi-time with no core hours, agile working arrangements which enables multi-site and home working, generous leave entitlement, a full week off at Christmas, Local Authority Pension Scheme and a clear commitment to your continued professional development.
We look forward to hearing from you if you are looking for the chance to work for a forward thinking Council and make a real difference to the people of Melton and surrounding areas.
Rachel Chubb – Strategic Lead Supporting Communities
Telephone: (01664) 502510
Email: rchubb@melton.gov.uk
Senior Housing Options Officer employer: Melton Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Melton Borough Council Recruiting Team
+441664502510
rchubb@melton.gov.uk
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Housing Options Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Understanding these laws will not only help you in your role but also demonstrate your commitment to the position during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience in managing teams and handling caseloads effectively. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've supported colleagues and managed challenging situations in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your customer service skills and your ability to empathize with vulnerable populations. Share stories that illustrate your proactive approach to preventing homelessness and providing tailored support.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past roles to manage data and improve service delivery.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Housing Options Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the Senior Housing Options Officer position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, especially regarding homelessness legislation and case management.
Tailor Your CV: Customize your CV to highlight relevant experience in housing options, case management, and any previous roles that involved working with vulnerable populations. Emphasize your understanding of homelessness issues and your ability to work under pressure.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for helping those facing homelessness. Mention specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your customer-focused approach and your adaptability in challenging situations.
Highlight Technical Skills: Make sure to mention your proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, as well as your experience with electronic information systems. This is crucial for maintaining accurate records and data protection compliance.
How to prepare for a job interview at Melton Borough Council
✨Understand Homelessness Legislation
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Be prepared to discuss how these laws impact your role and how you would apply them in real-life scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
As a Senior Housing Options Officer, you'll be managing a team. Highlight your leadership experience and provide examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past.
✨Demonstrate Customer Focus
This role is all about helping vulnerable people. Share specific examples of how you've provided excellent customer service or support in challenging situations, emphasizing your empathy and problem-solving skills.
✨Be Ready for Fast-Paced Scenarios
The environment is busy and can be stressful. Prepare to discuss how you handle pressure and adapt to changing circumstances, perhaps by sharing a relevant experience where you thrived under similar conditions.