At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing homelessness and mental health challenges with tailored housing solutions.
- Company: Milton Keynes City Council, a modern and inclusive employer.
- Benefits: 28 days annual leave, excellent pension, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Dynamic work culture with opportunities for growth and training.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Understanding of housing legislation and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
Closing Date: 06/09/2026
Job Category: Adult Social Care
Service Area: Adult Services - Homeless Prevention + Access
Package Description:
- Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
- Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
- Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
- Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
- Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.
Our roles are either designated 'site based' or 'home based'. 'Site based' roles can include up to two days a week working from home whilst 'home based' roles are based at home four days a week. Of course, managers designate which category roles are in based on the needs of the service and the circumstances.
Job Introduction:
We're recruiting a Housing Solutions Officer (Higher) to join our Housing Solutions team at Milton Keynes City Council. This rewarding specialist role focuses on supporting individuals experiencing mental health challenges who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in need of housing assistance. Working closely with local mental health services, you'll spend a significant amount of time across a range of mental health settings, including hospitals, inpatient units, community mental health teams, supported accommodation and clinics, providing housing advice and support to patients preparing for discharge.
You'll manage complex cases, undertake homelessness assessments, develop personalised housing plans and coordinate with health professionals and partner agencies to help individuals secure suitable accommodation and sustain successful move on outcomes. By ensuring housing needs are addressed as part of the discharge process, you'll play a vital role in reducing homelessness, preventing delayed discharges and supporting some of the most vulnerable residents in our community. This is an excellent opportunity to make a real difference while contributing to our wider priority of delivering decent and affordable homes for local people.
At Milton Keynes Adult Social Care Services, we take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues.
Site-Based role:
This is a Site-Based role, and you'll be expected to work from the designated workplace. Interviews for this role will be held on 15th September 2026.
At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.
Key Responsibilities:
- Prevent and relieve homelessness by providing housing advice, support and practical solutions tailored to individual circumstances.
- Manage a varied caseload of complex homelessness cases, considering support needs and making appropriate referrals where required.
- Develop Personal Housing Plans and issue statutory correspondence in line with homelessness legislation and council policies.
- Complete homelessness assessments and statutory decisions while ensuring customers receive clear and accurate advice.
- Work collaboratively with internal services and external partners, leading and contributing to multi-agency meetings to achieve positive outcomes for residents.
- Support service improvement and the development of colleagues through sharing knowledge, reviewing casework and contributing to performance and quality standards.
Ideal Candidate:
- A commitment to achieving or holding a Chartered Institute of Housing qualification, or another relevant housing or homelessness qualification at Level 2 or Level 3.
- Brings a strong understanding of housing legislation, homelessness duties, safeguarding responsibilities and related statutory frameworks.
- Comfortable managing complex cases independently and making sound decisions using professional judgement.
- Demonstrates excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the confidence to build positive relationships with customers, colleagues and partner organisations.
- Shows creativity and resilience when solving difficult problems and finding practical housing solutions.
- Has access to transport to enable travel across Milton Keynes and surrounding locations as required.
As part of the pre-employment checks, should you be offered the role, we'll carry out a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
About The Organisation:
Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round the clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. Milton Keynes City Council is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. We actively encourage applications from candidates who bring a range of perspectives, particularly those from underrepresented groups. We are proud to have signed up to the Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES), a continuous improvement programme designed to help social care organisations achieve anti-racist workplaces. Our commitment means we are actively working to identify and address inequalities, improve representation in leadership, and ensure fair treatment and opportunity for all colleagues in Adult Services.
We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it's time for a new role.
Housing Solutions Officer (Higher) in Milton Keynes employer: Milton-Keynes-Council
Stanton School is an excellent employer that fosters a supportive and collaborative work environment, making it an ideal place for individuals who are passionate about education and community. With a focus on employee growth, we offer opportunities for professional development and training, ensuring that our staff can thrive in their roles. Located within a vibrant school community, our Business Assistant position not only provides meaningful work but also the chance to contribute to the success of our students and the wider community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Solutions Officer (Higher) in Milton Keynes
✨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 Milton-Keynes-Council.
✨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 Milton-Keynes-Council!
✨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 Milton-Keynes-Council, 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 Milton-Keynes-Council 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 Housing Solutions Officer (Higher) in Milton Keynes
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 Milton-Keynes-Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Milton-Keynes-Council! 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 Milton-Keynes-Council
✨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.
