Housing Needs Officer

Slough Borough Council – Housing Needs Officer

Are you a Housing Needs Officer? Slough Borough Council are looking to recruit a Housing Needs Officer to join their team!

Responsibilities

• Deliver a comprehensive, customer focussed and high quality housing needs service, liaising with other sections, departments and agencies internally and externally in relation to housing or homelessness issues on behalf of home seekers
• Provide good quality advice to all, including, public, tenants, licensees, landlords etc, regarding their legal rights and available options related to their housing using a holistic approach. This will include analysing complex information and relaying this information appropriately to the customer, including legal advice on housing, immigration and benefit legislation.
• Identify and respond proactively to every customer who may be at risk of homelessness and find the most effective means to prevent and tackle homelessness, fulfilling the Council\’s duties under housing, homelessness, and any other relevant legislation.
• To take a lead on a particular topic and/or liaison with a partner department or agency as directed by the Housing Demand Manager or Team Leader.
• Identify and provide positive, effective and often complex legal and housing advice, and information to home seekers about their rights and options, in compliance with the Landlords & Tenants Act, Protection from Eviction Act, Housing and Homelessness Acts, and other related legislation. This will include immigration and benefits legislation.
• Carry out home visits (when appropriate) to assess accuracy of homelessness applications and take a proactive approach to tackle housing needs and homelessness; dealing with a range of circumstances many of which will be complex and detailed.
• To maintain accurate, written and computerised records, reports and other monitoring information, as required, and to keep adequate management information database for legal requirements.

Skills

• Ability to analyse complex information and to negotiate or mediate effective solutions in a constructive manner.
• Ability to understand, assess and apply complex legislation accurately and fairly to a range of circumstances, identifying issues around needs and trends and influencing changes in policy and practice.
• Commitment to provide a customer focussed service.
• Ability to deal with a variety of situations for vulnerable customers, and to cope professionally with those who are demanding and/or abusive; with empathy and sensitivity to the customers needs
• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with colleagues external bodies.
• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills in order to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues and to advise customers on housing finance issues.
• Ability to work accurately to achieve complex tasks and objectives within agreed timescales using own initiative, identifying urgent situations, and prioritise accordingly whilst remaining calm under pressure.
• Ability to work as a team member or on own initiative, and respond to changing needs in the service
• Ability to maintain and up to date knowledge of current housing practice and case law.
• Understand and promotes equality and diversity issues within their area of work.
• Ability to work within the Heath and safety policies and procedures, set out for the role/team and wider Slough Borough Council
• Ability to apply resources in a way which tackles complex housing issues and prevents homelessness, using predetermined procedures and ensuring services are delivered in budget.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current housing law, immigration and related legislation, case law, policies and good practice. Including Protection from Eviction Act 1977, relevant Housing Acts and Homelessness Acts.
• Knowledge and good conceptual understanding of issues affecting the private rented sector e.g. overcrowding, different tenure types etc; and the legislation which determines these standards.
• Good understanding of how to apply housing benefits procedures, welfare benefits and debt counselling in an advisory capacity.
• Knowledge of county and magistrates court procedures in relation to repossession and criminal law (e.g. harassment, unlawful evictions, etc.)
• Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation and an ability to apply and enforce it, particularly in relation to lone workers.
• Knowledge of data protection legislation, especially relating to customer records and information
• Knowledge of equal opportunities legislation and policy.

Experience

• Experience of working in Housing Advice, Homelessness or Tenancy Relations role.
• Experience of providing services to a diverse client group, managing difficult and vulnerable customers professionally and effectively, within the context of a front line customer focused service.
• Experience of working in confidential situations with an understanding of when & how to share sensitive information with customers and relevant agencies.
• Experience of homelessness and Housing Advice casework, file management and accurate recording of information.
• Experience of giving accurate and relevant information in a clear and concise manner, both in writing and verbally

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