At a Glance
- Tasks: Conduct assessments and provide housing advice to prevent homelessness for vulnerable households.
- Company: Join a supportive council team dedicated to improving community housing needs.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate, flexible hours, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be a key player in tackling homelessness and supporting your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing services and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Accommodation Needs Assessment Officer will undertake specialist assessments relating to temporary accommodation housing needs for households accommodated under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996. The postholder will provide professional housing advice, homelessness prevention interventions, and accommodation suitability assessments to vulnerable households. The role focuses on ensuring that accommodation offers are suitable, legally compliant, and responsive to complex customer needs. The successful candidate will work closely with internal and external stakeholders including Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, legal representatives, landlords, health professionals, and homelessness services to prevent and relieve homelessness while reducing the Council’s reliance on temporary accommodation.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct specialist accommodation suitability assessments for households placed in temporary accommodation.
- Manage complex homelessness and housing needs cases in line with the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
- Work proactively to prevent homelessness through early intervention and effective housing solutions.
- Develop, update, and implement Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs) with customers.
- Assess support, medical, safeguarding, affordability, and social care needs when determining accommodation suitability.
- Make decisions regarding discharge of homelessness duties following suitable accommodation offers.
- Conduct joint assessments with Adult and Children’s Social Care where statutory duties may apply.
- Provide housing advice covering: housing rights and tenancy issues, temporary accommodation, private rented sector options, housing register and mobility schemes, welfare benefits and affordability, prevention and relief duties.
Casework & Legal Responsibilities
- Carry out detailed investigations and enquiries on complex homelessness and suitability cases.
- Prepare legally compliant decision letters and case records.
- Liaise with Legal Services in response to reviews, appeals, judicial reviews, and legal challenges.
- Support court proceedings and prepare documentation where required.
- Ensure accurate case recording and maintenance of electronic records.
- Meet statutory and service deadlines relating to homelessness decisions and reviews.
Partnership Working
- Develop effective working relationships with housing supply teams, social care services, health professionals, solicitors and advocates, landlords and accommodation providers, voluntary and support agencies.
- Coordinate accommodation placements requiring specialist or individualised approaches.
- Work collaboratively to ensure accommodation placements meet identified support and housing needs.
Performance & Service Delivery
- Maintain high standards of customer service and decision-making.
- Ensure homelessness prevention and relief targets are achieved.
- Contribute to reducing temporary accommodation usage and associated expenditure.
- Provide statistical and performance information as required.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, codes of guidance, council policies, and information governance standards.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of Housing Act 1996 Part VI and VII, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Welfare Reform legislation, housing allocations and homelessness law, Adult and Children’s Social Care legislation, relevant homelessness case law and Codes of Guidance.
- Understanding of inner-city housing issues and homelessness prevention strategies.
- Knowledge of temporary accommodation suitability requirements.
Essential Experience
- Experience working within homelessness prevention, housing needs, or temporary accommodation services.
- Experience dealing with vulnerable customers and complex housing cases.
- Experience carrying out interviews, investigations, and assessments.
- Experience making legally robust housing or homelessness decisions.
- Experience working in a demanding frontline customer service environment.
- Experience achieving performance targets and statutory deadlines.
The employer is an equal opportunity employer.
Accomodation Needs Assessment Officer in London employer: Morgan Hunt UK Ltd
Contact Detail:
Morgan Hunt UK Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Accomodation Needs Assessment Officer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the housing and homelessness sector. Attend local events or join online forums. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of the Housing Act and homelessness prevention strategies. Be ready to discuss real-life scenarios where you’ve made a difference in someone’s housing situation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with vulnerable customers. Share specific examples of how you've handled complex cases. This will demonstrate your ability to manage the challenges that come with the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Accomodation Needs Assessment Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Accommodation Needs Assessment Officer role. Highlight your experience with housing needs and homelessness prevention, as well as any relevant legislation knowledge. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your experience dealing with vulnerable customers and complex cases. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed similar situations in the past. This will help us understand your approach and capabilities.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised on our end.
How to prepare for a job interview at Morgan Hunt UK Ltd
✨Know Your Legislation
Familiarise yourself with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Being able to discuss these laws confidently will show that you understand the legal framework surrounding the role and can apply it in practice.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work where you've dealt with complex housing cases or vulnerable customers. Highlight how you managed these situations, focusing on your problem-solving skills and ability to meet statutory deadlines.
✨Understand the Role's Impact
Research the importance of homelessness prevention and how it affects the community. Be ready to discuss how your work as an Accommodation Needs Assessment Officer can contribute to reducing reliance on temporary accommodation and improving customer outcomes.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Think about how you would approach working with various stakeholders like social services, landlords, and health professionals. Prepare to discuss strategies for building effective relationships and collaborating to meet the needs of vulnerable households.