Housing Register & Allocations Officer - Portsmouth in Isle of Wight

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals.

We are looking for a Housing Register & Allocations Officer to join our Housing Needs Advice & Support service. This is a full-time, permanent role based at the Civic Offices in Portsmouth.

Based in Housing Needs, Advice & Support, you will be part of a team which deals with customers both face to face and by telephone. You will be required to deal with general housing enquiries and be part of a duty team who manage a large caseload. You will make assessments of housing need, interviewing customers about their housing situation and assessing their financial circumstances, to fully understand the customers' circumstances and support.

We are looking for somebody who:

• Is highly motivated and self-managing.
• Can listen to people and not rush to conclusions or judgements before fully understanding what is needed or wanted by a customer.
• Has the confidence and ability to seek clarity by making respectful and assertive challenges when required.
• Can use information gained to build effective plans around people.
• Is emotionally resilient and able to deal with the impact of being exposed to customer's difficult circumstances, and remain professionally detached and focused even if the message you deliver involves saying no.
• Has experience of working directly with customers in a front-line service and understands the challenges that vulnerable client groups can face.
• Has an awareness of equalities issues and is committed to equal opportunities.
• Has an awareness of the welfare benefits system and understands how a person's financial circumstances may impact on their housing situation.
• Can negotiate with our customers, housing providers, and internal and external agencies to find person-centred solutions to housing problems.
• Can clearly and effectively communicate with a wide range of people from the most socially disadvantaged customers to senior professionals, verbally and in writing.
• Is comfortable using a variety of IT systems such as Excel and other office applications.
• Can work independently or as part of a team using your own initiative and judgement to find appropriate and effective solutions to the various issues that may arise.
• Is proactive and able to manage multiple tasks whilst also being able to meet deadlines.
• Is flexible, as they may be required to visit vacant properties, work from any housing area or cover another workload at short notice.

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.