Placement Officer (Housing) in Hove

Placement Officer (Housing) Contract: Temporary – initially 3 months Hours: 35 hours per week Pay: £16.62 per hour PAYE or £21.99 per hour Umbrella Location: Hove, East Sussex About the role An opportunity is available for a motivated and customer-focused Placement Officer to join a Housing Needs – Temporary Accommodation team. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing placements into and out of temporary accommodation, ensuring homeless households are allocated suitable accommodation in accordance with individual needs, organisational policies and statutory housing duties. The role involves managing tenancy and licence agreements, monitoring occupancy, addressing antisocial behaviour, coordinating repairs and resolving accommodation-related issues. You will also work closely with internal departments, accommodation providers and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes for residents. Key responsibilities * Allocate suitable temporary accommodation to homeless households, taking account of individual circumstances, household needs and available housing stock. * Prepare tenancy and licence agreements and support housing benefit application processes. * Manage ongoing tenancy and licence issues, including abandonment, antisocial behaviour, complaints and breaches of conditions. * Identify safeguarding concerns and ensure appropriate referrals are made for vulnerable adults and children. * Liaise with accommodation providers, contractors and residents to resolve maintenance and property management issues. * Undertake property inspections and monitor accommodation standards and contractual compliance. * Maintain accurate housing records, case notes and occupancy information. * Support legal processes, including preparing notices, gathering evidence and assisting with possession proceedings. * Work collaboratively with internal teams and external organisations to deliver an effective housing service. Essential skills and experience * Experience within housing, homelessness, tenancy management or a customer-focused environment. * Knowledge of housing legislation and homelessness duties. * Understanding of tenancy management, landlord responsibilities and accommodation provision. * Experience of managing challenging customer situations and resolving complex enquiries. * Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills. * Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively under pressure. * Good administrative and IT skills, including maintaining accurate records and using databases. * Awareness of safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion. The ideal candidate The ideal candidate will be organised, resilient and customer-focused, with the ability to make sound decisions while dealing sensitively with people experiencing difficult circumstances. You will demonstrate a commitment to delivering a fair, inclusive and effective housing service, ensuring vulnerable households receive appropriate support and access to suitable temporary accommodation