At a Glance
- Tasks: Review housing decisions and ensure compliance with legislation while improving service quality.
- Company: Southwark Council, dedicated to fairness and continuous improvement in housing services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 36-hour work week, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to tackling inequality and enhancing public services.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on housing decisions and support residents in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing legislation and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Do you want to use your housing expertise to influence better decisions, strengthen legal compliance and help ensure residents receive fair and consistent outcomes? Are you an experienced housing professional who enjoys improving practice, managing complex cases and supporting services to deliver high-quality, legally robust decisions? If yes, we have an exciting opportunity for you! We are recruiting a Quality Assurance and Review Officer on an 18 month fixed term contract to help play a key role in strengthening decision-making across Housing Needs and Support.
As a Quality Assurance and Review Officer, you will sit at the heart of statutory compliance, governance, and service improvement. You will ensure that decisions relating to homelessness, allocations and accommodation suitability are lawful, evidence-based, clearly reasoned and capable of withstanding external scrutiny. Southwark Council operates within a complex and evolving housing environment, where effective assurance is essential to maintaining public confidence, managing risk and delivering high-quality services. Using your expertise, you will review decisions, identify opportunities to improve practice and provide constructive challenge and guidance to support colleagues across Housing Needs and Support.
With significant changes taking place across housing legislation, including the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act, this role provides an opportunity to help shape how new legal duties are embedded into operational practice. You will contribute to strengthening governance arrangements, improving decision-making frameworks and supporting teams to respond confidently to emerging requirements. Southwark is committed to delivering resident-focused services built on fairness, accountability and continuous improvement. This role offers the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, influence service development and make a meaningful contribution to the quality of housing decisions across the borough.
What You'll Be Doing
In this role, you will combine statutory review expertise with service assurance, governance and improvement activity. You will help ensure that decisions are consistent, legally compliant and aligned with legislation, policy, and best practice. You will:
- Lead statutory housing reviews under the Housing Act 1996, determining complex cases relating to homelessness, allocations and accommodation suitability.
- Ensure decisions are legally sound, evidence-based, clearly reasoned and completed within statutory timescales.
- Provide comprehensive assurance across Housing Needs and Support, reviewing casework, complaints, Member enquiries and legal correspondence.
- Identify risks, inconsistencies and opportunities to strengthen decision-making standards and improve practice.
- Support litigation readiness by ensuring decisions are robust, defensible and capable of withstanding external challenge.
- Analyse review outcomes, trends and patterns to identify systemic issues and provide insight that informs service improvement and governance arrangements.
- Develop and deliver training, legal updates and guidance to help colleagues confidently apply complex legislation and policy.
- Support the implementation of emerging housing legislation, including the Renters’ Rights Act, by helping embed new duties, update guidance and strengthen assurance processes.
- Work collaboratively across teams to promote learning, accountability and continuous improvement.
What We're Looking For
We are seeking an experienced housing professional who can apply sound judgement, provide expert advice, and help maintain high standards within a complex and changing environment. You will bring:
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of homelessness legislation, housing allocations, accommodation suitability and statutory review processes.
- Experience of reviewing or making complex housing decisions and applying legislation, policy and case law.
- The ability to analyse information, identify risks and provide clear recommendations that improve service quality and outcomes.
- Confidence in managing challenging and sensitive cases while maintaining fairness, accuracy and professional judgement.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear advice, challenge constructively and influence colleagues.
- Experience of quality assurance, audit, governance, or service improvement activity within a housing environment.
- A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and emerging legislative requirements.
- The resilience and confidence to work independently, manage competing demands and take ownership of decisions.
- A commitment to sharing expertise, supporting colleagues and helping teams build confidence in applying complex housing frameworks.
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.
Contact Information:
To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact our dedicating Housing Needs inbox via email at HNASapplications@southwark.gov.uk
Additional Information
Working hours: 36 hours per week
Location: 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH
Type of contract: 18 month fixed term contract
Benefits and more information: https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
Recruitment Timeline:
Advert close date: 11:59pm on Friday 14th August 2026
Shortlisting date/s: 17th - 19th August 2026
Interview date/s: Week commencing 7th September 2026
The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme: As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
Quality Assurance and Review Officer employer: Southwark Careers
Southwark Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises fairness, accountability, and continuous improvement in delivering resident-focused services. Working as a Quality Assurance and Review Officer in the vibrant borough of Southwark offers you the chance to collaborate with experienced professionals, influence service development, and contribute meaningfully to housing decisions while enjoying a supportive work culture that values diversity and inclusion. With opportunities for professional growth and a commitment to tackling racial inequality, Southwark Council is dedicated to fostering an environment where your expertise can thrive and make a real impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Quality Assurance and Review Officer
✨Get Engaged in Local Politics
Dive into your local council meetings or community boards. These spaces are packed with people who are already in the public sector and might have insider tips on upcoming temporary roles. Plus, you can connect directly with key decision-makers.
✨Stay Alert for Seasonal Recruitment
Many public sector jobs ramp up during certain times of the year, especially around election seasons or local budget planning periods. Keep your eyes peeled for recruitment drives during these windows, as they're prime times for temporary positions.
✨Leverage Online Job Portals
Don’t forget to check government job boards or websites like the local council's site for temporary postings. This is where many roles first get advertised, and applying directly here can speed things up.
✨Tap Into Your University Resources
If you're at university, make the most of your career services to discover opportunities in the public sector. They often have connections with local government employers who are looking for temporary staff and can help you polish your approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Quality Assurance and Review Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Emphasise your understanding of public policy:In your application, make sure to highlight any knowledge or experience you have related to public policy, governance or community engagement. Show us how you can contribute to the public sector’s mission, especially if you've worked on relevant projects or initiatives before!
Tailor your CV to the sector's expectations:When crafting your CV, focus on including experiences that showcase your ability to work within government structures or similar environments. Use clear, concise language and consider adding any volunteer work or internships that reflect your commitment to public service.
Show flexibility and willingness to learn:Since this is a temporary role, it’s crucial to convey your adaptability and eagerness to pick up new skills quickly. In your cover letter, let us know how you plan to make the most of this short-term experience and what you hope to learn from it.
Include relevant certificates and training:If you've completed any training or have certifications that are relevant to the role (like public administration, project management, or data analysis), don't forget to mention them. These can really make you stand out in the application process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southwark Careers
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Public Service
In the government and public sector, showing that you're genuinely passionate about serving the community is key. Get ready to share examples where you've contributed to social good or tackled community issues, as this will resonate with interviewers from Southwark Careers.
✨Prepare for Policy and Regulatory Questions
Expect questions about policies, regulations, or recently implemented government initiatives. Brush up on the latest news relating to public sector developments—being informed will help you demonstrate that you're ready to hit the ground running, especially in a temporary role.
✨Flexibility is Your Best Friend
Since this is a temporary role, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly. Share examples where you've successfully taken on new challenges or adjusted to different team dynamics, that'll show Southwark Careers that you’re reliable and can effectively support various projects without a long onboarding process.
✨Prepare to Showcase Teamwork Skills
In the public sector, collaboration is vital. Be ready to discuss past experiences working in teams, especially in diverse environments. Highlight how you've contributed positively to group settings—this could really set you apart from other candidates in this temporary role.
