At a Glance
- Tasks: Support residents in housing crises through proactive visits and tailored advice.
- Company: Southwark Council, dedicated to preventing homelessness and supporting communities.
- Benefits: Permanent role with 36 hours per week, competitive salary, and diverse work environment.
- Other info: Join a forward-thinking team committed to innovation and community support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them achieve stable housing.
- Qualifications: Passion for prevention, strong communication skills, and experience in complex situations.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Why Southwark? Does the opportunity to provide the right support at the right time and help people remain safely housed appeal to you? Are you passionate about early intervention, problem-solving and making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents? If yes, we have an exciting opportunity for you!
At Southwark Council, our Visiting Officers play a key role in preventing homelessness before situations reach crisis point. This is a frontline role for someone who believes in the power of early action, meaningful conversations and practical solutions that help residents achieve safe, stable and sustainable housing outcomes.
About the Role: As a Visiting Officer, you will work directly with residents, landlords and partners across the borough to understand challenges, identify risks early and take action when it matters most. Through home visits, mediation, negotiation and practical problem-solving, you will support residents through some of the most challenging housing situations and help resolve issues before they escalate. You will join a forward-thinking service that values innovation, partnership working and professional judgement. Working alongside colleagues across the council, voluntary sector organisations and wider community partners, you will help deliver a coordinated “no wrong door” approach, ensuring residents receive timely, effective and personalised support.
What You'll Be Doing: You will deliver a proactive, resident-focused service that identifies housing risks early and provides practical interventions to support housing stability. Your role will include:
- Visiting residents in their homes and communities to understand their circumstances, assess risks and provide tailored housing advice.
- Responding quickly when homelessness is a risk, particularly in situations involving family and friends’ exclusions, eviction threats and housing instability.
- Using mediation and negotiation skills to resolve disputes between residents, landlords, families and support networks.
- Working with landlords and agents to understand concerns, negotiate solutions and support tenancy sustainment wherever possible.
- Developing personalised housing plans that provide clear actions, support and sustainable housing pathways.
- Supporting residents to maximise their income and access appropriate financial assistance, including prevention tools such as discretionary housing payments.
- Managing a varied and complex caseload, applying sound judgement to make effective decisions and meet statutory responsibilities.
- Working collaboratively with internal services, enforcement teams, voluntary organisations and external agencies to provide coordinated support.
- Using local knowledge and intelligence to identify emerging risks, strengthen prevention activity and contribute to service improvements, including changes linked to Renters’ Rights reforms.
Every day will bring new challenges. You will use your communication skills, resilience and ability to find solutions to make a real and lasting difference to residents’ lives.
What We're Looking For: We are looking for someone who is passionate about prevention and motivated by helping people find solutions before they reach crisis point. You will be someone who:
- Builds trust quickly and communicates confidently with residents, landlords, families and partner organisations.
- Can manage challenging conversations with empathy, professionalism and a clear focus on achieving positive outcomes.
- Has experience handling complex situations and making balanced decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Is confident working independently in the community while contributing positively as part of a wider team.
- Understands the importance of mediation, negotiation and early intervention in preventing homelessness.
- Can assess complex housing circumstances, identify risks and take timely, effective action.
- Is committed to delivering a resident-centred service that promotes dignity, choice and sustainable solutions.
Above all, you will share our commitment to preventing homelessness and supporting stronger, more resilient communities.
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: 25 Bournemouth Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4UJ Type of contract: Permanent
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
Visiting Officer employer: Southwark Careers
Southwark Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community. As a Visiting Officer, you will be part of a forward-thinking team that values innovation and collaboration, providing you with opportunities for professional growth while working in a diverse and inclusive environment. Located in Peckham, London, you will enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and offers a range of benefits aimed at fostering a fulfilling career in public service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Visiting Officer
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Southwark Careers.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Southwark Careers!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Southwark Careers, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Southwark Careers or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Visiting Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Southwark Careers:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southwark Careers! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southwark Careers
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
