Outreach Officer - Council

Role: Outreach Officer REF 131925

Contract Length: Until 04/12/2026

Location: Hackney

IR35: Inside

Pay Rate to Intermediary: £220 per day

Security Clearance: BPSS

Spinwell is recruiting for an Outreach Officer for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OUTREACH OFFICER

• To perform all functions within the Benefits and Housing Needs Service namely the processing of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Discretionary Housing Payments, welfare reform support including discretionary schemes, homelessness prevention and advice, homeless assessment, housing register applications, lettings of housing, housing supply and procurement, management and maintenance of temporary accommodation, financial monitoring and maintenance, payments, complaints, members and mayoral enquiries and FOI requests.
• To deliver an efficient, high quality and customer-focussed service for a diverse client group including high numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged households.
• To mentor both new members of staff and staff from other areas in legislation, practice, procedures, performance of duties and guidance on complex case work.
• To protect the public purse and assets of the Council by identifying and preventing fraud and error in all duties.
• To apply the relevant legislation, procedures, caselaw, guidance, audit recommendations, to conduct rigorous, robust and accurate assessments.
• To identify holistic and cost effective solutions through casework and joint working with other services, stakeholders, partners and agencies.
• To assist with the development of initiatives to meet all aims of the service, including increasing supply of properties, contract management and monitoring, mobility and re‑location, with pan-London and regional partners where necessary.
• To work co‑operatively across the Benefits and Housing Needs Service to promote an effective, efficient and holistic service to residents in the borough.
• To offer support and advice to customers and signpost to partners.
• To conduct visits to customers and properties to fully carry out statutory and corporate duties, including residency checks and assisting vulnerable members of the community.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF THE OUTREACH OFFICER

• Extensive knowledge and substantial experience of at least one of the following disciplines: Homeless assessments and reviews; Homeless prevention and housing advice; Temporary Accommodation management, maintenance, income collection and financial monitoring and payments; Housing Supply and procurement; Lettings, Allocations and the Housing Register; Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction schemes; Discretionary payments and Local Welfare Support; And the legislation, regulations, policy, guidance, and practice associated with these disciplines.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities in a pressurised working environment that are subject to frequently changing circumstances in order to achieve targets within challenging timescales.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your workload to deliver to tight deadlines, targets and performance standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences including partner services and agencies and the ability to explain complex legislative in simple language.
• Ability to represent the Council at court.
• Experience of effective partnership working with agencies and stakeholders and the proven ability in engaging, negotiating and consulting with a wide range of audiences.
• Substantial experience and detailed knowledge of the use of IT systems, including data processing, finance and Microsoft systems.
• Ability to mentor staff in relation to all service delivery roles.
• Ability to travel around the borough in order to conduct visits to customers and landlords.
• Experience of working flexibly to meet the needs of the service and its customers.
• Experience of assisting vulnerable and challenging customers.
• Ability to mediate and negotiate effectively.
• Experience of dealing with and advising customers in a professional manner.
• Ability to adapt to new legislative, technological and financial developments whilst maintaining services outcomes in periods of change.
• Ability to analyse and understand complex information.
• Experience of building positive relationships with a range of both internal and external customers and stakeholders.
• Experience of cross‑organisational working, taking into account the views of others and arriving at solutions of mutual benefit.
• Be available to work outside normal working hours including at weekends if required.
• Must demonstrate an understanding and be committed to the Council’s Equalities policy carrying out all duties with regard to the policy.
• Must demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the importance of confidentiality.
• Must demonstrate an ability to carry out research independently using electronic communication systems and other sources of relevant information.
• Ability to work on projects and contribute to shared outcomes.
• Officers involved with Benefits and discretionary awards processing will comply with the required security checks for the Department for Work and Pensions and Cabinet Office.
• Officers will be required to complete a declaration of interests’ submission for this post.

We welcome all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.