Technical Officer Adaptations - Council

Contract Length: 12 weeks initially – sickness cover

Location: West Northampton - the role will need visits to the customer to progress the work on a daily basis, and then plans etc production that could be from home, expect 2 or 3 days in the office

IR35: Inside

Pay Rate to Intermediary: £35 - £40 per hour

Security Clearance: BPSS

Spinwell is recruiting for a Technical Officer Adaptations for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TECHNICAL OFFICER ADAPTATIONS

• To undertake inspections of properties in response to applications for home adaptation assistance, consider the recommendations of the Occupational Therapy Service, against the consideration of ‘reasonable and practicable’.
• Make recommendations for works that meet this requirement, undertake property surveys, produced schedules of work and plan for contractor tender.
• To undertake feasibility visits in advance of home adaptation assistance with colleagues, particularly Occupation Therapy, consider the information being provided, assess the potential deliver of adaptations to meet the client needs.
• Make recommendations to the Occupational Therapy Service for inclusion in their recommendations.
• Submit planning applications for home adaptations that are agreed through grant application as required, monitor and liaise with Development Control during the application process, keeping to customer involved, make appropriate amendments as necessary to facilitate planning approval.
• Review tender submissions, ensure that the costs of work are reasonable and offer value for money, make recommendation for amendments when works exceed available funding, ensuring that all tenders are fully completed and that all items of work are correctly itemised and costed.
• Provide for effective and proactive case management and site supervision, acting in the best interests of the client supervise contractors during adaptation projects, act as problem solver and progress chaser as appropriate, undertake completion inspections of works to ensure completion in line with the schedule of works.
• Ensure the submission of statutory certification prior to the approval of payments.
• Monitor the completion of works, ensuring that levels of customer satisfaction are achieved, that contractors are providing high quality services to our customers, and that payments are only authorised on evidenced inspection and completion of works.
• To maintain personal professional competence and keep abreast of developments in relation to housing adaptations and the relevant legislation through research and reading, attendance of courses and briefings, and the use of established networks.
• To maximise personal productivity, minimise duplication and errors; and manage our information efficiently and securely to reduce risk, though effective use of Office 365 and our internal IT systems and applications.
• Actively challenge and seek to eliminate any directly or indirectly discriminatory practice or behaviours.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs and ensure that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF THE TECHNICAL OFFICER ADAPTATIONS

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a variety of audiences, including Members, Senior Officers, landlords and letting agents, members of the public and the Council’s partners.
• Extensive experience of working with vulnerable clients, including people with disabilities, older people, and families with children.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to ensure consistent and clear advice is delivered to vulnerable applicants and their advocates.
• Excellent negotiating and advocacy skills, and the drive and commitment to achieve positive outcomes for residents and service users.
• Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise work and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to undertake property surveys to assess their suitability for adaptation.
• Experience of managing on-site projects in line with contract specifications.
• Ability to analyse, manage and interpret information and data, and to use it to inform decision making and improve services.
• Ability to use Computer Assisted Design (CAD) software.
• Ability to think and act strategically, using knowledge and experience to suggest and implement improvements to service delivery.
• Demonstrate effective use of Office 365 (incl. Teams, OneDrive, etc.) or willingness to undertake training during the probation period.
• Demonstrate the effective use of Housing / Regulatory Services IT applications that support the delivery of services, currently the Council use M3 for this purpose.
• In-depth knowledge of the Home Adaptations regime, including the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996; and the Regulatory Reform Order 2002 local authorities’ functions in relation to home adaptations, and their practical application.
• Knowledge of Building Regulations, planning requirements, code of practice, British Standards, and other requirements relevant to the work.
• Knowledge of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
• Experience of translating occupational therapists’ recommendations into schemes of work that meet the needs of disabled people, are reasonable and practicable and provide value for money.
• Experience of managing on-site projects in line with contract specifications.
• Experience of operating within a political environment, including liaising with local Councillors and MPs.
• Experience of working collaboratively across a multi-agency environment, establishing and sustaining effective working relationships and partnerships.
• An understanding of equality and diversity.
• Qualifications, or significant experience, in surveying in domestic property settings, project design, and implementation.
• Qualification, of demonstrable proficiency with the use of CAD systems for the production of domestic adaptation plans and schedules.
• Full driving licence and access to own transport for work purposes.

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