At a Glance
- Tasks: Help those facing homelessness by providing tailored housing advice and support.
- Company: Join Swale Borough Council, a progressive local authority in beautiful Kent.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 34-hour work week, generous holidays, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Full UK driving licence required for home visits across the borough.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: Knowledge of homelessness legislation and experience in a similar role is preferred.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
About the Role
Swale Borough Council have an exciting opportunity for a full-time Housing Assessment Officer to join our friendly team. You will be helping to deliver a proactive, high-quality housing options service in accordance with housing legislation.
The role of a Housing Assessment Officer is required to work with people who are homeless or soon to be homeless and provide specialist housing advice. Some of your duties would include:
- To act as a caseworker for homeless applicants providing accurate and appropriate advice, guidance and assistance on the range of options available, with a strong focus on preventing and relieving homelessness wherever possible.
- To primarily work with those who are currently homeless, interviewing applicants on day of presentation as part of a duty rota including in person and home visits, assessing and investigating applications and reaching decisions in line with the council’s statutory homelessness duties. This will include making detailed enquiries to establish eligibility for assistance.
- To manage a caseload of homelessness relief cases, creating tailored personalised housing plans whilst maintaining a strong focus on relieving homelessness.
- To support vulnerable applicants such as care leavers, ex-offenders, young people and those who may have experienced issues such as Domestic Abuse, physical or mental health difficulties and substance misuse issues, whist having a good knowledge of the different housing options that might be available.
The role provides a customer focused, pro-active service to help our residents resolve their housing problem. This is a busy & challenging role, but we work as a close and supportive team and work together to make a difference.
This is a full time position working 34 hours per week on a permanent contract.
About Swale Borough Council
Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work life balance is high on our agenda.
Our Offer
A range of benefits including:
- 34 hour full time working week with the offices closing at 1:30pm on Friday
- Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
- Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
- Free parking
- Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
- Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
- Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
- Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
- Annual flu vaccine
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
- Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
- A professional fee payment, if required for the role
About You
We value the skills and experience gained from different roles and agencies with transferable skillsets.
You will be expected to have a good knowledge of homelessness legislation or the evidenced ability to interpret and use legislation to guide your practice and make decisions. You will be able to provide advice and assistance to households who are homeless or facing homelessness to assess whether a relief duty is owed in line with the Homeless Reduction Act 2017.
You will already have practical experience in a similar role, with the ability to quickly learn and use detailed and thorough knowledge of homeless investigations and S184 decisions in order to carry out the council’s statutory duties. If you do not have experience, you will be expected to demonstrate your understanding at interview by undertaking research in advance.
Additionally, you will have experience of and be prepared to deal with people faced with very stressful situations and be able to remain calm and empathise with their situation. You will need to be proactive and able to identify support needs and complete necessary referrals, adhere to internal and external safeguarding procedures, attend multi-agency meetings and liaise closely with other agencies.
You will have excellent communication skills with the ability to adjust your approach when needed. A passion and drive to help a variety people in different situations, and the flexibility to work out of hours where necessary. You will need a full UK driving licence and the ability to travel across the borough to conduct home visits at a variety of locations.
Selection Process
The Supporting Statement in your application gives you the opportunity to tell us how you meet all aspects of the person specification.
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect a job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.
Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.
The Council considers that the successful applicant will have access to the Government’s secure network and will need to have a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check completed. In addition to the normal pre-employment checks this requires a criminal record check for unspent convictions and verification of employment history for the preceding 3 years. Where the 3 years of employment history cannot be verified through the most recent employment reference, you will need to provide a copy of your HMRC PAYE record for the 3-year period and will need to explain the reasons for any gaps in employment.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Hannah Holdstock, Housing Assessment Manager on 01795 417629 or Roxanne Sheppard, Housing Options Manager on 01795 417588.
To apply for the position please click Apply to view the full job description and complete the online application form.
Closing Date: 4th August 2025
Interview Date: w/c 18th August 2025
#J-18808-LjbffrHousing Assessment Officer in Sittingbourne employer: Swale Borough Council
Swale Borough Council is an exceptional employer that prioritises staff wellbeing and work-life balance, offering a flexible hybrid working policy and a 34-hour work week. With generous holiday entitlements, professional development opportunities, and a supportive team culture, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in the community while enjoying a range of benefits including free parking and a local government pension scheme.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Assessment Officer in Sittingbourne
✨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 Swale Borough Council.
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We think you need these skills to ace Housing Assessment Officer in Sittingbourne
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 Swale Borough Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Swale Borough Council! 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 Swale Borough Council
✨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.
