Reading Borough Council's Housing Needs team is recruiting a senior officer to manage a complex caseload of people who are homeless or at risk of it. The work centres on negotiation with landlords and families, statutory homelessness decisions and Section 202 reviews, and chairing multi-agency meetings. The post also carries mentoring of colleagues and contributing to reducing temporary accommodation use. Applicants need significant experience of Part VII decisions and a working grasp of the Renters Rights Act 2025.
What the job involves
- Manage a varied and complex homelessness prevention caseload
- Undertake homelessness assessments and make decisions under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996
- Conduct Section 202 reviews and give high-quality decision-making
- Prevent homelessness through negotiation and mediation with landlords, family and support networks
- Develop and maintain personalised housing plans with customers
- Take a leading role in resolving complex housing situations
- Support Team Leaders and provide mentoring, training and guidance to colleagues
- Chair multi-agency meetings and work with internal and external partners
- Investigate landlord and tenant disputes and give specialist housing advice
- Contribute to service improvement and help shape future service delivery
- Support the council's aim of reducing temporary accommodation and bed and breakfast use
What’s required
Experience
- Frontline housing advice or homelessness services
- Significant experience of making Part VII homelessness decisions
- Interpreting complex legislation and applying it in practice
- Working with partner agencies in multi-disciplinary environments
- Supporting, coaching or mentoring colleagues
Skills & knowledge
- Thorough knowledge of homelessness, housing and welfare legislation
- Strong understanding of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and the Renters Rights Act 2025
- Excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills
- Managing competing priorities and working under pressure
- Strong report writing, decision-making and case management
What’s offered
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years, with option to buy additional leave
- Range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in central Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life assurance of three times annual salary (for LGPS members)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season ticket loan for rail or bus travel to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme with insurance, servicing and road tax included
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
