At a Glance
- Tasks: Help prevent homelessness by supporting individuals and families in crisis with tailored solutions.
- Company: Worcester City Council's Housing & Homelessness Service, dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive team environment, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Be the first point of contact for those in need and create positive change in your community.
- Qualifications: Passion for helping others, strong communication skills, and ability to manage a varied caseload.
The predicted salary is between 29096 - 35562 £ per year.
Following the award of specialist government funding, we have created several new roles within our Housing & Homelessness Service to deliver our ambitious plans to prevent homelessness, reduce rough sleeping and protect vulnerable tenants. These newly created roles offer an exciting opportunity to make the role your own and help shape how the service is delivered from day one.
Worcester City Council’s Housing & Homelessness Service is committed to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their home. We provide a wide range of support, both in-house and through strong partnerships, to help our customers achieve stable and secure housing.
Prevention is at the heart of our approach—we work proactively to help people remain in their homes or move to more suitable accommodation before reaching crisis point. In recent years, we have made significant improvements to our temporary accommodation, enhanced the support we offer, and focused on improving the overall customer experience. We are proud of the high-quality, person-centred service we deliver.
We are a large, dynamic service made up of five teams delivering a broad range of housing functions.
Our Homelessness Prevention Officers are often the first point of contact for people facing a housing crisis. This is a rewarding and varied role where no two days are the same. You'll work directly with individuals and families who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, taking the time to fully understand their circumstances, identify the root causes of their housing difficulties and develop tailored solutions that help them remain safely housed wherever possible.
You will manage your own caseload from initial assessment through to resolution, using a range of prevention tools and interventions to achieve positive outcomes. This could include helping customers maximise their income, mediating with family members or landlords, resolving tenancy issues, accessing specialist support services, or using housing legislation and enforcement powers to challenge unlawful practices and protect existing tenancies. Working closely with landlords, registered providers, support agencies and other statutory services, you will take a creative, proactive and customer-focused approach to preventing homelessness before it reaches crisis point.
We're looking for someone who is passionate about making a real difference to people's lives and who understands that effective homelessness prevention requires more than simply processing applications. You will be naturally curious, able to ask the right questions, gather information sensitively and build a complete picture of a customer's situation. Most importantly, you'll be able to develop practical, bespoke solutions that reflect the individual's circumstances and strengths rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.
You should be able to:
- Build trusting relationships quickly with customers facing a housing crisis and take a compassionate, person-centred approach to support.
- Complete thorough housing and support needs assessments, identifying the root cause of homelessness and appropriate interventions.
- Manage a varied caseload independently, balancing competing priorities while maintaining excellent standards of case recording and administration.
- Apply housing and homelessness legislation effectively to support customers and make informed decisions.
- Investigate housing issues and tenancy concerns, gathering evidence and working with colleagues to resolve problems and prevent homelessness.
- Communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with customers, colleagues, landlords and partner organisations.
For full details of the role requirements, please see the attached Role Profile.
For further information about the role, please contact Jade Foster, Homelessness Prevention & Projects Team Leader at jade.foster@worcester.gov.uk.
Closing Date: 28th September 2026
Interview date: Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th October 2026.
Homelessness Prevention Officer employer: WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL
Worcester City Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises safety and community service. As an LGV Sweeper Driver, you will enjoy stable full-time hours, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on the cleanliness and safety of our streets. Join us at Six Ways Depot, where your contributions are valued and recognised in a collaborative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Homelessness Prevention 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 WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL.
✨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 WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL!
✨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 WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL, 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 WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL 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 Homelessness Prevention 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 WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to WORCESTER CITY 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 WORCESTER CITY 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.
