Housing Options Officer (maternity cover) Castle Point Borough Council

Housing Options Officer (maternity cover) Castle Point Borough Council

Castle Point Borough Council

Fixed Term, 14 month fixed term contract Full Time

£37,035

Location: Castle Point

Closing Date: 23rd March 2025

Why Castle Point? Castle Point Borough Council is a statutory body responsible for employing nearly 350 staff, and delivering over 150 council services, both statutory and for the community's well-being and benefit. Castle Point Borough Council aims to provide high-quality and financially sustainable services while prioritising outstanding customer service, transparency in decision-making, and promoting local democracy. Additionally, the council seeks to transform, modernize, and improve its performance, as well as support and enable the communities within its jurisdiction to be strong, healthy, and thriving.

Our values: Trust, Respect, Improving and Learning, and Customer Focus

The Opportunity

Castle Point BC are keen to find an experienced individual to join their Housing Department on a fixed term basis to cover a 14-month maternity leave post. The focus of this role will be to support the prevention of homelessness by providing a comprehensive housing options and advice service. The role will also involve assessing homeless applications and participating in a duty rota to assess “Homeless tonight” approaches and progress accordingly in line with legislation and/or homeless code of guidance. Please note that this role will be based in the office 3 days per week.

Accountabilities

• To investigate, assess, assist, and advise customers on their housing options, providing the Council’s statutory obligations in relation to housing advice and homeless services.

• To maintain accurate records and be responsible for own caseload at prevention, relief and main duty investigations; progressing cases efficiently using own initiative.

• To actively work with clients to prevent & relieve their homelessness. By assisting them to retain their existing accommodation or secure alternative housing when all other housing options or solutions are exhausted.
• To negotiate with landlords, parents, and other agencies, both statutory and non-statutory to find the best solutions to clients housing needs.

• To produce Personal Housing Plans following assessment of needs; to monitor customers’ actions and to perform the authority’s actions.
• To undertake formal investigations under Pt V11 Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and associated guidance and legislation when homelessness cannot be prevented, and to issue s184 decision letters within required timescales.

• To ensure that potential safeguarding issues involving both adults and children are identified, and the appropriate corporate actions are taken.
• To attend multi agency meetings where appropriate to represent the Council in discussing clients and their circumstances.
• To work with the Temporary Accommodation Officer to make temporary accommodation placements and arrange for removals and storage.
• To ensure that appropriate risk assessments are carried out and referrals are made as necessary for those clients requiring temporary accommodation.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Microsoft office applications knowledge
• Excellent interpersonal skills to deal with member of the public and colleagues
• Knowledge of Housing Reduction Act 2007
• Excellent analytical and letter writing skills
• Experience of working in a public facing role
• Partnership working with various organisations

Castle Point Borough Council is proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

Castle Point Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email louise.butler@essex.gov.uk