Housing Options Officer – Braintree District Council
We are recruiting a Housing Options Officer on a 3‑month temporary basis to provide front‑line, customer‑focused service to individuals and families experiencing housing difficulties.
Key details:
* Location: Braintree
* Type: Temporary, Full Time
* Salary: £31.19 ph (umbrella)
* Closing date: 2nd December 2025
Accountabilities
* Provide a comprehensive frontline service to customers seeking advice and assistance regarding their housing needs, irrespective of tenure, either in person or by telephone.
* Participate in the Housing Options duty rota (including triage) and respond to emergencies.
* Take action to prevent and relieve homelessness, including visits to applicants’ parents, negotiation with landlords and mortgage companies, referral to other agencies and use of the Council’s Homelessness Prevention Fund.
* Provide customers with expert, professional, comprehensive advice and information on all aspects of housing options work, including basic financial and benefits assessments.
* Produce Personalised Housing Plans following assessment of needs; monitor customers’ actions and perform the authority’s actions.
* Help customers access a range of housing opportunities, including social housing, private rented accommodation, supported housing and shared/home ownership, and assess customers’ suitability for the Council’s Deposit Bond and/or Rental Loan schemes.
* Liaise, establish, maintain and develop links with Social Care teams, health providers, Registered Providers, private landlords and other statutory or voluntary agencies as appropriate, ensuring referrals are made, recorded and followed up.
* Attend case conferences and joint assessment interviews with Social Care teams or other organisations as necessary.
* Facilitate Housing Advice Surgeries and provide out‑reach services at other venues as required.
* Undertake formal investigations under Pt V11 Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and associated guidance and legislation when homelessness cannot be prevented, and issue cogent s184 decision letters within required timescales.
The Experience You Will Bring
* Good interviewing and interpersonal skills, excellent organisational and communication skills, coupled with an empathetic style.
* Strong IT skills and letter‑writing skills.
* Experience providing housing advice to the public and liaising with statutory, voluntary or private sector organisations.
* Previous experience working in a housing service or similar area.
* Experience issuing Personalised Housing Plans.
* Experience writing s184 decisions.
* Willingness to carry out face‑to‑face housing options interview with homeless applicants.
* Ability to manage own workload, be proactive while working within a team to achieve objectives.
* Experience using Civica (Abritas).
What Should You Do Next?
If you are interested in this role, please visit the Braintree District Council website or apply using the link below.
Notice: Essex County Council is advertising this role on behalf of Braintree District Council; if successful you will be employed by Braintree District Council.
For enquiries or further information please email louise.butler@essex.gov.uk.
Seniority Level
* Entry level
Employment Type
* Full‑time
Job Function
* Other
Industries
* Government Administration
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