What's involved with this role: Temporary Housing Allocations Officer/Admin Job Ref: W Berkshire 5246132 Pay Rate: £15.00 per hour PAYE Hours per week: 37 Monday – Friday, normal working hours Role Length: This opening assignment is for 3 months City: Newbury, Berkshire Enhanced DBS disclosure required for this role Hybrid working – 2 days onsite The post holder will assist with the operation of the Common Housing Register by checking, and inputting new applications and updating changes to existing applications. The successful candidate will provide a telephone and face to face service for housing clients contacting the Council in person, in writing and by telephone about their housing register application and how the Choice Based Lettings system operates. Key Responsibilities: Promote equality as an integral part of the role and to treat everyone with fairness and dignity. Recognise health and safety is a responsibility of every employee, to take reasonable care of self and others and to comply with the WBC Health and Safety policy and any service-specific procedures / rules that apply to this role. Input housing register applications on the housing ICT system and Identify applicants for referral to the Homelessness Prevention & Relief Officers for further assistance. Handle a range of telephone and general enquiries from both internal and external customers and contacts, including housing register applicants. To provide a comprehensive response but referring more complex cases to the Housing Allocations Team Leader as appropriate. To assist vulnerable applicants with completing forms and monitoring bidding process. Provide advice and respond positively to a wide range of enquiries received via the phone and on the pod reception desk, e.g. Common Housing Register, LHA levels for private rented accommodation, mutual exchange and homelessness. Clearly explain relevant legislation to applicants in a way that is understandable, and appreciate the basic legal requirements of valid notice to quit. Visit applicants at a range of locations to confirm information relating to their housing application. Maintain and update files and records, including information of a high confidential nature such as medical records, using existing systems and processes and ensuring accuracy and security of information. Collate, process and monitor medical, social needs and discretionary housing payment processes. Provide cover for the Housing Allocations Team Leader when necessary, in relation to the nomination, advert, bidding and lettings process. Liaise with the letting’s teams regularly and at the partner Registered Provider Forum concerning allocations/nominations of social housing stock within West Berkshire. Maintain stocks of standard forms and information for the public and officer use, raising Agresso orders for stationery and office equipment when required. NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via jobstclrec.com by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF. If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than entertaining umbrella pay terms, we do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. Other “Essential Requirements” – Please check to ensure that your CV addresses the following items: Full UK driving licence required for this role. Unless the DBS requirement stated above is for a Basic Disclosure, your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service. Qualifications: Educated to at least GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent), particularly in English and Maths. Skills & Experience Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation. Ability to work with vulnerable people who need assistance with making an application. Understanding of Local Government departments or housing services. Understanding of Allocations and lettings processes. Some experience or understanding of people with mental or physical health problems, and knowledge of medical and social problems. Previous experience of invoicing process within a local authority setting. Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite). S Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please