Basic DBS required
Main Purpose of the job
The Children in TA Support Officer will proactively engage with households in temporary accommodation (TA) with dependent children, through outreach, telephone engagement and home visiting. They will assess the initial needs of families and assist them by signposting and referring to the relevant services that will support the children’s needs.
The aims of the role are
* To provide advice and guidance to households in temporary accommodation (TA), focusing on the support requirements of dependent children.
* To reduce the time that children spend in TA and increase move on into more secure and local accommodation.
* Provide tailored support to improve attainment, development and educational outcomes for children living in TA.
* Develop strong and well functioning relationships with teams within the Council, such as Children’s Social Care, health and education to develop cross service solutions to support children in TA.
* To work with local partners to develop referral pathways and broker new support opportunities.
Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties
1. To carry out inspections of properties to assess suitability and the impact on children within the household.
2. Explore move on options with households such as private rented accommodation and social housing.
3. Support households through direct lets and auto bidding to increase chances of move on.
4. Provide direct casework support to households in temporary accommodation by identifying and addressing barriers faced by children in TA such as medical needs, attainment and accommodation location and size.
5. Make enquiries with education departments in different boroughs to ensure children’s educational needs can be met and that there are available school places.
6. Update and carry out Suitability/ Affordability Assessments, Personalised Housing Plans and Housing Needs Assessments with households.
7. Deploy various schemes to support households with affordability and digital inclusion.
8. Support households with repair escalation and complaints.
9. Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of services available to families in the locality.
10. Develop and maintain close working relationships with other Council services and a wide range of other stakeholders in order to facilitate the flow of information, encourage joint working and co-operation, achieve the prompt resolution of complex problems and ensure that, even where an input is required from a number of teams, service delivery is properly coordinated and the service user is kept fully informed of developments.
11. Deliver a streamlined high quality customer focused service ensuring telephone calls, emails, letters and complaints are fully responded to promptly and to the highest possible standard in compliance with corporate guidelines or as instructed by the service manager.
12. Maintain accurate written and electronic records/information with regard to households including general contact information and conversations, keeping this information up to date at all times, and providing detailed reports as requested by management.
13. Work with the Accommodation Supply Team to refer suitable households for placement and resettlement into the private rented sector.
14. Carry out tenancy workshops with households in TA to give advice on maintaining a tenancy and budgeting.
15. Support households with identifying and registering with GP’s, schools, childcare and required support services.
16. To ensure that appropriate advice and support is given around accessing childcare and employment benefits.
17. Support with access to basic facilities such as laundry services, Wi-Fi.
18. Understand and keep up to date with local and national policies affected by legislation with regard to welfare reforms and housing.
19. Carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the Council’s Equal Opportunities and Data Protection policies and core values.
20. All employees are required to comply with the Council’s Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times, taking due care for themselves, colleagues and members of the public.
21. Undertake any other appropriate duties as required by the service or instructed by the Service Manager.
22. Where there are safeguarding concerns, ensure appropriate referrals are made to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub.
Internal Contacts: These include officers from across the Housing Services Division e.g. Negotiators, payment team, tenancy and resettlement officers, officers from across the Council e.g. Housing Benefits, Strategic Development, Children’s Young People Directorate, Children’s Social Care, Corporate Procurement Team.
External Contacts: This will include registered providers, landlords, agents, charitable organisations and advocates for clients.
To carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the Council’s relevant codes and procedures.
All employees are required to participate in the Council’s appraisal system and to undertake appropriate training and development identified to enhance their work.
Undertake other duties, commensurate with the grade, as may reasonably be required.
Consideration will be given to restructuring the duties of this post for a disabled postholder.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge
* A good understanding and awareness of housing issues and homelessness issues. S
* Knowledge of the relevant housing legislation including s11 Children’s Act, Homelessness Code of Guidance, duties owed to homeless persons by the Council under part vii of the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2002 and Localism Act 2011. S
* Knowledge of the services provided by the Council for households who are in housing need.
* Knowledge of private sector housing law, health and safety rating system and other health and safety regulations (gas, electrics and energy efficiency) and legislation relating to the letting of private sector tenancies.
* Knowledge of how to deliver a first class customers focused service.
* Knowledge of the needs of children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and the processes used to ensure they receive appropriate support.
* Knowledge and understanding of child development and well-being across 0-19.
* Excellent knowledge of Suitability and affordability assessments for accommodation provided under homelessness provisions. S
* Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding children & Adults. S
Skills
* Ability to work as part of a team and take initiative with own cases. S
* Ability to promote and develop effective joint working practices across services. S
* Ability to work with private sector partners and respond to the needs of that market as well as understanding how that fits with the requirement to meet housing need.
* Flexible, problem-solving approach to service delivery with a positive attitude to change and ability to identify opportunities and develop innovative housing solutions. S
* Ability to maintain databases and work effectively with IT systems.
* Ability to meet performance targets and deliver positive outcomes.
* Ability to engage with children, young people, and parents from wide range of backgrounds, including those who are hard to reach and build rapport with families in challenging circumstances.
Experience
* Experience of working with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, in housing need and/or living in unsatisfactory housing. S
* Experience of providing an excellent level of customer care and customer service in a comparable customer service environment.
* Experience of working effectively with private sector landlords and/or within a homelessness context.
* Experience of prioritising competing demands in a pressurised environment, recognise service priorities and manage a caseload within agreed targets.
* Experience of successfully developing initiatives and schemes to provide housing opportunities for people in housing need.
* Experience of managing own caseload. S
Professional Qualification and Education
* A good standard of education, including excellent levels of numeracy and literacy.
* Undertaken some form of housing related training or alternative housing related experience.
Equality & Diversity
* Awareness of and a commitment to Equality of Access and Opportunity in a diverse community. S
* Understanding of how equality and diversity relates to this post. S
Personal Qualities
* Personable and presentable
* Organised and target driven
* Able to set and maintain the highest standards in professional relationships and behaviour with customers, colleagues and other external contacts. S
* Commitment to high levels of attendance and punctuality.
* Flexible and proactive, with a commercially-minded approach to developing services and sustaining relationships with landlords.
* Willingness to undertake home visits which are effective and take into account health and safety requirements.
Circumstances
* Able to undertake visits, inspections and meetings both inside and outside of the borough.
* Required to deliver out reach surgeries and conduct home visits
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