Overview
Are you experienced in supporting vulnerable people to achieve secure or sustained accommodation? We are looking for a dedicated, dynamic, positive and forward-thinking individual to provide effective and creative ideas to prevent clients from becoming homeless and entering emergency accommodation.
Do you have excellent investigative skills? Your role will be to gather information on a client’s housing situation, record it, and determine next steps to secure accommodation which you will help the client to obtain to prevent homelessness. Using your initiative, you will have the opportunity to resolve the case where possible, liaising with landlords and partner agencies.
Can you quickly establish positive and trusting relationships with customers? You don’t necessarily need homelessness experience, but we are looking for a person who is positive and confident, providing effective and reassuring responses to customers requiring homelessness assistance.
Do you revel in managing pressure, demands from customers and juggling competing priorities? We are looking for you to make quick wins where you can and maximise your time with clients. This is a demanding role, and you will be the first port of call for many of our customers.
Do you have the passion and dedication to provide help to homeless clients? We are looking for someone to demonstrate initiative to apply problem solving to the issues faced by clients and engage with partner agencies to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.
Responsibilities
* Gather information on clients’ housing situations, record it, and determine next steps to secure accommodation.
* Provide effective and creative ideas to prevent homelessness and support clients from entering emergency accommodation.
* Resolve cases where possible, liaising with landlords and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes.
* Establish positive and trusting relationships with customers and provide reassuring responses.
* Manage competing demands and priorities, acting as the first point of contact for many customers.
* Apply problem-solving skills and initiative to address issues faced by clients and engage with partner agencies.
What’s in it for you?
* £31,161 - £34,654 per annum – Up to £39,469 - Career Grade
* 24 - 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* Wide range of employee discounts at high street retailers, including supermarkets, stores and restaurants
* A Cycle to Work scheme which could save you around 40 percent on cycles and accessories
* Local Government Pension Scheme and AVC provision
* Employee Assistance Programme (free 24 hour legal, financial and personal advice for employees)
Role details
This is a full time position where you will be based in the ‘Prevention Team’ which is part of the wider Homelessness Team. The Prevention Team consists of 2 other Prevention Officers, Team Leader and 4 Prevention Support Workers.
About us
Since the introduction of the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy in 2019 the Homelessness Team has seen significant transformation and improvement, with a change from generic roles to 3 specialist teams covering Triage, Prevention of homelessness, Relief of homelessness and Support and Outreach Workers.
As one of the largest districts in the country, with 6 towns and a close relationship with neighbouring conurbations, the New Forest provides a supportive environment in which everyone who works for us can help drive our aims. We believe that all our employees make a valuable contribution to the work of the council and that’s why we encourage a trusting and open culture where each employee is supported and respected equally. We also recognise the value of a highly motivated and engaged workforce and we actively promote a good work/life balance. We are proud of our new values for 2024, please watch this short video to find out more: LEAF
Full details
To view full details of what you can expect from working for NFDC and to view the full job description, please click on the candidate pack attached. Click here to see why employees think that New Forest District Council is a great place to work: Working for NFDC
Requirements and application
Please note this role requires an Enhanced DBS check to be completed.
If you are interested in this position and meet the criteria, we would be very happy to hear from you. For more information and an informal chat about the role please contact Victoria Gibbs on 02380 285246 or email victoria.gibbs@nfdc.gov.uk
Closing date: 28 September 2025
Interview Date: Monday 6 October 2025
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