Housing Advice Officer
Salary: £20.98ph
Location: Mandela House, CB2
Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, 37 hrs a week
Duration: Till July 2026
Role Purpose
* Provide specialist and comprehensive housing advice and options to members of the public and deliver the Council's statutory homelessness functions, focussed on preventing and relieving homelessness while managing expectations.
* Assess customers' needs and housing options, agreeing these in the form of a ‘personal housing plan’. For customers threatened with homelessness, work to prevent homelessness or identify alternative housing options.
* Respond to immediate homelessness situations and arrange placement in emergency accommodation. For homeless applications, make key decisions about whether the Council's statutory duties have been discharged and issue formal decision notifications.
* Work with colleagues and other professionals to offer enhanced housing options that address the root causes of homelessness with a view to securing and sustaining accommodation.
* Offer housing advice pertaining to landlord and tenant law, housing rights, defending possession proceedings and assessing housing need with reference to the Lettings Policy and sub‑regional Choice Based Lettings system.
* Engage with customers with a range of needs, including those with mental health, substance misuse, offending history, abuse and exploitation, requiring an objective, empathetic, non‑judgemental approach.
Experience
* Demonstrable experience of providing high level customer service.
* Practical experience of providing complex advice to the public.
* Practical experience negotiating and exerting influence to achieve desired outcomes.
* Interpreting and applying complex information including legislation, guidance and case law.
* Experience working effectively on your own initiative.
* Experience contributing and working effectively as part of a team and wider organisation.
Knowledge
* Legislation and guidance pertaining to homelessness, housing, social housing allocations and associated public sector provisions.
* Understanding of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness.
Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for people with disabilities.
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