Overview
Are you passionate about preventing homelessness and making a tangible difference in people\'s lives? We are looking for a committed and experienced Inquiries and Decisions Officer to join a local authority in North London, supporting vulnerable residents with housing solutions that prioritise compassion and customer care.
As an Inquiries and Decisions Officer, you will support the homelessness prevention agenda by delivering clear, lawful, and empathetic decisions under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. You will manage and progress applications—particularly those in existing backlog—through detailed assessments, legally sound decisions, and ongoing support and information for applicants.
You will take a trauma-informed approach, recognise the impact of trauma and adversity, and adapt your communication and service delivery accordingly. With a focus on safeguarding, you will work with internal services (Children\'s and Adult Social Care) and external partners (hospitals, probation services, voluntary organisations).
Key Responsibilities
* Conduct homelessness inquiries and make main duty decisions for singles and families.
* Help reduce the Council\'s backlog of homelessness applications through timely and robust casework.
* Build and maintain effective working relationships across council departments and with external stakeholders.
* Attend case conferences and multi-agency meetings to advocate and advise on housing duties.
* Identify safeguarding risks and make appropriate referrals to support services.
* Support rough sleepers, survivors of domestic abuse, care leavers, asylum seekers, LGBTQ+ residents and other vulnerable groups.
* Prepare detailed responses to complaints, Councillor enquiries, and LGSCO investigations.
* Make onward referrals and ensure joined-up support for every applicant.
* Carry out occasional home visits as part of investigative duties.
What We're Looking For
* Strong working knowledge of homelessness legislation (especially HRA 2017).
* Experience making formal homelessness decisions in a local authority setting.
* Excellent communication, time management, and organisational skills.
* Empathy, resilience, and a person-centred mindset.
* Commitment to delivering services that are inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this role and meet the criteria above, please send your application. If you have questions about the vacancy, please click APPLY NOW.
If you do not hear from us within 48 hours of applying, your application has been unsuccessful.
If you feel the role matches your skills but not the rate, location, or seniority, please feel free to send your CV anyway. We recruit for similar roles across all levels, UK-wide, and would be pleased to speak with you confidentially about your employment status. Our specialist team at Carrington West has over 100 years of combined experience in this market. For more information, call Cheryl at Carrington West.
By applying for this position, you agree for Carrington West to hold and process your personal data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy. Your data will be shared with third-party clients for roles relevant to your application. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us.
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