Job Description:
Post Title: Housing Coordinator
Present Grade: SO1
Department: Place Service / Housing & Regeneration – Housing Advisory Service
Reports to: Cohort Lead
Purpose of the Role
1. Provide quality housing options, advice, and homeless prevention casework fulfilling the authority's statutory function to prevent homelessness (Housing Act 1996, as amended).
2. Ensure robust processing of homeless applications with accurate advice to prevent homelessness per current legislation and code of guidance.
3. Use homelessness prevention tools to sustain tenancies/secure affordable accommodation for homeless/threatened with homelessness.
4. Provide statutory advice/assistance to non-priority homeless cases including rough sleepers (s.192 Housing Act 1996).
5. Promote Council's website as a knowledge base and online customer portal.
Accountabilities
1. Work with prevention tools (Homefinder Scheme, Discretionary Hardship Payments, court representation) to prevent homelessness/secure accommodation.
2. Process housing/homelessness approaches accurately within agreed timescales per policies, legislation, case law.
3. Conduct home visits to confirm homelessness/housing standards/household circumstances.
4. Liaise with Market Management Team for accommodation where duty owed; recommend rent deposit scheme (Homefinders).
5. Interpret/explain complex legal matters (security of tenure, tenancy agreements, possession proceedings, harassment, eviction).
6. Liaise with Medical Assessment Officers for medical assessments (homeless households/housing register).
7. Respond to legal challenges, MP/councillor enquiries, complaints within corporate timescales.
8. Partner with Gateway Services, Assessment Services, Revenues/Benefits for specialist initiatives preventing homelessness.
9. Liaise with agencies on special needs cases (hospital discharge, care leavers, mental health).
10. Knowledge of welfare benefits (Housing benefit, Discretionary housing payments, Local Housing Allowance).
11. Work with Estate management on regeneration initiatives.
12. Comply with S198 referrals, S214 cautions, S202 reviews/appeals regulations.
13. Other duties as requested by management per Council policies/procedures.
Key Relationships
* Internal: Gateway Services, Assessment Hub, Business Intelligence, Community Mental Health, Children's Services, Legal Services.
* External: Solicitors, Court Services, MPs, Councillors, Community/Voluntary organisations.
Essential Requirements (Person Specification)
1. Experience: Preventing homelessness; robust enquiries/deciding homelessness applications (Part VII Housing Act 1996).
2. Caseload Management: Manage caseload with planning/prioritisation/recording/communication.
3. Communication: Complex information clearly/tactfully with high customer service.
4. Teamwork: Work in team and on own initiative with minimal supervision.
5. Negotiation/Partnership: Work with departments/agencies achieving corporate goals.
6. IT Skills: Good computer skills using/navigating databases (input/retrieve/store/manage info).
7. Qualification: Good general standard of education.
8. Competencies: Influence, Solving Problems, Adaptability, Deliver Results, Planning/Managing Resources (Enfield's Staff Competency Framework).
Other Aspects
* Equality & Diversity: Council commitment to equality; promote policies in work.
* Health & Safety: Duties under Health & Safety at Work Act 1974; comply with Council policy.
* Information Security: Comply with Council's Information Security Policy.
* Safeguarding: Commitment to safeguarding children/vulnerable adults via safer employment practices.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Pay: £22.55 per hour
Expected hours: 35 per week