Local Authority Housing, Crisis Resilience Fund Assessment Officer, Reading Pay rate to £30 per hour Contract role, Local Government Housing We are recruiting for an experienced Local Authority Crisis Resilience Fund Assessment Officer, in Reading. You will need to have Strong knowledge of benefits and housing, gained in a Local Authority Housing department. Purpose of the Role You will assess Crisis Payment and Housing Payment applications, make timely and consistent decisions, and provide income maximisation, budgeting support and referrals to wider resilience services. Key Responsibilities: Assess Crisis Payment and Housing Payment applications using the Crisis Resilience Fund policy and government guidance. Decide whether circumstances amount to crisis or risk of crisis and determine the suitable support. Apply a cash‑first approach and select appropriate payment methods, using vouchers or goods only where they better meet need. Complete proportionate verification checks including identity, income, savings, and housing costs. Provide benefit checks, income maximisation advice, and basic budgeting support. Identify problem debt, offer immediate harm‑reduction advice and signpost to appropriate support. Make warm referrals to welfare advice, financial inclusion, housing support, and voluntary sector partners where consent is given. Maintain accurate records, explain decisions clearly and meet required processing timescales. Essential Skills and Experience: Crises payment assessment experience needed Understanding of welfare benefits, housing costs, debt advice, or financial support services in addition to crises payments experience Ability to gather and assess information, apply eligibility rules and make fair, evidence‑based decisions. Ability to assess financial information including income, expenditure, and housing costs. Clear written and verbal communication skills using plain English. Ability to support residents experiencing distress or crisis in a calm, respectful and trauma‑informed way. This is a contract role, and you will need to have experience in a similar Local Authority role. Please get in touch for more information. This is an agency post and Vitalis can offer you:- A Dedicated consultant who has access to all roles across the UK and is available for you to speak to An easy registration process (all done online) Referral schemes and incentives Ongoing compliance managed for you Prompt and reliable payroll and lots more. Please contact Graham Leatham on 07484 513909 or email graham.leatham@vitalissocialcare.co.uk for more information. We recruit across all areas of Housing, Public Sector, Planning and Local Government work. If you are experienced in this sector, and this isn’t the role for you, contact us about other roles.