Homelessness Officer

Please note: City of Lincoln Council do not accept CVs.

The City of Lincoln Council isn’t like any other council. It’s a hive of talented, innovative, dedicated, high performing staff who are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for the people they serve in the communities of Lincoln, and we recognise that people are our most valuable asset.

In this rewarding and challenging role, you will assess the needs of applicants presenting themselves as homeless to the authority, make homeless decisions on applications and help prevent or relieve the applicant’s homeless situation.

Key responsibilities:

- Provide an efficient and effective housing options and advice service to persons in housing need, with a specific focus on preventing homelessness.

- Provide an effective service to families and individuals who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

- Advise and assist in the administration of the Housing Register

- Effectively manage a caseload of housing advice and homelessness prevention cases.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

- To provide comprehensive advice in accordance with Housing Act 1996, Homeless Act 2002, Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and Code of Guidance to prevent homelessness by enabling people to remain in their own homes or to find alternative accommodation.

- To work in partnership with other agencies to promote the prevention of homelessness.

- To assist in the discharge of the council's statutory duty to homeless people (prevention, relief and full duty) by the most appropriate option following a housing assessment including:

1) Developing, adapting and monitoring a personal housing plan.

2) Taking action to ensure that a person’s current home continues to be available to them.

3) Offering advice to ensure customers receive appropriate help to stay in their current accommodation.

4) Ensuring that up to date information is available to others working to prevent homelessness.

5) Mortgage rescue scheme.

6) Visiting applicants at home, in temporary accommodation, supported housing, prison or hospital.

7) Where appropriate ensure that the Councils statutory duties to homeless people as set out in Parts 6 and 7 of the Housing Act 1996 are properly discharged.

- To negotiate and mediate, with and on behalf of, customers; to encourage customers to make decisions that are in their best interest.

- To approve funding from the Homelessness Prevention Fund in order to prevent homelessness and to seek alternative funding from other sources such as DHP, SAFA etc.

Benefits we offer:

- Flexible working options / Flexi time scheme.

- Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays.

- Local government pension scheme (currently 23.4% employer contribution).

- Employee online discount scheme (including cinema, retail/supermarkets and homeware/tech).

- Health and Wellbeing support.

- Sustainable Travel Options (Tax free bike scheme and discounted City parking).

For an informal discussion, please contact Kirsty Groom (Senior Homelessness Officer) via e-mail on kirsty.groom@lincoln.gov.uk

In order to complete your application, please visit our website. You will find the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification section of the job description, so please ensure you address this in your supporting statement.

All external candidates are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and a 6-month probationary period. This role also requires an enhanced DBS check.

As a Disability Confident Scheme employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the vacancy.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: £29,974.00-£31,582.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme

Schedule:

• Flexitime
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person