Housing Advice and Prevention Officer (maternity cover)

at  West Suffolk Council

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Experience of working with the general public,
• Be a team player with well-developed communication and written skills,
• Be able to understand and implement housing law and policies,
• Knowledge of housing options and homelessness is essential,
• You must also be able to travel throughout the area,

Why work for us?Our benefits include:

• annual leave entitlement of 25 days per annum (pro rata if part time) plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days plus bank holidays after 5 years’ service (with an option to buy up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year subject to approval)
• a generous pension scheme (LGPS) including life assurance (a payment of three times your annual salary)
• flexible working options to enable work/life balance
• agile working (ability to work in the office and from home) with work being an activity we do, not a place we go
• access to a unique employee benefits package which includes discounts and cashback on supermarkets, high street shops, holidays, mobile phones, electrical goods, savings and loan schemes and many other products and services
• Salary sacrifice benefits including Cycle to Work scheme, Tusker Leased Car Scheme and SmartTech (buy the latest tech products interest free and spread the cost over your salary).
• Rail and bus staff discounts
• a range of Health and Wellbeing initiatives including an employee assistance programme
• discounted membership at Abbeycroft Leisure centres
• a culture of learning inspiring staff to focus on continuous learning
• Modern office accommodation

A home is more than just a roof over someone’s head – it’s where individuals and families find their security, safety and stability. Working in this team gives you the chance to be part of tackling what is one of the biggest challenges in our society: the challenge to help people find a home and retain a home.
This is an exciting time to become part of a team that makes such a difference and transforms lives, working for an organisation that is at the forefront of innovative thinking in the public sector. This is role is to provide maternity cover and is temporary for up to 12 months.

Responsibilties of a Housing Advice and Prevention Officer include:

• Interviewing members of the publish advising them of options available to them and prevent homelessness where possible.
• Liaise with and advise statutory and voluntary agencies on homelessness and a range of other housing issues.
• Manage a caseload of people who are currently experiencing a housing crisis
• Empower individuals and households to find their own solution to their housing crisis, drawing on the assistance provided by the Housing Options team.
• Delivery the Housing Needs Out of Hours Service on a rota basis as required.
• Maintain accurate written and computer records, reports and other monitoring information as required in connection with the various duties undertaken.