Solutions Officer

Umbrella rate – £26.14 ph

Deadline – 29th Dec

To support the Team Manager – Housing Solutions to actively prevent or relieve homelessness for customers that are threatened or homeless in a timely fashion and reduce the use of temporary accommodation used by the Council. This will include ensuring that up to date information is available and management of partnerships with key stakeholders and community are positively maintained. Includes:

• To assess, investigation and verification of applications who would like to join the Housing Register under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 and the Council’s Allocations Scheme on an allocated casework basis.
• To assess, interview and verify applicants who want to make an application under Part VII of the Housing Act (1996).
• To determine what duty, if any, is owed to the household under the Homeless Reduction Act (2017) and the Housing Act (1996).

To ensure that the Council fulfils its responsibilities in line with the Councils’ statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and provide reliable data and information for the Council and the Department for Communities and Local Government on the outcome of customer journey’s.

Individuals will be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery. The work will include implementing operational plans within the service area to fit with broader functional and Council strategy.

The post is responsible for a portfolio of services which may be altered from time to time but currently includes responsibility for:

• To provide a rapid, effective, and efficient response to referrals received through the ‘duty to refer’ or other referral sources.
• To deliver a customer friendly experience that supports the resolution of customers housing needs at first contact in the Housing Solutions Service.
• To support the Housing Solutions Team Leader in arranging and developing outreach surgeries, online platforms and other information to named public bodies and other key interested parties or potential partners to deliver cross cutting prevention work for Housing Solutions.
• To support the Housing Solutions Leader in developing innovative and creative solutions to the prevention of homelessness and tangible reduction of the use of temporary accommodation, this could include developing relationships with leaseholders, private landlords and Councils or bodies outside of London.
• To become the local intelligence and community link for the key areas of homelessness presentations within the borough.
• To ensure that all assessments of customers housing needs are accordance with the Homelessness Act 2017. A high percentage of customers presenting as homeless will be vulnerable and it is essential to assess the customer’s needs accurately in accordance with the Care Act 2014, the Children’s Act 1989 and all relevant housing legislation.
• To ensure that reasonable care for the safety and health for themselves and others who may be affected by their acts; and to work with management to comply with Service/Unit procedures and protocols and with the Councils Health and Safety Policy and all guidance, instructions and risk assessments.
• To deal with enquiries, complaints and correspondence from clients and their advocates, including solicitors, councillors, MPs, the ombudsman and other housing providers, in line with the Council’s complaints and enquiries procedure. This may include preparing information to support court cases for which the post-holder is responsible.
• This position is complex with the postholder being required to liaise with customers, statutory organisation, advocates and third sector providers to arrive at a sustainable housing solution for customers with complex and multiple needs for example mental health combined with drug and or alcohol addiction.
• To create and maintain accurate records of the service to ensure compliance with reporting arrangements and provide management with the information required to monitor performance and service standards in accordance with Council policy and the legal framework. This will include producing writing performance and other…