Housing Options Officer – AR

Job Description

Job Title: Housing Needs Officer (also known as Housing Options / Homelessness Officer)

Directorate / Service: Place Directorate – Housing Needs Team

Grade: G7

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: 1 Time Square (with outreach and site-based work as required)

Reports to: Senior Housing Needs Officer

Line Management Responsibility: None

The Housing Needs Officer is responsible for assessing statutory homelessness applications and delivering effective homelessness prevention and relief services in line with housing legislation. The role focuses on preventing homelessness wherever possible, responding to housing emergencies, securing suitable accommodation for households in need, and ensuring the Council meets its statutory duties under homelessness legislation. The post holder will manage a caseload of often complex and high-risk cases, work closely with partner agencies, and make legally robust decisions while delivering a compassionate, customer-focused service.

• Assess homelessness applications in accordance with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002, and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Make lawful and defensible decisions on homelessness duties, including acceptance, refusal, referral, and discharge of duty.
• Manage a caseload of statutory homelessness cases, maintaining accurate and detailed records.
• Conduct interviews to establish housing circumstances, causes of homelessness, and appropriate interventions.
• Prepare, issue, and review Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs), maintaining regular contact with applicants.

• Deliver a proactive homosexuality prevention and relief service to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
• Negotiate with landlords, family members, and other parties to prevent homelessness.
• Provide housing advice and assistance tailored to individual needs.
• Engage with clients in a range of settings, including home visits and hospital visits, where required.
• Arrange Sanctuary Scheme measures to support survivors of domestic abuse.

• Respond to homelessness emergencies, including supporting the emergency homelessness duty rota.
• Arrange emergency and temporary accommodation, ensuring placements are appropriate, lawful, and cost-effective.
• Manage occupancy, licence conditions, and rent or service charge arrangements for households in temporary accommodation.
• Enforce tenancy or licence breaches where necessary in line with Council policy.

• Work collaboratively with internal departments and external agencies including social care, police, probation, health services, and voluntary sector organisations.
• Make referrals to supported housing providers and specialist services.
• Participate in multi-agency meetings and contribute to coordinated responses for complex cases.
• Refer and work closely with rough sleeping outreach services where appropriate.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of homelessness, housing, and related legislation.
• Ensure all statutory decisions, notifications, and correspondence are issued within required timescales.
• Apply relevant Council policies, including the Housing Allocations Policy, consistently and fairly.

• Follow documented procedures to ensure consistency and quality of service delivery.
• Contribute to service development, continuous improvement, and the sharing of best practice.
• Support the Council’s out-of-hours homelessness service as required.

• Undertake all associated administrative tasks, including correspondence and record keeping.
• Use IT systems to maintain accurate customer and management information.
• Meet individual and service performance targets.
• Work within financial regulations and contribute to cost-effective service delivery.

• Undertake ongoing training and professional development.
• Keep up to date with changes in legislation, case law, and best practice.
• Contribute positively to a culture of learning, equality, and continuous improvement.

• Statutory partners including social care, police, probation, and health services
• Support services and charitable organisations
• Social, private, and supported housing providers
• Internal Council departments

• Commitment to equality, diversity, and excellent customer care
• Flexible approach to working hours and duties
• Willingness to undertake Carbon Literacy or sustainability-related training