Homelessness Prevention Officers

RSR is a public safety & enterprise security recruitment specialist. We assist public safety employers find the right talent. We assist all employers when they want to source public safety and enterprise security skills and experience.

RSR Justice are currently recruiting on behalf of our client based in Sandwell for Homelessness Prevention Officers to provide an effective and professional person-centred approach to the prevention and relief of homelessness.

These are full time, temporary ongoing roles and offer a rate of pay of £14.17 per hour.

Must be able to cover out of hours service on a rota basis as and when required.

Main Duties:

• Prevent homelessness through a range of prevention initiatives and through working with key partners.
• Take a holistic approach to understanding the root cause of a household’s homelessness and to work with them through effective support plans to prevent and relieve homelessness and create future sustainable housing options.
• Develop sustainable solutions for households working with key providers and partners whilst ensuring that the client meets its statutory homelessness duties.
• Provide advice and assistance around a range of housing options, considering all sectors and developing personalised advice.
• Build rapport with customers to investigate and understand the cause of homelessness.
• Undertake an assessment of the client’s needs and where necessary undertake joint assessments with colleagues and partners.
• Develop, update and review Personalised Housing Plans for customers, based on the real issues to be addressed for the household.
• Support customers registering for council housing and to ensure that their applications are assessed in line with the Allocations Policy.
• Ensure that the service meets its statutory duties around homelessness.
• Effectively manage a caseload of clients and ensure enquiries / investigations are completed in timescale and correctly recorded and to ensure that all decisions are issued in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act.
• Deal with enquiries, complaints and correspondence from clients and their advocates including solicitors, councillors, MPs, the ombudsman and other housing providers.
• Provide a telephone out of hour’s emergency homelessness service as part of a duty rota with other officers including weekend and bank holidays.
• Contribute to the development of the service through the identification of potential service improvements. Attendance at case conferences, review meetings and other inter agency meetings as required.

Essential Requirements:

• Numeracy and Literacy Level 2 qualification or equivalent as a minimum.
• Experience of working within a homelessness or social housing or similar environment.
• Experience of providing an effective advice service to members of the public.
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation. Awareness of Landlord and Tenant law.
• Understanding of prevention, homelessness and allocations. Knowledge of services, benefits and support available to applicants experiencing housing problem.
• Ability to travel to all parts of the Borough
• To work outside normal working hours to respond to emergencies or attend evening meetings when required.
• Ability to use computer software effectively.

If you would like to be considered for this position and have the relevant experience, then please send your CV to Natalie.Begley@rsg.ltd

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, if you do not hear from us within 7 working days, your application has been unsuccessful.

If this role is not for you but you do know somebody who would be interested, please feel free to refer them to us! We have a “Refer A Friend” bonus scheme and we will reward you retail vouchers for any referrals who are not already known to us and are successfully placed!

Red Snapper Justice is a member of the Red Snapper Group.

The Red Snapper Group acts as an employment agency (permanent) and as an employment business (temporary) - a free and confidential service to candidates.

The Red Snapper Recruitment Group is an equal opportunities employer.