Temporary Accommodation Visiting Officer

Visiting Officer with access to a car is needed for this busy North West London local authority.

• To deal directly with customers of the Housing Options service, including homeless applicants and tenants in their temporary accommodation homes.
• To assist the Emergency Accommodation Team in meeting its objectives of providing suitable temporary accommodation to homeless customers.
• To report any disrepair issues reported by tenants to the Contracts and Compliance team.
• To carry out occupancy checks to clients in the temporary accommodation and provide detailed, accurate and prompt information in respect of the findings. To provide good quality advice and assistance to enable our clients to evaluate their housing options and where appropriate to find their own suitable accommodation.
• To ensure that the service provided to the emergency accommodation clients is at an excellent standard and conforms to relevant statutory requirements and best practice.
• To identify opportunities for service improvement and make recommendations to the Project and Contract Management Officer. Ensure changes are introduced and implemented effectively and efficiently.
• To provide a comprehensive, tailored customer-focused service to customers and accommodation providers. Working closely with our providers to ensure they provide a good service to our customers.
• To identify the needs of our clients who are most in need and make appropriate referrals.
• To provide a service to the Housing Needs officers, by verifying relevant applicant details, visiting households recording findings.
• To provide high quality front line generic services to the public.
• Maintaining accurate case notes, including property inspection and occupancy check sheets and accurate information on databases.
• To sign post clients with housing queries to relevant services.
• To detect and report any incidents of suspected fraud to the relevant senior officer and to liaise with other departments such as the councils Corporate Anti Fraud team (CAFT), Housing Benefit, Internal Audit and Legal.
• To follow safeguarding procedures and policies to ensure vulnerable children and adults with housing difficulties receive the right services at the right time
• Work closely with internal and external colleagues, including social services, our contractors, occupational therapists, education services, support workers, hospitals and other medical professionals.