Triage Officer; Homelessness

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Housing Triage Officer for our client a government organisation in Exeter.

The successful post holder will provide comprehensive housing advice and assistance, face to face, by telephone and by email regarding a wide range of housing issues having an in-depth knowledge of relevant housing and homeless legislation including Case Law, to ensure that the Council's statutory duties are carried out under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018.

Prior experience as a housing options/homelessness triage officer is essential.

This role is a temporary contract initially for 3 months with the possibility to extend. This role is hybrid working with a minimum of two days working from the office.

Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Be the first point of contact (face to face, by telephone or by email) for customers who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and to carry out an initial assessment and investigation.
• Liaising with a variety of outside partner agencies, such as rough sleepers outreach services, and hostel providers to look for creative housing solutions for clients with a variety of complex needs.
• Hold a caseload of clients, deciding Homelessness Reduction Act duties and making pro-active interventions to provide wide-ranging person centred housing advice and advocacy on housing rights, income maximisation, financial management, relevant support services and to inform, support and signpost customers to specialist advice agencies when appropriate.
• Pro-actively take actions to prevent homelessness either short term or long term using all means available. This also includes immediate interventions to prevent homelessness including where possible and reasonable helping customers to retain or re-access their current accommodation by; liaising with families and friends, landlords, supported housing, solicitors, courts, social services and other agencies.
• Be responsible for safeguarding vulnerable clients that present, often in a chaotic manner, by obtaining relevant information from, to a range of services such as the police, Domestic Abuse Services, Children's Services or Adult Social Care and making safeguarding referrals when necessary.
• Deputising for other Officers within the service, as directed by a manager, to ensure that casework service standards are maintained and customers are placed into temporary accommodation efficiently.
• Contribute to the achievement of government targets by researching and providing statistical information ensuring the objectives of both Housing and Homelessness Strategies and local service standards.
• Attendance of statistical case review meetings (e.g. MARAC) as directed by Team Leaders and managers.

Personal Requirements:

• Prior experience as a housing options/homelessness triage officer is essential.
• Educated to A-level or equivalent, or possess specialist knowledge obtained in a housing environment.
• An in-depth working knowledge of homeless legislation including the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017,The Localism Act 2011, the Housing Act 1996 part VII and part VI (as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002.
• An in-depth knowledge of law relating to landlord and tenant issues and general housing rights.
• A current working knowledge of the welfare benefits system.
• Detailed knowledge of the support needs associated with homelessness and the role of wider agencies in the provision of care and support services.
• Experience of using Microsoft windows packages and client information systems on a frequent basis.

Working Hours:

37hrs / Monday - Friday

Pay: £19.14 per hour

Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.