Housing Options Officer

Salary: £34,434 to £38,220 pro rata, per annum

Grade: I

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Part Time, 22 Hours per week

Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Council is offering an exciting opportunity to join our Housing Needs Service as a Housing Options Officer. In this pivotal role you will be at the forefront of preventing homelessness, providing expert advice, and guiding individuals and families through challenging housing situations to secure stable, long-term solutions.

You'll play a crucial part in transforming lives, supporting vulnerable households during difficult times, and collaborating with partners to ensure the best outcomes.

You will provide a full housing options and homeless service to clients in housing need, fulfilling the Council’s statutory duties under relevant homeless legislation.

You will support the objectives of the new Homelessness Strategy, prevent homelessness wherever possible, and assist households to achieve sustainable housing solutions.

When required you will participate in an out of hours standby rota to respond to emergencies within the local area, including incidents in temporary accommodation.

Required knowledge includes an understanding of current housing issues, homeless legislation, and safeguarding responsibilities. You must have experience assessing need and offering housing advice, and be committed to equality, diversity, and health and safety legislation.

Strong customer service and advisory skills are essential, as is the ability to plan, allocate, evaluate workloads, and conduct difficult conversations with professionalism.

• Passion for delivering high‑quality service to vulnerable customers.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and independent working skills.
• Proficiency in IT systems to manage case files.
• Experience providing housing advice and assessing needs in a client‑focused manner. Resilience, empathy, and patience are required.

• Knowledge of housing issues, homelessness legislation, landlord‑tenant law, and safeguarding.

• Holiday entitlement: 28 days rising to 34 days (pro‑rata) per year plus public holidays.
• Pension: generous local government scheme with 22.6% contribution.
• Fitness discounts at selected gyms across the county.
• Access to lifestyle savings and discounts with many retailers.

If you would like to learn more about this role and for an informal conversation, please contact Heidi Richardson via email at Heidi.

We are committed to meeting the needs of a diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We also safeguard and promote the welfare of all individuals. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.