Register Officer - Housing

About the job Housing Register Officer - Housing

Overall Role

Purpose:

Complete assessments of applications to join the housing register including re-registration to keep their applications up to date.

Assess households who do not qualify to register and provide advice to them about alternative housing options

Assess household who do qualify to register and activate their applications

Determine for each application - Their effective date (waiting time) - Level of preference - Any special factors affecting their application,

Complete medical assessments of applications for preference on medical grounds alongside

Provide comprehensive housing advice on housing options for applicants to the housing register

Notify applicants on decisions on their applications

Role Context:
This position is fundamental to the provision of allocations processes across the range of areas affecting vulnerable customers on the housing register, in temporary accommodation and who are being assisted into the private rented sector to prevent homelessness or discharge the housing duty.

This role requires good knowledge of the law relating to part VI of the Housing Act 1996

The post holder will be required to have good knowledge of the law affecting housing allocations and be familiar with other housing advice and homelessness legislation, other general housing legislation, welfare benefit expertise and knowledge of the adult & children social care environment and impact and to use this knowledge to support customers and achieve positive outcomes

The post holder will be required to have knowledge of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Children Act, and the Care Act. Combined with specialist knowledge of the Welfare Reform Act.

The post holder will be required to use knowledge of the Housing Allocations Policy, Code of Guidance and Part V1 of the 1996 Housing Act to work collaboratively with customers to identify the most appropriate and effective solutions to their housing problems and to do so proactively at the most appropriate time ensuring the maximum opportunities for early intervention

The post holder will be required to be innovative, dynamic and solutions focussed and consider and pursue all available housing options to prevent the customers from becoming homeless.

The post holder will be required to use their experience to contribute to the ongoing development and design of the service and solutions for customers.

Co-ordinate the advertising of void properties in council or Registered provider (RP) stock with Choice Homes UK (CHUK)

Allocate permanent homes through a combination of preparing and analysing shortlists from choice based lettings bidders and direct matching in line with designated groups identified by the Housing Allocations Scheme

Check assessments remain up to date and verify circumstances robustly when households are selected for properties, including making checks regarding applicants finances, eligibility, local connection and suitability to be a tenant.

Interview applicants and complete home visits as part of the verification process, as well as doing desktop checks

Select appropriate applicants and nominate them for available homes

Complete direct matching processes for a range of vulnerable applicants on the housing register with specific requirements:

• Medical needs match medical requirements from the medical assessment to available supply in order to match
• Adaptable homes identify suitable medical applicants for pre-allocation in conjunction with Occupational Therapy team, having regard to their assessments
• Match applicants who are hospital discharges liaising with hospitals and other agencies
• Match under occupiers to free up sought after larger homes
• Match management transfers to ensure they move swiftly in accordance with priority and management of risk.
• Sheltered Accommodation.
• To arrange viewings for matched cases

To provide an effective, customer-focussed and efficient service to customers presenting with housing problems; to support them in achieving positive housing outcomes.

Provide comprehensive advice to applicants on other housing options, including mobility schemes mutual exchange, Homefinder, Pan London Housing Moves, Seaside and Country Homes, Homes out of London etc. and refer households to the Mobility Officer to take advantage of schemes.

Allocate temporary accommodation and private rented accommodation to prevent homelessness and discharge the homeless duty (PRSOs) and do so according to the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy and in line with the suitability assessment

Make placements into temporary accommodation and prevention and PRSOs.

Complete the letting process for temporary, prevention and PRSO properties, including arranging for the customer to be interviewed, conducting the interview, providing advice, completing process with customers and placing relevant updates on systems.

Activate refusal processes where customers decline offers of temporary accommodation…