Targeted Housing Adviser

About The Borough

The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Found in zone 5 with good transport links in and out of London, Sutton boasts award‑winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing and great schools. It offers high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, provides quality services and has successfully addressed its financial challenges while involving residents in key issues and high‑street changes.

Sutton is continuously investing in the health, wellbeing and education of its residents and the future generation, as set out in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan. It is home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research; together with the development of the London Cancer Hub, Sutton will be a world‑leading life‑science district, specialising in cancer research and treatment.

The council’s vision will create around 13 000 jobs and contribute £1.2 bn to the UK economy each year, driving economic growth and creating a vibrant community of scientists, doctors and innovative companies.

Based in Housing Advice Services, this is a vital front‑line role to make a tangible difference to prevent and relieve homelessness. As a Targeted Housing Adviser, you will take a casework approach to seek out solutions for customers, developing and reviewing person‑centred support plans with both short‑ and long‑term aims. Your responsibilities include delivering housing needs assessments, personal housing plans, making relevant robust enquiries and assessing eligibility for accommodation in accordance with Part VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended 2002), the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and the Renters Right Act 2025.

You will issue robust decision letters, prepare documents for court and attend court to meet the requirements of prevailing legislation and case law. The role requires creative problem‑solving, risk management, forging effective working relationships with internal and external organisations, and contributing to continuous improvement of our policies and procedures.

We are recruiting for four positions. The post holders must have an in‑depth working knowledge of housing options and housing legislation, specifically Part VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Regulation of Investigatory Power Act 2000 (RIPA), the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Homeless Code of Guidance, the Renters Right Act 2025, the Localism Act 2011, the Deregulation Act 2015, Housing Act 2004, the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, and related matters.

You should have experience providing support, advice and guidance in a complex environment and be looking to build on this experience. A customer‑focused attitude, empathy, the ability to interpret and explain complex legislation, strong negotiation and influence skills, high organisational capability, and excellent written and oral communication are essential. You must be able to maintain accurate case records using IT systems.

Sutton is a borough defined by ambition, community and change. Housing is central to our mission, and as a Targeted Housing Advisor you will be part of a team dedicated to delivering an effective and efficient Homelessness Prevention and Statutory Homelessness assessment service.

As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so that your ideas—no matter how big or small—are fully encouraged and supported.

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 26–32 days plus bank holidays (pro‑rata if part‑time working hours apply) depending on service and grade
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependants leave
• Two volunteering days per year
• Flexible Working – Smarter Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Adjustable and agile working arrangements using Google…