Housing Coordinator

3 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Title:
Housing Coordinator

Recent experience within a Housing Options Homelessness Prevention or Housing Advisory Service preferably in a Local Authority setting.

Job Purpose

The Housing Coordinator is responsible for delivering a high-quality housing advice homelessness prevention and housing options service in accordance with relevant housing legislation and statutory duties. The post holder will work proactively with individuals and households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness using a range of prevention tools and interventions to secure sustainable housing solutions.

The role involves assessing housing needs conducting homelessness investigations managing casework providing comprehensive advice and assistance and working collaboratively with internal and external partners to achieve positive outcomes for residents. The Housing Coordinator will ensure compliance with the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 relevant case law and government guidance while delivering excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities

Housing Advice and Homelessness Prevention

• Provide comprehensive housing options homelessness prevention and housing advice services to residents.
• Assess and investigate homelessness applications in accordance with Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and associated legislation.
• Develop and implement Personal Housing Plans to prevent and relieve homelessness.
• Utilise available homelessness prevention tools including Homefinder Schemes Rent Deposit Schemes Discretionary Housing Payments and mediation services.
• Assist households in securing suitable and affordable accommodation.
• Provide statutory advice and assistance to non-priority homeless applicants including rough sleepers.

Case Management

• Manage a diverse caseload of homelessness and housing advice cases ensuring timely and accurate case recording.
• Conduct detailed investigations to establish homelessness duties and housing entitlements.
• Arrange and undertake home visits to assess housing conditions confirm homelessness and verify household circumstances.
• Ensure all applications assessments decisions and case records are completed accurately and within service standards.
• Prepare and issue legally compliant decisions and correspondence.

Partnership Working

• Work closely with internal teams including Gateway Services Assessment Services Temporary Accommodation Services Adult Social Care Childrens Services Revenues and Benefits and Legal Services.
• Liaise with landlords housing providers support agencies health professionals voluntary organisations and community groups to prevent homelessness.
• Collaborate with Market Management Teams to secure accommodation where housing duties are owed.
• Support referrals and joint working arrangements for vulnerable households including care leavers individuals with mental health needs hospital discharges and those with complex support requirements.

Legal and Technical Advice

• Provide specialist housing advice relating to:
• Security of tenure
• Tenancy agreements
• Possession proceedings
• Illegal eviction and harassment
• Housing disrepair
• Tenancy sustainment
• Welfare benefits and housing support
• Apply relevant legislation case law statutory guidance and council policies in all decision making.
• Respond to legal challenges reviews complaints councillor enquiries MP enquiries and complex correspondence within required timescales.
• Ensure compliance with homelessness legislation including referrals reviews appeals and associated statutory requirements.

Customer Service and Continuous Improvement

• Deliver excellent customer service through professional respectful and empathetic engagement.
• Promote self-service tools including the Council website and online customer portal.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to service monitoring and performance reporting.
• Support service improvement initiatives and contribute to achieving departmental and corporate objectives.

Experience Required

Essential

• Experience of delivering housing advice and homelessness prevention services.
• Experience of assessing and investigating homelessness applications under Part VII of the Housing Act…