Housing Option Officer (Hybrid

Housing Option Officer (Hybrid) needed in Barnstaple, £30.20ph

You will provide timely high quality frontline housing related advice and assistance in order to maximise our customers’ housing opportunities.

You will take action to prevent homelessness occurring, using the agreed prevention policies.

You will investigate and make decisions in all aspects of homelessness applications.

• You will attend to general service requests regarding advice and assistance.
• You will assess the housing needs of our clients by office, telephone and home based interviews. You will then provide advice to help them find acceptable solutions to their problems.

This will include for example:

• Providing advice to third parties who are acting on behalf of our clients.
• Working with other agencies to ensure a co-ordinated approach to maximise the range of advice available.
• Early pro-active prevention of homelessness through the provision of comprehensive housing and welfare advice.

• You will investigate service requests when clients present themselves as homeless or are threatened with homelessness. You will use the agreed homelessness prevention policies to prevent homelessness.

This will include, for example:

• Providing advice and financial assistance to help customers remain in their home, or assistance with obtaining accommodation privately.
• Liaising with mortgage lenders and other debt advisers.
• Mediation with private landlords, letting agents or family members.
• Liaison with other statutory, voluntary and external agencies.
• Advice to private landlords regarding their obligations under the Housing Acts and protection from eviction legislation, etc.

This is a full time role on atemporary contract basis

Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

All our roles may be subject to pre-employment checks including references so please be prepared.