Housing adviser, Social Work

As a Housing Adviser you will become part of the Council's statutory homeless service who are responsible for preventing and relieving homelessness to ensure that an applicant has suitable accommodation available to them. You will contribute to delivering a housing options service framed around the three core service functions of housing advice provision, assessment of housing need and duty and securing suitable temporary and longer-term housing options.

Carry out homeless and other additional need assessments in accordance with Part VI and Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act (as amended) You will be part of a fast-paced environment and strive to communicate effectively with customers and partners in a range of settings in person, over the telephone, via email or at external locations. You will be responsible for engaging with the applicant to complete a homeless application and identify the households support needs and providing a personalised housing plan.

Within this role you will have the opportunity to build and develop excellent partnership skills by working with a range of 3rd sector organisations and building connections with the home office accommodation provider to secure suitable accommodation. You will be responsible for your own caseload and complete homeless applications, referrals for support and accommodation - training will be provided through an induction period.,

for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Andy Walker at . We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the route before applying.

To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying., The post holder will contribute to delivering a housing options service framed around the three core service functions of housing advice provision, assessment of housing need and duty and securing suitable temporary and longer term housing options.

The post holder will also contribute to delivering key homeless preventions initiatives such as mortgage and tenancy advice, helping people secure private rented housing options and making referrals to initiatives such as Sanctuary and youth mediation.

• Deliver a face to face housing options service, in accordance with Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act (as amended) to people who are homeless, threatened with homelessness or in some of housing need, at a variety of locations including the Leeds Housing Options Service at Merrion House.
• Deliver a telephone based, or using other mediums such as email, housing options service.
• Take responsibility for caseload of homeless and housing need cases.
• Carry out homeless and other additional need assessments in accordance with Part VI and Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act (as amended)
• Write homeless decision letters in accordance with the legal framework.
• Liaise with supported housing and other temporary accommodation providers to secure suitable temporary accommodation for people owed such a housing duty.
• Help people to secure private rented options through the Private Sector Lettings scheme and through other routes such as requesting a Homeless Prevention Fund payment.
• Prepare Homeless Prevention Fund applications as required.
• Assist service managers in the quality assurance of service delivery by providing case work information held in case files or IT systems, decision letters and financial payments.
• Help develop partnering arrangements between the Leeds Housing Options Service and other public, private and third sector organisations.
• Work flexibly to help deliver an effective Housing Options Service.
• Attend meetings and forums as required…