Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Access to Accommodation Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Adults and Community Services |
Service |
Housing Options Service |
Business unit |
Community & Customer Services |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Housing Options Team Leaders |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Housing Options Team Leaders |
Salary grade |
F |
JE ref |
JOT02 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To contribute to the achievement of the Council’s strategic objectives and government targets, including the implementation of Torbay’s Homelessness Strategy and the Housing Strategy.
- To monitor and assist customers at risk of losing their accommodation and those in Temporary Accommodation to help them move-on into sustainable accommodation.
- To liaise with landlords to build up a current data base of suitable move-on accommodation.
- To develop creative options for accessing private sector accommodation for customers with complex needs.
- To promote the safeguarding of adults and children who use the service.
- To manage clients’ expectations of temporary accommodation and the prospects of accessing social housing and the private rented sector.
- To make best use of temporary accommodation and maintain a data base of temporary accommodation options out of area.
- To complete housing benefit applications for all those accessing temporary accommodation and support those who we have assisted into move on accommodation.
- To manage the bond scheme, visit properties to inspect their suitability and maintain records as required.
- To manage bond claims, in a timely fashion.
- To support landlords and tenants in accommodation accessed via the bond.
- To support financial alternatives to assist people to access move on accommodation.
- Where necessary, cover FIMS.
- To source suitable temporary accommodation in line with guidance and to produce all licence agreements and relevant paperwork pertaining to the placement.
- To visit all temporary accommodation on a rota basis to assess suitability.
- To contact all customers in temporary accommodation before visits to arrange meetings and collect documents where necessary.
- To issue warning letters.
- To discharge accommodation duties when advised by management.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- The safeguarding of adults and children is embedded into service delivery.
- Support Housing Options Officers by arranging for the provision of temporary accommodation when required.
- To complete all relevant housing benefit forms, and if necessary Discretionary Housing Payments forms.
- Private rented sector accommodation is accessed and becomes a sustainable option in terms of affordability, choice and quality.
- Customer expectations are met through local service delivery that is developed in a multiagency way that is flexible and meets changing local need i.e. through collaborative working, joint assessments, outreach work and multi-agency panels.
- Bond scheme is managed.
- A data base of suitable private sector accommodation is developed and maintained.
- Temporary accommodation managed to ensure best value for money.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- To ensure that people who use the service are treated courteously, fairly and consulted on regarding the service provided to them.
- To ensure a customer focussed approach at all times by dealing with face to face, telephone and written queries by customers in line with the Council’s Customer Charter.
- To make and maintain timely and accurate records of all action in relation to client casework and to ensure client files are clear and comprehensive. To follow case management procedures and processes ensuring the correct standards are followed.
- To interview homeless households living in temporary accommodation either in the office or by visits when necessary.
- To assist customers to access and move-on from Temporary Accommodation including:
- To offer resettlement advice and assistance to homeless households living in temporary accommodation with a view to helping them move on to appropriate
accommodation and to maximise the household’s welfare benefit entitlement.
- Liaise with voluntary and statutory agencies to provide support, as appropriate for homeless households in temporary accommodation.
- To proactively liaise with private sector landlords to ensuring effective access to the accommodation.
- Work closely with the occupants and landlords of temporary accommodation to ensure that tenancy/licence agreements are complied with.
- Temporary Accommodation Role including:
- Ensure that all temporary accommodation has a regular visit and assessment form completed;
- Percentage of accommodated clients complete valuation of stay;
- Bond ready – support team to move people on;
- Monitor families accommodated over 6 weeks and under 18’s use of B&B.
- Access to Private Rented Sector Role including:
- Feed in and develop business and planning;
- Increase use of private rented sector and access, liaise with landlords, agents and forums;
- Increase information sharing with landlords, provide advice to landlords re anti-social behaviour, tenancies, obligations to landlords;
- Support team in increasing awareness of private sector.
- Assist the Housing Options Officers by visiting properties to assess for bond suitability, dealing with bond claims and any tenancy related issues whilst the bond is live.
- To ensure safeguarding takes place in regard to vulnerable clients and/or situations including informing Children’s Services of any risk to children identified in the course of our duties.
- To effectively liaise with other sections of the Council and external agencies to improve the services and information to our customers, where appropriate.
- To contribute to the achievement of Government targets, national and local performance indicators, including the objectives of the Housing and Homelessness Strategies and their constituent Action Plans and departmental action plans as required.
- To be flexible and carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required by the Head of Service commensurate with the grade of this post.
- To administer the Housing Register (waiting list for people applying to access Registered Provider Accommodation in Torbay).
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working environment and conditions – office-based.
- Attendance at a variety of meetings.
- Outreach work, lone working, home visits.
- Placed in situations with vulnerable clients.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
- PC and the Service computer systems.
- Telephone.
- Photocopier/fax.
- Other resources required by the post.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External:
- NHS care trust, temporary accommodation providers, supporting people providers, letting agents, landlords, other support providers, other accommodation providers, members, advocacy agencies, social services, probation, housing needs services across Devon, and any other voluntary and statutory agencies.
- Internal:
- Housing benefit, affordable housing, Children’s Services, social services, environmental health - housing standards, Connections, call centre, web team, auditors, other council departments, councillors.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- This post is office based at Town Hall, Torquay but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Access to Accommodation Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Adults and Community Services |
Service |
Housing Options Service |
Business unit |
Community & Customer Services |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation.
- Effective communication skills.
- Negotiation skills.
- Ability to prioritise and manage workload.
- IT literate.
- Flexible.
- Good attention to detail.
- To work as part of a team as well as on own initiative.
- Ability to deal with difficult situations in a calm and sympathetic manner.
- Dispute resolution and problem solving.
- Comfortable with communicating with landlords, letting agents, and the public through a variety of media.
- Ability to effectively lone work outside of the office environment.
- Confidently promote the Housing Options Service and build relationships.
- A creative approach to the role.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Presentation skills.
- Customer care.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- A variety of private sector lettings arrangement.
- Landlord and tenant legislation.
Desirable knowledge
- Current homelessness legislation, case law, codes of practice.
- Devon Home Choice and Social Housing.
- Forms of Tenancy.
- Knowledge of welfare rights and benefits.
- Knowledge of Children’s Act 1989.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Working in a housing environment or directly related area, e.g. welfare benefits, CAB.
- Dealing with people from a range of backgrounds.
- Experience of working with competing deadlines whilst meeting targets.
- Managing challenging situations.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Working in a Local Government environment.
- Allocations/lettings process.
- Working in partnership with external organisations.
- Conducting interviews and assessments of applicants under the Housing Act 1996, Part VII.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to GCSE O Level standard or equivalent.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Professional qualification in housing or related area.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.