Housing Solutions – Homelessness Officer
Salary: £33,341 - £34,799 Per Annum (26/27 NJC pay award pending)
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Witney
Contract: Fixed Term – 12 months maternity cover
We are looking for a Housing Solutions – Homelessness Officer to join our Housing team supporting West Oxfordshire District Council.
This role will focus on supporting households from refugee resettlement schemes who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
About the Role
In this important role, you will provide a comprehensive homelessness advice and prevention service, helping vulnerable households understand their housing options and access suitable accommodation.
You will assess housing applications, determine statutory homelessness duties and work closely with partners to help households secure sustainable housing solutions.
The role will also involve visiting applicants in their homes or temporary accommodation and supporting them to access private rented housing where possible.
Key responsibilities include:
• To assess all customers presenting as homeless to determine what housing duty is owed to them
• Create individual housing plans for every applicant which fully reflect their needs and circumstances
• To source appropriate short term and long term accommodation to assist the council in discharging its duties
• To assist with the daily running of the homeless hostel’s
• To manage a caseload of people complex issues who are currently experiencing a housing crisis
• Empower individuals/household to find their own solution to their housing crisis
About You
You will have experience working within a housing or homelessness service and a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable people through challenging situations.
You’ll be confident managing complex cases, working with partner agencies and providing clear advice and support to individuals with a range of needs.
You will also bring:
• Experience working in housing, homelessness or a related support service
• Experience supporting vulnerable people or those with complex needs
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to manage your own caseload and prioritise effectively
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
• Experience of working collaboratively with partner organisations
• The ability to remain calm and professional when dealing with challenging situations
Knowledge or experience of issues affecting refugees or asylum seekers would be beneficial, and Ukrainian language skills would be an advantage but are not essential.
You will need resilience and adaptability as you will often work with people experiencing stress, crisis, or confrontation, so it is essential you can manage these situations calmly and confidently. Being emotionally resilient and understand how to support others without becoming personally involved or emotionally entangled.
Teamwork is essential for this role to work effectively with colleagues and external agencies.
Please note you will be based at our offices 5 days a week and will need the ability to travel as required.
Special Conditions
• BPSS Check
• The role may require travel to other Publica or client locations
• You may occasionally be required to work additional hours in line with service needs
• The role involves visiting applicants in their homes or temporary accommodation
For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.
What we can do for you
- Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
- Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
- 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
- Renewed again for another year there is a health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
- Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of up to 7% of your earnings
- Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
- Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
- Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
- Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary
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