CRA GROUP LIMITED
Location
Peckham, Greater London | United Kingdom
Job description
3 months contract with A Local Authority
Job Summary:
· To ensure the council provides an effective, professional housing solutions service including offering a full range of advice on housing options in the private and public sector and ensure a comprehensive homelessness prevention service making full use of any available schemes and initiatives.
· To ensure the council provides an effective, professional homelessness service including assessment and investigation of homeless approaches and applications in line with the Council’s statutory duties under Housing Act 1996 Part 7 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (HRA) and relevant case law.
· To manage the assessment of customers housing needs in accordance with the Homelessness Act 2017.
· A high percentage of customers presenting as homeless will be vulnerable and it is essential to assess the customers’ needs accurately in accordance with the relevant Care Acts and Children Act 1989 and all relevant housing legislation.
Key Duties/Accountabilities:
· To advise clients on full range of options to solve their housing problem, including intervention if threatened with homelessness, registering on council housing list, initiatives for council tenants, private renting, mortgage advice, moving out of London and shared ownership and any other prevention tools that may be available.
· To ensure that all clients are advised of available tenancy support services including income maximisation, debt and rent arrears advice, Discretionary Housing Payments, Housing Benefit support, mutual exchange, and under-occupation schemes.
· To provide a professional and effective housing solutions assessment and homelessness investigation service, taking a full application from the service user and carrying out a detailed investigation of the application.
· Where the service is unable to prevent or relieve homelessness, to approve the completion of a formal homelessness application and ensure that further, detailed investigation is carried out where necessary.
· To use relevant identity/credit software that enables the service to check and verify the accuracy of a homeless approach or application, and the circumstances affecting the service user.
· To deal with enquiries, complaints and correspondence from clients and their advocates, including solicitors, councillors, MPs, the ombudsman, and other housing providers, in line with the Council’s complaints and enquiries procedure.
· This may include preparing information to support court cases for which the post-holder is responsible.
Essential Experience Required:
· Substantial Experience of delivering advice services to people in need some of which must have been on a casework basis.
· Experience of motivating and managing staff in a customer focused environment
· Experience of analysing, monitoring, and developing information management systems to improve service delivery.
· Experience of managing change in a local authority or similar environment.
Additional information to note:
· A good knowledge of legislation on lettings, homelessness, security of tenure, tenants’ rights including codes of guidance, case law and good practice. Thorough knowledge of full range of housing options and homelessness prevention approaches.
The closing date for this position is 05/02/24 .
Job tags
Salary
