To provide customers approaching the council with timely and comprehensive housing advice, information and support to access services covering a range of housing issues, including: - Housing and tenancy rights in both private and social rented sectors and for homeowners.
- Financial advice including housing and welfare benefits, maximising income and tackling debt.
- Housing options including private rented sector, housing register, specialist accommodation such as refuges and low cost home ownership.
- The council's statutory duties under the homelessness legislation.
Assess applicants for the housing register where this is a viable option for them and ensure they are registered and correctly banded according to the council's Allocations Policy. Assess and process all enquiries in a manner which is focused upon the sensitive requirements and needs of the customer. This includes when doing the following: - Giving advice on the wide range of housing options available to clients in differing circumstances, including the signposting clients to relevant third parties.
- Taking a creative approach to preventing homelessness through the use of a comprehensive toolkit, including applying for DHPs, negotiating with landlords and applying to charities for assistance to name but a few.
- Homelessness prevention and relief casework-managing a varied and complex caseload.
- Landlord/tenant advice and dispute resolution.
- Property condition enquiries and complaints.
- Housing allocations enquiries, application registration and verification of information provided.
- Advice on property adaptations.
To undertake home visits to households who are at risk of homelessness, or in order to verify housing register applications. Maintain a focus on prevention of homelessness and sustainment of accommodation, including mediation where required. To develop and attend housing advice drop-in sessions at a variety of locations within the district to deliver the early help message to the public and partners. To carry out interventions when a tenancy is at risk of breaking down including eviction from the family home or by friends. Working with both private sector and social housing tenants to prevent evictions, advising on the validity of Notices and possession proceedings, actively working with landlords. Working with residents to support them in completing court paper work and assist them in putting forward defence papers. To carry a caseload of early intervention clients (pre-56-day-duty) who need advice and support in order to prevent their future homelessness, including 'tenancy at risk' cases referred by social housing providers. To carry out an investigation if the 56-day homelessness duty is triggered (as defined by the Homelessness Prevention Act 2017). Carrying out a thorough interview to accurately understand the clients' housing and support needs. maintaining accurate and detailed case notes. Managing a varied and complex caseload with the ability to work independently to reach timely decisions. To ensure case work is robust, accurate and consistent. Carry out the council's statutory duties in accordance with relevant legislation. Develop, agree and monitor customer's Personal Housing Plans. Ensuring plans are tailored to the resident's individual needs and are achievable. Identify vulnerable applicants, making referrals to relevant internal or external services as appropriate. This could include mental health, domestic abuse, and young people's services. In any case, you will ensure due compliance to Safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. Administer the council's Homeless Prevention Fund Scheme processing applications for: - Rental deposit loans or other payments.
- Invoicing.
- Monitoring repayments maintaining regular (three-monthly) contact with customers.
Support customers to be 'tenancy ready', providing advice and support on: - The terms and conditions of a tenancy.
- Rent liability.
- Local Housing Allowance entitlement, including signposting for the completion of claim forms for housing benefit or Universal Credit.
Work with the council Landlord Liason Officer to support the delivery of the Tenancy Awareness Course to people who may need additional support in order to secure and sustain a tenancy. Use the IT systems to carry out the functions of this post including inputting and analysing data. To develop good working relationships with local agencies and partners both within Breckland and wider afield to inform them about the service. Work in partnership to deliver prevention services to complex clients, including attending case conferences as required. To actively refer into the multi-agency Collaboration meetings to ensure residents receive necessary support, providing information on housing options, and taking an active part in supporting partners with housing issues. Support residents to access alternative supported accommodation both within the District and further afield. This includes making referrals to specialist supported housing and where necessary accompanying residents to interviews for accommodation. Initiate and undertake project work where required, for example: - The implementation of new schemes for improving the service
- The monitoring of and reporting on performance information and contribute to working groups.
Keep up to date working knowledge of the housing market locally and nationally to ensure options for finding a settled home are maximised. Responsible for monitoring own performance, contribute to continually improving performance and customer service. Participate in training and job development programmes and actively update knowledge in terms of changing legislation, policy or procedure. To assist the Housing Solutions Team Manager and Allocations & Accommodation Officers in managing the use of temporary accommodation, with the aim of keeping occupation and nightly paid accommodation use to a minimum. Share knowledge, giving support, guidance and advice to other staff as deemed appropriate. Convey clear and inspiring messages to others as well as actively listening to the ideas and views of others. Communicate complex technical and legal matters in a way in which the customer understands. To participate in the out of hours standby rota, responding to calls from customers in evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays. To carry out any other duties as required in accordance with the level of the post. Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement. | 
