Housing Solutions Officer (Criminal Justice Specialist) Ref: 08-25

Job summary

Description of duties

• To maintain a strong relationship with probation, prisons and other agencies/service involved in the Criminal Justice system.
• To be the lead for our authority as the Criminal Justice specialist to prevent homelessness within this vulnerable client group.
• Attend weekly external Criminal Justice meetings with other professionals to discuss cases. These meetings are solution based looking at various accommodation options to prevent rough sleeping within this vulnerable cohort
• Be the Lead officer in dealing with 'Duty to Refers' for Criminal Justice cases
• To carry out full housing assessments either face to face in prison or online
• To work in conjunction with a neighbouring district to maximise the use of the AFEO scheme
• To refer to supported accommodation and look at other accommodation options, both within the district and further afield
• To think outside of the box to overcome barriers to access accommodation
• To take a holistic approach- looking at not only accommodation but also employment, training etc to reduce re offending rates

To provide customers approaching the Council with timely and comprehensive housing advice and 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, low cost home ownership, etc.
• The Council's statutory duties under the homelessness legislation

With a focus on clients presenting who have been or are involved in the Criminal Justice System, 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

• To undertake home visits to households who are at risk of homelessness, or in order to verify housing register applications, maintaining 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 i.e. mental health, domestic abuse, young people's services Ensuring 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 and monitoring repayments maintaining regular (3-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.  
• 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 and 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 , including making referrals to specialist supported housing and where necessary accompanying residents to interviews for accommodation.
• Initiate and undertake project work where required, for example in 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 to actively update knowledge in terms of changing legislation, policy or procedure.
• To assist the Housing Solutions Team Manager and Team Leaders 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.

Responsibilities for:

Assets - To provide and maintain a vehicle for use within and outside the district in accordance with Council policy.

Finance - Raise payment invoices and requisitions to be signed off by a Team Leader or Manager.

Decision Making -

• To make appropriate decisions on Homelessness cases and provide relevant appropriate advice and assistance including drafting decision letters.
• To regularly make subjective and objective complex judgements to arrive at logical solutions based on data analysis, as well as evidence gathered in the field and from customers. Post-holder to be able to discuss/defend such decisions against challenges from lay or legal persons informally or formally in a court of law or tribunal.

Communications - 

• The post holder will be required to communicate with Members of the public, colleagues within Housing and other departments, elected members, registered providers and other landlords, voluntary and statutory agencies. This will include routine exchanges of information, communication with individuals or groups, influencing, directing and negotiating.
• Communicate with internal and external agencies for routine exchanges of information, including but not limited to: Employers, GPs and Hospitals, Other Councils, Benefits Agencies, Police, Probation, and Children's' Services.
• Negotiate with private landlords and other excluders with the aim of preventing homelessness.

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.