Job Introduction
Post title
Homelessness Intervention & Prevention Officer - Duty to Refer
Salary
Starting from £37,280 to £41,771 p.a.
Place of work
Worthing Town Hall/Hybrid (currently three days per week in the office)
Closing date
23rd July 2026 at 23:55 pm
We are seeking a dedicated and proactive Duty to Refer Homeless Intervention and Prevention Officer to join our team. This is a vital role focused on preventing homelessness by ensuring that public bodies effectively refer individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to the appropriate local housing authority. You will be at the forefront of our efforts to provide timely support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, maintaining current partnerships and developing new ones.
About the role:
You will be the primary point of contact for public bodies in fulfilling their duty to refer for individuals at risk of homelessness, receiving and processing referrals from a range of public authorities, including social services, healthcare providers, and the justice system.
As part of the role you will conduct initial assessments to determine the urgency and nature of the housing need, ensure that all referrals are made to the correct local authority, as chosen by the service user.
You will lead liaison with public bodies on the duty to refer processes, provide guidance and establish pathways for individuals who may be at risk of homelessness.
We provide tailored training to develop your skills, whether you're new to the role or an experienced professional.
What we're looking for – your behaviours will be key:
We are seeking an individual who embodies our core principles of resilience, adaptability, and participation. You will be someone who:
Listens actively and truly understands the needs of our customers and partners.
Communicates clearly and confidently, conveying key information effectively to diverse audiences, both in writing and verbally.
Says what they think and does what they say, demonstrating honesty and openness in all interactions.
Is inclusive and kind, valuing the unique strengths of people from all backgrounds and fostering a supportive environment where everyone feels part of the team.
Is ambitious, bringing passion for delivering a high-quality service and continuously seeking ways to improve outcomes for our residents.
Thinks and acts beyond themselves and their service, embracing collaboration and partnership to deliver Our Plan.
Is resilient, maintaining a positive attitude, effectively prioritising workload, and supporting their own wellbeing and that of colleagues.
Is adaptive, with an active interest in learning and development, experimenting with new ways of working, and anticipating new challenges to embrace change.
Builds excellent relationships with internal and external partners, negotiating successfully and influencing positive outcomes.
Reaches sound judgements through careful and systematic evaluation of facts.
The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced with Adult Barred list DBS check clearance.
If you are ready to bring your excellent skills and positive behaviours to a role where you can truly make a difference, we encourage you to apply.
At Adur & Worthing, we are committed to supporting care leavers, in accordance with the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017. To that end, we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for anyone meeting the essential criteria of the role they are applying for. In order to be considered for this, you will need to be a care leaver under the age of 25 at the time of application. Please confirm that you are a care leaver within your cover letter.
As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of applicants declaring a disability, that meet the essential criteria for this position, will be offered an interview.
Staff are our most important asset and we therefore have a benefit package which reflects our continuing commitment to our employees. This includes:
Generous leave entitlement; a minimum of 26 days + Bank Holiday entitlement
Local Government Pension
Training & development
Occupational Health
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Employee resource groups/networks
Buddy Support Programme
Flexible working options
We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. Staff work in a supportive and safe environment, recognising their responsibility to value and respect each other’s contributions. Standards of conduct must be of the highest level to ensure that no-one is harassed, bullied or victimised. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, staff engagement forums and are keen to hear from applicants from a variety of different backgrounds.
Fair, Green & Local - Please see link below to our corporate plan with our key priorities for Adur and Worthing (2025-2028):
https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/fair-green-and-local/
