Location: Maidstone, Kent – Hybrid Working
Rate: £13.45 per hour PAYE
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Temporary – 14 Weeks
Working Pattern: 3 days in office / 2 days remote
Start: ASAP
Reference: OR112518
We are recruiting for an experienced Housing Advisor to join a busy Housing Service on a temporary basis.
This is an excellent opportunity for a housing professional with experience providing housing advice, homelessness assessments and housing options support to individuals and families experiencing housing difficulties.
You will provide housing advice and discuss suitable housing options with people experiencing housing problems. You will also be responsible for making enquiries and reaching decisions on homelessness applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).
The role involves actively managing a caseload of applicants living in Temporary Accommodation and supporting them through the homelessness journey, ensuring cases are progressed appropriately and decisions are made within relevant timescales.
You will work as part of a wider Housing team to ensure residents receive clear, accurate and appropriate housing advice and support.
Provide comprehensive housing advice to applicants experiencing housing difficulties.
Discuss and identify suitable housing options based on individual circumstances.
Make enquiries into homelessness applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996.
Assess applicants' circumstances and reach appropriate homelessness decisions.
Actively manage a caseload of applicants living in Temporary Accommodation.
Manage cases subject to the relief duty and ensure they progress appropriately.
Support applicants through the homelessness journey towards an appropriate outcome.
Make decisions regarding the main housing duty, where applicable.
Make appropriate decisions where applicants are not in priority need or are intentionally homeless.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records and documentation.
Communicate decisions and housing advice clearly and sensitively to applicants.
Work with colleagues and relevant agencies to support positive housing outcomes.
Provide appropriate support and advice to vulnerable households.
Ensure cases are progressed within required timescales and in accordance with legislation and policy.
Contribute to the delivery of an effective housing advice service to the local community.
The successful candidate will ideally have:
Previous experience working within housing, homelessness, housing options or a related local authority service.
Knowledge and understanding of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and homelessness legislation.
Experience assessing homelessness applications and applicant circumstances.
Experience managing a caseload and progressing cases to appropriate outcomes.
Ability to provide clear and accurate housing advice.
Experience working with vulnerable individuals and households.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organisation and time-management skills.
Ability to make sound decisions based on legislation, evidence and individual circumstances.
Ability to manage sensitive and sometimes challenging conversations professionally.
Good IT and case management skills.
Experience working with:
Temporary Accommodation
Relief Duty and Main Housing Duty
Homelessness Prevention
Housing Options
Domestic Abuse and homelessness
Vulnerable households
Complex housing cases
Local authority housing services
A strong understanding of domestic abuse and its relationship with homelessness is particularly important for this position.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges faced by households experiencing domestic abuse and be able to provide appropriate, sensitive housing advice and support.
£13.45 per hour PAYE
37 hours per week
14-week temporary contract
Hybrid working – 3 days in the office and 2 days remote
Opportunity to gain valuable local authority housing experience
Work directly supporting people experiencing homelessness and housing difficulties
Immediate opportunity within a busy Housing Service
If you have experience in housing advice, homelessness, housing options or housing needs, and have a good understanding of homelessness legislation, we would love to hear from you.
Please send your up-to-date CV to:
[email protected]
Reference: OR112518 – Housing Advisor
