Housing Solutions Officer
Temporary Contract
Job Details
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Service Area: Housing & Regeneration / Housing Services / Community Housing / Housing Advice
Hours: 37 hours per week
Working Pattern:
Office based
Start Date: 07 September 2026
Duration: 24 weeks
Number of Roles: 2
Location
Office Base:
Sardis House
Pontypridd
Rhondda Cynon Taf
CF37 1DU
Pay
PAYE Rate: £17.59 per hour
Job Overview
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is seeking experienced Housing Solutions Officers to join its Housing Solutions & Prevention Service.
The role will involve delivering early intervention and homelessness prevention in accordance with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. Working directly with households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the successful candidates will provide tailored housing advice, negotiate with landlords and family members, develop Personal Housing Plans and support clients to sustain accommodation wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.
This role requires strong statutory homelessness experience, practical knowledge of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, homelessness decision-making, case management, prevention and relief duties, Personal Housing Plans, legal decision letters, temporary accommodation, safeguarding and frontline housing advice experience.
Important – Please Read Carefully
This is a statutory homelessness / Housing Solutions Officer role.
Experience of working in homelessness in line with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 is essential.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate experience making homelessness decisions in line with statutory duties under the legislation, including S66 Prevention Duty, S73 Relief Duty and S75 Final Duty.
Candidates must have practical experience managing homelessness cases, carrying out assessments, investigating applications, preparing decision letters, developing Personal Housing Plans and applying homelessness legislation in a fast-paced statutory environment.
The client has specifically stated that previous candidates submitted had little to no homelessness experience, which is essential for this role.
Candidates without direct homelessness casework, Housing (Wales) Act 2014, statutory decision-making, homelessness prevention or housing solutions experience are unlikely to be considered.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver person-centred housing advice and homelessness prevention services
- Work in accordance with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014
- Apply S66 Prevention Duty, S73 Relief Duty and S75 Final Duty
- Prevent homelessness through early intervention and advice
- Resolve housing problems through practical support and casework
- Provide realistic information about eligibility for housing assistance
- Advise customers on alternative housing options
- Carry out homelessness assessments
- Ensure full compliance with statutory duties placed on the Council
- Respond to Housing Register applicant enquiries
- Provide advice on rehousing prospects
- Support applicants to complete Common Housing Register online applications
- Provide telephone, online and face-to-face housing advice
- Conduct customer-focused housing solutions interviews
- Gather accurate and relevant case information
- Develop Personal Housing Plans
- Negotiate with landlords and family members where appropriate
- Promote accommodation sustainment where safe and suitable
- Maintain knowledge of housing legislation, case law and private sector tenancy regulations
- Advise customers on legal rights, responsibilities and remedies
- Participate in outreach at external venues including hospitals and community buildings
- Use homelessness prevention funds appropriately
- Manage a caseload efficiently and lawfully
- Complete timely legal casework
- Conduct home visits where necessary
- Promote private rented sector opportunities where suitable and lawful
- Build effective relationships with private landlords
- Maintain accurate and detailed case records
- Work jointly with Children’s Services and other teams on complex cases
- Interview customers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Make detailed enquiries with external agencies
- Investigate homelessness applications in line with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014
- Make statutory decisions
- Issue high-quality legal decision letters
- Explain legislation, reasoning and review rights clearly
- Identify fraud or misrepresentation and escalate appropriately
- Identify safeguarding risks and refer to Police, Social Services or other agencies
- Consider medical and social information during assessments
- Determine when temporary or emergency accommodation is required
- Arrange suitable temporary or emergency placements
- Transfer information accurately to the temporary accommodation booking team
- Decide whether the Council’s duty has ended where appropriate
- Assess whether there is a duty to protect an applicant’s personal property
- Work with support agencies including Supporting People providers, Probation and Prison services
- Work with young people, offenders and people with complex needs
- Participate in the duty rota
- Input case details accurately into Abritas
- Respond to correspondence within required timescales
- Contribute to reducing homelessness and minimising bed and breakfast placements
Essential Experience & Skills
- Experience working in homelessness under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014
- Experience making statutory homelessness decisions
- Strong knowledge of S66 Prevention Duty
- Strong knowledge of S73 Relief Duty
- Strong knowledge of S75 Final Duty
- Experience carrying out homelessness assessments
- Experience investigating homelessness applications
- Experience developing Personal Housing Plans
- Experience issuing legal homelessness decision letters
- Experience explaining review rights and statutory decisions
- Experience managing homelessness prevention cases
- Experience managing relief duty cases
- Experience working with households at risk of homelessness
- Experience providing housing advice by phone, online and face to face
- Experience advising on housing options and eligibility
- Experience negotiating with landlords or family members
- Knowledge of private sector tenancy law
- Knowledge of relevant housing legislation and case law
- Ability to manage a caseload in a fast-paced frontline service
- Ability to make informed decisions under pressure
- Ability to maintain accurate case records
- Experience using Abritas or similar housing case management systems
- Safeguarding awareness
- Experience working with vulnerable customers
- Experience working with complex needs including mental health, substance misuse, offending or youth homelessness
- Ability to work with statutory and voluntary organisations
- Strong written communication skills
- Strong verbal communication skills
- Ability to work office based in Pontypridd
Desirable
- Experience in a Welsh local authority homelessness service
- Experience using homelessness prevention funds
- Experience arranging temporary or emergency accommodation
- Experience working with Supporting People providers
- Experience working with Probation or Prison services
- Experience working with Children’s Services on joint assessments
- Experience with Housing Register applications
- Experience supporting private rented sector access
- Experience contributing to reducing bed and breakfast placements
- Knowledge of RCT housing services or local housing pathways
Additional Information
Interview will be held online via Microsoft Teams.
Candidate submission deadline is 04 September 2026.
This role is office based.
Disclaimer
On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.
I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
OR112840
Pay: £17.59 per hour
Application question(s):
- Do you have direct experience working in homelessness in line with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014?
- Can you demonstrate experience making statutory homelessness decisions under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, including S66 Prevention Duty, S73 Relief Duty and S75 Final Duty?
- Have you carried out homelessness assessments, investigated applications, gathered evidence and issued legal decision letters explaining legislation, reasoning and review rights?
- Have you developed Personal Housing Plans, provided housing advice and worked proactively with households to prevent or relieve homelessness?
- Do you have experience managing a statutory homelessness caseload in a fast-paced frontline service, including using Abritas or a similar housing case management system?
- Can you work office based at Sardis House, Pontypridd, and provide clear evidence of your homelessness decision-making experience in your CV or supporting statement?
Work Location: In person
