Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? The Council is seeking a dedicated Downsizing Officer to join our Housing Allocations team. This role focuses on supporting residents who wish to move to smaller, more manageable accommodation, helping them improve their quality of life while making best use of local housing stock.
About the role:
As Downsizing Officer, you will provide information and guidance to tenants, coordinate applications and moves, and collaborate with colleagues across the council. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, a compassionate approach, and a strong understanding of social housing policies and procedures.
This is a full-time position based in Southampton. The successful candidate should demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and safeguarding, in line with council standards. Previous experience in housing or community support roles is desirable.
Key responsibilities:
- Implementing a communications strategy.
- Providing one to one support for those who wish to move through the process.
- To visit tenants in their homes as well as office appointments.
- Manage relationships with people with specific vulnerabilities working with a multi-agency approach, to ensure the provision of bespoke support where necessary.
- Building positive relationships with tenants through community engagement.
- Representing the Council’s commitment to tenant participation through actively developing and sustaining links with representative groups.
- Coordinate and collaborate between departments as necessary.
- Assisting in the delivery of projects in accordance with agreed standards.
- Producing reports to monitor the outcomes of the scheme and making recommendations to inform strategy and future decision making
- Managing a budget and ensuring that tenants eligible for the scheme are aware of any financial benefits that may be available through participation of this scheme.
- To identify the need for, and to participate in, take up campaigns and other information projects
- To assist the Council in maximising its income recovery by working with tenants who have housing related debts.
- To contribute to the development of the service and ensure continuous service improvements.
- To supply information to relevant staff regarding health and safety or safeguarding concerns, to ensure that safety of residents, staff and others, while carrying out duties.
- To maintain effective relationships with Members, officers and other internal and external stakeholders.
- To participate in equality and diversity training, information briefings and events as and when required as part of continuous professional development.
- To promote equality and diversity best practice in all areas of work.
- Work within agreed confidentiality policies and protocols.
- To undertake other duties appropriate to the grading of the post.
Additional information:
- The working hours for this role are 37 hours per week
- This is a permanent position.
- Please note that appointments are usually made at the bottom of the salary scales.
- This post requires a DBS check
Applications are shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria found within the job description for the post. Please refer to the job description when completing your application form and evidence how you meet the required criteria/questions.
If you feel you have the necessary background, experience, and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.
What we can offer you:
Salary: The salary band for this role is £32,061 - £36,362. The starting salary is £32,061 with annual progression through the salary bands.
Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.
- Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
- Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
- Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
- Flexible working options (role-dependent)
- Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
- Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
- Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
- Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
- Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
- Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
- Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
- Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer
For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)
Contact details for informal discussion:
For further information and details regarding the position, please contact by email Rachael Davie: [email protected] or Annis Atkinson: [email protected]
Recruitment contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023 8083 4033
For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
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