Targeted Housing Advisor
Temporary Contract
Job Details
London Borough of Sutton
Service Area: Environment, Housing and Neighbourhoods / Housing and Regeneration / Housing Advice, Information and Assessment
Hours: 36 hours per week
Working Pattern:
Hybrid working
Candidates must be able to work from the office a minimum of 3 days on alternate weeks, subject to change
Start Date: 14 September 2026
Duration: 13 weeks
Number of Roles: 3
Location
Office Base:
St Nicholas Way
Sutton
SM1 1EA
Pay
PAYE Rate: £22.98 per hour
Job Overview
London Borough of Sutton is seeking experienced Targeted Housing Advisors to support the Housing Advice, Information and Assessment Service.
The role will involve providing proactive, holistic and personalised housing advice and support to prevent and relieve homelessness, support service users to live independently, and ensure statutory housing duties are assessed and applied correctly.
The successful candidates must have recent local authority Housing Options Officer experience and strong knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and some knowledge of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996.
This role requires strong homelessness casework, investigatory enquiries, Personalised Housing Plans, s184 decision letters, statutory assessments, high caseload management and accurate case recording experience.
Important – Please Read Carefully
This is a statutory Housing Options / Homelessness Advisor role.
Candidates must have a minimum of 3 years’ recent experience working directly as a local authority Housing Options Officer.
The client has specifically stated that Triage Officer experience alone is not suitable.
Candidates must have expert working knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, plus some knowledge of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996.
Candidates must be able to assess the five homelessness tests: eligibility, homelessness, priority need, local connection and intentionality.
Candidates must also be able to conduct robust investigatory enquiries, formulate legally compliant Personalised Housing Plans, write comprehensive s184 decision letters, maintain accurate records and manage high caseloads.
Candidates without direct local authority Housing Options Officer experience, statutory homelessness decision-making, Part VII knowledge, Personalised Housing Plans or s184 decision letter experience are unlikely to be considered.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide housing advice and support to service users
- Prevent and relieve homelessness
- Deliver a proactive and personalised Housing Advice service
- Manage homelessness and housing options caseloads
- Carry out statutory homelessness assessments
- Assess eligibility for accommodation
- Assess homelessness
- Assess priority need, including vulnerability
- Assess local connection
- Assess intentional homelessness
- Conduct robust investigatory enquiries
- Gather and analyse information to support lawful decisions
- Make complex decisions in accordance with legislation, codes of guidance, case law and policy
- Apply Part VII of the Housing Act 1996
- Apply the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
- Apply relevant knowledge of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996
- Formulate legally compliant Personalised Housing Plans
- Develop and review solution-focused and person-centred action plans
- Write comprehensive s184 decision letters
- Issue robust decision letters in line with legislation and case law
- Provide advice on security of tenure
- Provide advice on possession proceedings
- Provide advice on housing rights following relationship breakdown
- Provide advice on welfare and housing benefits
- Provide advice on tax credits, debt, housing options and support services
- Assist customers to access services and achieve desired outcomes
- Work with vulnerable adults and young people
- Identify risks and take appropriate action
- Refer complex needs to other teams or agencies where required
- Maintain accurate records of client and professional communications
- Record information accurately on relevant IT systems
- Prioritise and manage high caseloads
- Work collaboratively with internal and external partners
- Support continuous improvement and quality service delivery
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
Essential Experience & Skills
- Minimum 3 years’ recent experience as a local authority Housing Options Officer
- Direct statutory homelessness casework experience
- Expert knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996
- Strong knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
- Working knowledge of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996
- Knowledge of security of tenure
- Knowledge of welfare and housing benefits
- Knowledge of immigration issues relating to housing eligibility
- Ability to assess eligibility
- Ability to assess homelessness
- Ability to assess priority need and vulnerability
- Ability to assess local connection
- Ability to assess intentionality
- Ability to conduct robust investigatory enquiries
- Experience formulating Personalised Housing Plans
- Experience writing comprehensive s184 decision letters
- Experience issuing robust statutory decision letters
- Ability to interpret complex legislation and guidance
- Ability to make clear and consistent decisions
- Experience providing support, advice and guidance in a complex environment
- Ability to manage high caseloads
- Ability to maintain accurate case records
- Strong written communication skills
- Strong verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to identify risk and take appropriate action
- Customer-focused approach
- Ability to work with vulnerable households
- Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners
- Ability to work from the Sutton office as required
Desirable
- Experience working within a London borough housing options service
- Experience with Encompass LATC or similar local authority trading company environment
- Experience working with vulnerable adults and young people
- Experience advising on debt, benefits, support services and long-term housing options
- Experience contributing to policies, procedures and service improvement
- Experience managing complex cases involving multiple agencies
- Experience using housing case management systems
- Experience working outside normal operating hours where service needs require
Additional Information
Interview will be held online.
Candidate submission deadline is 28 August 2026.
Candidates must be able to work from the office a minimum of 3 days on alternate weeks, subject to change.
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.
OR113073
Pay: £22.98 per hour
Application question(s):
- Do you have a minimum of 3 years’ recent experience working directly as a local authority Housing Options Officer, not just as a Triage Officer?
- Do you have expert working knowledge of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, plus some knowledge of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996?
- Can you rigorously assess the five homelessness tests: eligibility, homelessness, priority need including vulnerability, local connection and intentionality?
- Have you conducted robust investigatory enquiries and made complex homelessness decisions in line with legislation, codes of guidance, case law and policy?
- Have you formulated legally compliant Personalised Housing Plans and written comprehensive s184 decision letters?
- Can you manage high homelessness caseloads, maintain accurate case records and work from the Sutton office a minimum of 3 days on alternate weeks?
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sutton SM1
