Housing Options Officer – Castle Point Borough Council
Posted 1 week ago by Essex County Council
£30 Per hour
Inside
Onsite
South Benfleet, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Housing Options Officer role at Castle Point Borough Council involves investigating and advising customers on housing options while fulfilling the council's statutory obligations related to housing advice and homelessness services. The position requires maintaining accurate records and managing a caseload effectively, with a focus on preventing and relieving homelessness. The role is office-based for three days a week and is offered on a temporary agency basis for three months. Candidates should possess relevant experience and skills in housing legislation and customer service.
Key Responsibilities:
- Investigate, assess, assist, and advise customers on housing options.
- Maintain accurate records and manage own caseload for prevention, relief, and main duty investigations.
- Work actively with clients to prevent and relieve homelessness.
- Negotiate with landlords, parents, and agencies to find housing solutions.
- Produce Personal Housing Plans and monitor customer actions.
- Undertake formal investigations under the Housing Act 1996 and issue decision letters.
- Identify safeguarding issues and take appropriate actions.
- Attend multi-agency meetings to represent the Council.
- Collaborate with the Temporary Accommodation Officer for placements and arrangements.
- Conduct risk assessments and make referrals for temporary accommodation needs.
Key Skills:
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Excellent interpersonal skills for public and colleague interactions.
- Understanding of the Housing Reduction Act 2007.
- Strong analytical and letter writing skills.
- Experience in a public-facing role.
- Partnership working with various organizations.
Salary (Rate): £30.00 hourly
City: South Benfleet
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: on-site
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: Mid-Level
Industry: Other
About The Role
Housing Options Officer - Castle Point Borough Council
Castle Point Borough Council
Temporary, Full Time
£30.00 ph (umbrella)
Location: Castle Point
Closing Date: 13th June 2025
Why Castle Point?
Castle Point Borough Council is a statutory body responsible for employing nearly 350 staff, and delivering over 150 council services, both statutory and for the community's well-being and benefit. Castle Point Borough Council aims to provide high-quality and financially sustainable services while prioritising outstanding customer service, transparency in decision-making, and promoting local democracy. Additionally, the council seeks to transform, modernize, and improve its performance, as well as support and enable the communities within its jurisdiction to be strong, healthy, and thriving.
Our values: Trust, Respect, Improving and Learning, and Customer Focus
The Opportunity
Castle Point Borough Council are keen to find an experienced Housing Options Officer to join them on a 3 month agency basis. Please note that this role will be based in the office 3 days per week.
Accountabilities
- To investigate, assess, assist, and advise customers on their housing options, providing the Council’s statutory obligations in relation to housing advice and homeless services.
- To maintain accurate records and be responsible for own caseload at prevention, relief and main duty investigations; progressing cases efficiently using own initiative.
- To actively work with clients to prevent & relieve their homelessness. By assisting them to retain their existing accommodation or secure alternative housing when all other housing options or solutions are exhausted.
- To negotiate with landlords, parents, and other agencies, both statutory and non-statutory to find the best solutions to clients housing needs.
- To produce Personal Housing Plans following assessment of needs; to monitor customers’ actions and to perform the authority’s actions.
- To undertake formal investigations under Pt V11 Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and associated guidance and legislation when homelessness cannot be prevented, and to issue s184 decision letters within required timescales.
- To ensure that potential safeguarding issues involving both adults and children are identified, and the appropriate corporate actions are taken.
- To attend multi agency meetings where appropriate to represent the Council in discussing clients and their circumstances.
- To work with the Temporary Accommodation Officer to make temporary accommodation placements and arrange for removals and storage.
- To ensure that appropriate risk assessments are carried out and referrals are made as necessary for those clients requiring temporary accommodation.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Microsoft office applications knowledge
- Excellent interpersonal skills to deal with member of the public and colleagues
- Knowledge of Housing Reduction Act 2007
- Excellent analytical and letter writing skills
- Experience of working in a public facing role
- Partnership working with various organisations
Castle Point Borough Council is proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
Castle Point Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email louise.butler@essex.gov.uk