Job Title: Housing Options Officer
Location: Ashford, Kent, TN23
Salary: £33,951 to £37,638 pa depending on skills and experience Plus lease car cash alternative of £2,080 pa
Job Type: Full time, Permanent
Working Hours: 37 Hours Per Week
Closing Date: 12th May 2025
About the Role:
Are you experienced in providing sound housing advice and housing options in order to empower tenants to prevent homelessness?
Our Housing Options Team play a pivotal role by advising individuals and families who are either at risk of losing their homes or already homeless.
We are looking for strong communicators with knowledge of the relevant legislation as well as the initiative and sensitivity to make sound decisions and keep accurate case notes whilst working in a very busy and demanding environment identifying the housing options available for the public in order to prevent homelessness.
Other duties to include:
- Liaison and negotiations with lending institutions, landlords, parents, relatives, friends.
- Identifying requirements for temporary accommodation placing close attention to the legislation, case law and legal guidance.
- Undertaking formal assessments of each applicants vulnerability and identify any necessary support needs, liaising with health, social services, supporting people providers and voluntary agencies.
- Analysing complex legal and financial information, research and interpret legislation and case law
About you:
Part of this role will include liaising with landlords and mortgage lenders, and preparing proposals for Court so you will need to be a strong negotiator along with having:
- Experience in a housing advice or statutory homelessness assessment function
- Ability to demonstrate a sound understanding of the homelessness legislation.
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of using and applying relevant case law.
- Ability to write clear and concise letters and files notes.
- Ability to conduct investigative interviewing and relevant investigation work.
You will need to undertake home visits to all applicants presenting as homeless therefore a current clean driving licence is required.
Benefits:
We offer a wide range of benefits including:
- Hybrid Working – We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you to balance your working life and home life and offer flexible ways of working to help structure your life in a positive and productive way; both at home and in the office. This maximises personal development and collaborative working.
- Competitive remuneration package – We offer an excellent salary linked pension scheme including:
- Generous annual leave with flexi time
- Free life insurance
- Supportive relocation package
- Opportunities for training and development
Additional Information:
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community.
With devolution news and talks evolving, we understand that there may be some uncertainty for those currently serving within the sector. Kent, Medway and all District and Borough Councils in the South East already work closely with each other and a devolution deal would represent the next step forward in that partnership working. The services we currently deliver continue to be vital to our communities and will remain so whatever changes may be proposed in the coming year. This is an exciting, but stable time to join our organisation.
Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we provide.
To find out further information about the role and to view the full job description, please visit the council’s website.
Please click the APPLY button and you will be redirected to the council’s website to complete your application.
Candidates With the Relevant Experience or Job Titles Of; Social Housing Advisor, Housing Needs Assistant, Housing Officer, Housing Support Officer, Housing Assistant, Housing Officer, Housing Services ,Housing Assistant, Social Housing Assistant, Supported Housing Officer, Social Housing Worker, Housing Administrator may also be considered for this role.
