Housing officer jobs

Job Summary:

This involves assessing, allocating and supporting our tenants on their journey with Stay and assisting successful move on. Teamwork is also a key part of this role to work alongside the wider housing team towards team and organisational objectives.

Role Specific Responsibilities:

· Deliver pro-active engagement with tenants to increase the potential for income collection by education, support and other interventions with customers as appropriate and in line with Stay’s policies.

· Provide advice to tenants on tenant and landlord roles and responsibilities in accordance with tenancy/licence conditions in face-to-face sessions or via the telephone/email/letter/text.

· Advice and guidance on issues such as tenancies at risk, whether through rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, property maintenance, unemployment, mental health issues and finance.

· Identify any/all factors that may be contributing to rent arrears: money mismanagement, budgeting issues etc.

· Give advice and assistance with housing problems including information on housing options.

· Take responsibility for a designated caseload of tenants requiring housing support including the identification of prospective tenants. Assist new tenants, particularly vulnerable and young tenants to set up and maintain a tenancy and be able to access support needed. Together with the customer draw up a personal housing plan.

· Assist tenants with security and safety matters within their home including door/window security, advice regarding household appliances and controls for heating, providing details of the repairs service and how to report and arrange repairs.

· Actively work with the tenants and colleagues around issues placing the tenancy at risk including breaches of the tenancy agreement: arrears, harassment, nuisance and other disputes when required.

· Build effective relationships with external agencies (both statutory and voluntary) and maintain a knowledge base of these to signpost customers as required.  Share information, where appropriate and in line with data protection and confidentiality, to meet the needs of the tenants.

· Ensure the maximisation of rent collection in line with targets and reduce rent arrears on a continuing basis through the effective enforcement of the rent arrears policy, procedure and systems working alongside the rents officer.

· Work in a performance target-led environment and have a commitment to attaining those targets.

· Prepare timely and accurate reports.

· Identify and implement good administrative practices and procedures.

· Maximise income collection by providing advice on welfare benefits and make referrals to specialist services and agencies where appropriate.

· Maintain up to date knowledge of best practice in respect of all relevant administrative, legal and financial procedures.

· Respond promptly and effectively to enquiries or complaints with regards to rent or associated housing matters in accordance with Stay’s policies.

· Maintain appropriate and accurate records to comply with statutory and service-wide reporting requirements. Proactively monitor and report to the Housing Team Leader in respect of service delivery, performance indicators and targets.

· Maintain up to date knowledge of housing management practice and all relevant Stay and Housing Team procedures in to ensure the processes, systems, policies and procedures are adhered to and to contribute to the development of any reviews.

· Integrate tenant care into working practices through a ‘Tenant First’ approach, ensuring tenants are treated with respect and courtesy and experience a ‘seamless’ service. Adhere to Stay’s standards of tenant care in respect of answering correspondence, telephones and complaints.

· Maximise the use of information and communications technology to support the service and deliver efficiency improvements. Maintain up to date knowledge of systems and applications.

· Work collaboratively with the referral and assessments officer to evaluate applicants, conduct thorough needs and risk assessments, and perform reference checks before extending accommodation offers.

· Carry out an appropriate induction to the allocated Stay property once an offer has been made to an applicant.

· Liaise with The Rent Officer and Housing Benefit to ensure the customer’s account is active and the customer is aware of their responsibility of providing any information to ensure the housing benefit is paid and reduce all arrears.

· Liaise with Housing Benefit, Employment Services, Social Services, Probation Services and other authorities as necessary in relation to housing management.

· Ensure that tenants are compliant with and kept fully informed and consulted on matters affecting their Licence or Tenancy Agreements and they understand their rights and responsibilities: respecting other tenants, non-use of drugs etc.

· Ensure incidents/Safeguarding are fully reported and investigated and act to resolve the problem or take holding action until a permanent solution is found.

· Work with the Voids and Maintenance Team to undertake regular visits to the housing properties to inspect the accommodation and get customer feedback to ensure that repairs and cleaning of the buildings are carried out promptly to a high standard and that safety and security is maintained.

· Adhere to Stay’s Safeguarding Policies and take responsibility for making Safeguarding referrals to the relevant services and report any concerns to Stay’s Designated Safeguarding Officers.

· To address issues of social isolation and exclusion, facilitating client’s involvement in the community.

· To deliver person centred support through one-to-one sessions, group work and ad-hoc support.

· To record all contacts with tenants appropriately and in line with Stay’s policies and procedures and maintaining all relevant files and recording systems, ensuring information is updated.

· To produce appropriate written reports in a variety of formats to meet the requirements of managers, service providers and board of trustees.

· To assist tenants in acquiring the budgeting and social skills necessary to sustain accommodation effectively.

· To, where customers are at risk of eviction, provide advice and support and where necessary help them to seek legal advice.

· To actively promote tenants knowledge of and participation in Stay’s Client Involvement activity by promoting available opportunities such as membership of working groups, service evaluation, service changes and Stay’s Complaint’s, Comments and Suggestion policy.

· To ensure that clients understand their rights and responsibilities of the licence/tenancy to enable informed choices.

· To input and extract information from Stay’s IT systems, including client information.

· To undertake, as required, any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by the Team Leader, Service Manager and Operations Manager.

· Provide advice and guidance on issues such as tenancies at risk, whether through rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, property maintenance, unemployment, mental health issues and finance.

· Assist tenants with security and safety matters within their home including door/window security, advice regarding household appliances and controls for heating, providing details of the repairs service and how to report and arrange repairs.

· Ensure incidents/Safeguarding are fully reported and investigated and act to resolve the problem or take holding action until a permanent solution is found.

· Engaging with clients and the local community to co-produce a programme of activities and sessions.

· Encourage and motivate clients to engage and participate in activities and sessions.

· Other duties commensurate with the post as may be determined from time to time.

Staff Expectations – how we do things

Administration Duties

· Maintain accurate records, both paper and electronic.

· Assist in the production of management information related to key performance indicators.

Financial Management

· Work within departmental budgets and aim to achieve value for money in all areas.

· Ensure compliance with all financial policies and procedures.

Relationships and Partnerships

· Maintain and enhance working relationships internally with support colleagues and central services, externally with referral agencies, landlords, the Local Authority etc.

· Assure compliance with Management Agreements and Leases and report as required to partner landlords on housing management performance.

Client Involvement

· Encourage and support meaningful client involvement in all aspects of the service delivery and embed Involvement at the core of the service provision.

· To make a difference to clients through support which everyday impacts on their lives for the better.

Quality Assurance

· Report on performance monthly to line manager within deadline.

· Assist in addressing any improvements required from internal or external audits.

· Ensure that Equality & Diversity is actively promoted in all areas of work and that the services are relevant and accessible to all.

· To undertake development and training opportunities and have responsibility for obtaining maximum benefit through review, reflection and practice.

· To continuously review own working practices in line with client feedback and current best practice.

· To review and evaluate own performance to identify strengths and areas for development. Identify own learning/development needs and opportunities by attending and contributing to regular support, supervision and appraisal sessions.

Culture, Values and Behaviour

· To articulate and personally demonstrate Stay’s values both internally and externally.

· Where possible work to alleviate feelings of prejudice and stigma experienced by homeless or marginalised groups.

· To contribute to the building of a staff culture where every person feels empowered and valued.

· To always be professional and demonstrate a great positive attitude, be empathetic and adopt a person-centred way of working.

· To commit to learning and being the best through continual learning and development.

· To show consistent integrity, trust and fairness that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion.

· To deliver time after time to a consistent standard of service in line with Stay’s policies and procedures.

· To use good judgment and initiative to find solutions.

Health and Safety

· To be aware of Stay’s policies and procedures, ensure they are carried out and that good practice is maintained.

· You have a duty to take care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work.  You must co-operate with Stay and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.

The responsibilities of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.