Housing Options Officer

Housing Options Officer Taunton, Somerset Temporary, 3 Month Contract Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week, (Apply online only) Hybrid Working Driving License and Own Vehicle Essential, DBS Essential, Our Client, a local Authority in Somerset, are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Housing Options Officer to join their team in Taunton with an in immediate start. This temporary role offers an opportunity to provide crucial support to individuals and families facing homelessness. Role may require visiting applicants in their own homes, across a designated area, to provide advice.Occasional evening and weekend working. Occasional on-call duty, working outside of normal working hours, to respond to emergencies Key Responsibilities: Provide advice, information, and assistance to applicants who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Help applicants explore their housing options and find suitable accommodation that meets their needs. Work collaboratively with a range of partners and agencies to prevent and reduce homelessness in the community.Requirements: Education qualification to at least A level standard or acquired knowledge to NVQ level 4 and ongoing commitment to continuous professional development and where required will acquire specialist accreditation and skills. Essential Knowledge of Homelessness legislation. (Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2002, Suitability Order 2012, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017) Desirable Knowledge of Landlord and tenant law. Desirable Knowledge of options available to somebody that is homeless or at risk of homelessness. Desirable Equality and diversity issues and an understanding of the relevance to a housing advice service. Desirable Effective written and verbal communication Essential Ability to build and maintain good working relationships. Essential Ability to deal inventively and sensitively with a wide range and spectrum of people in greatly varying circumstances. Essential Ability to establish and manage realistic applicant expectations. Essential Resourceful, solution focused, persuasive and skilled in overcoming barriers. Essential Ability to prioritise workload, manage time effectively and meet deadlines. Essential Ability to manage a diverse caseload effectively where detailed and complex investigations are required, working with precision and attention to detail. Essential Ability to maintain accurate detailed and timely case notes and other evidence-based records. Essential Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, use initiative and work with limited supervision. Essential Good organisational and administrative skills. Essential Experience of working within a Housing Options team Desirable Experience of working in a housing association, local authority housing department or similar organisation. Desirable Experience of dealing with the public and in particular vulnerable applicants Desirable If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration. If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Alex at Service Care Solutions on (phone number removed) or send an E-Mail to (url removed)