Housing Needs Officer

Slough Council • Full-time • Slough, England, gb • 11h ago

Who You Are You are a skilled Housing Needs Officer with extensive experience in decision making, customer interviewing, and assessments related to homelessness, particularly under Part 7 of the Homelessness Act. Your proficiency in Housing Reduction Act (HRA) regulations allows you to excel in delivering excellent customer-focused services in fast-paced environments. You possess strong analytical skills, mediating effective solutions efficiently while maintaining professional boundaries yet showing empathy. With deep knowledge of current housing laws, immigration issues, and relevant legislations, you are both an adept team player and an independent worker, keen on addressing changing service needs using your initiative. Your outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, are complemented by a sound understanding of equality, diversity issues, safeguarding, and data protection. You are also competent in IT, familiar with systems like Word, Excel, and databases, effectively managing complex tasks and utilizing resources for preventing homelessness. What the Job Involves As a Housing Needs Officer in the Housing Demand Team, your focus will be on delivering high-quality, customer-focused housing needs services. This involves providing housing advice, addressing housing issues, and preventing homelessness in line with relevant legislation. Your role will include coordination with internal teams like Rough Sleeper Outreach, Temporary Accommodation, and Social Lettings, as well as with external agencies such as Slough Mental Health Team, Probation, and Police. You'll employ holistic strategies to guide tenants, licensees, landlords, and others about their rights and available options, while managing complex information. Effective management of resources to ensure sustainable and affordable housing solutions is essential. Responsibilities include conducting home visits for verifying homelessness applications, maintaining meticulous records, and ensuring proper utilization of council resources. Furthermore, you'll provide legal advice on housing, immigration, and benefits legislation, working proactively towards statutory and performance targets. Upholding the council's values in equality and diversity, you're expected to comply with health and safety, data management, and other relevant protocols. Your work schedule consists of two days on-site at Slough offices, with occasional third-day requirements, along with engaging in regular evaluations and meetings to enhance personal development and service quality.