Hospital Discharge Housing Officer

Salary: £20.4 – £25.2 per hour

Our local authority client has a 3-month contract vacancy (with the possibility of extension) for the role of a HOSPITAL DISCHARGE HOUSING OFFICER, details as follows

Job Purpose

To work with hospitals to prevent delays in hospital discharge by providing advice and practical assistance to enable patients to return home or to find alternative suitable accommodation.
To be the single point of contact for all housing related discharge referrals where it is considered the patient cannot return home or is homeless.
To work in partnership with wide range of agencies to ensure that clients are supported holistically, providing a tailored approach and manage each case until resolution.Responsibilities

To act as the first and initial point of enquiries and information for service providers, referral agencies and other statutory organisations and potential service users using a single assessment process.
Using knowledge of Housing Related Support to provide a high quality housing options, advice and assistance service to residents in supported housing, to maximise move on into secure and settled alternative accommodation and lead on making recommendations for services.
To evaluate, monitor and prioritise cases, making decisions on appropriate options and remedies to enable service users to retain their tenancies or access appropriate housing support services in a timely way.
Using liaison, negotiation and case working skills to identify service users ready for move on, and facilitate service users to move into alternative settled accommodation or, where necessary, specialist supported housing.
To devise strategies to ensure service users are fully aware of their options and to lead on providing appropriate advice and innovative solutions to improve the Organisation’s ability to refer vulnerable people to accommodation.
To provide interim resettlement/floating support to facilitate move on, taking on this role as appropriate to contribute to wider strategic initiatives.
Taking the initiative to liaise proactively with the Housing Advice Teams and Procurement Team to match hostel residents to available housing opportunities and to take responsibility for decisions affecting the department and service delivery.
To promote and implement a transparent referral process taking responsibility for key decisions and recommendations. Ensuring that conflicts in relation to referrals are resolved as a first point of contact, and to ensure these concerns are discussed with the Single Homelessness Team Leader at all times.Essential Requirements

Degree qualified or equivalent.
Education to a high standard of literacy and numeracy.
Comprehensive knowledge of all core legislation such as the Housing Act 1985, Housing Act 1996 as amended by Homelessness Act 2002, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, housing needs issues, related legislation and case law.
A good working knowledge of housing benefit rules and of the supply and demand issues related to public sector and private housing.
Comprehensive knowledge of prevention tools and options.
Experience of giving advice and information to vulnerable customers and working in a busy front line customer focused environment.
Strong and effective experience in provision of exceptional customer services.
Worked with households experiencing a housing crisis and the provision of advice and assistance covering a range of aspects of that crisis.
Experience of negotiation/advocacy/mediation.If you have the necessary experience and qualifications to fulfill this role, please submit your CV ASAP.