Homeless Prevention Officer

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Homelessness Prevention Officer at Tameside Council. This is a full-time temporary role for the next 3 months, with the possibility of extension.

What is the role?

Tameside Council are looking for a Homelessness Prevention Officer to deliver a comprehensive, proactive homelessness prevention service for Tameside Council. To work with individuals to prevent and relieve homelessness and identify housing solutions. Also, to deliver the services statutory duties in line with Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

What are your responsibilities?

• To work proactively to determine the duties owed to applicants and prevent homelessness through timely and appropriate actions under the current homeless legislation including developing and managing an appropriate housing plan.
• Deliver the service’s statutory duty to provide advice and assistance to customers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Provide an efficient and effective front-line assessment and prevention service, keeping the service safe by accurately assessing housing need and homelessness in line with housing legislation in front line triage and duty assessments, telephone assessments and interviews, home visits and out-reach surgeries (where appropriate), and at all times ensuring that the Local Authorities legal duties are met.
• To work in partnership with colleagues at Tameside Housing Advice and external partner agencies to promote the prevention agenda and identify appropriate multi agency actions and solutions, ensuring that customer pathways are delivered in line with the customer’s expectations and that customer’s needs are met.
• Maintaining and continually improve fairness and equality for customers, staff and partners with particular reference to race, disability, gender, sexuality, religion and age.
• Work as part of a team in order to meet team deadlines and to fulfil the roles and responsibilities required.
• Assist in developing best practice in providing homelessness services and solutions to homelessness.
• Actively engage with community groups, external partners, charities and other organisations to reduce homelessness across the Borough.
• Meet individual and team performance targets, including maintaining high standards or record keeping.
• Report on activity and contribute to all monitoring, review and data management activities in compliance with an overall obligation of continuous improvement.

What skills do you Need?

• Must have previous Homelessness Prevention / Housing Officer experience.
• Excellent people skills, as you will be speaking to service users, and other members of staff including managers.
• Strong IT skills, as you will be using internal systems as well as Microsoft packages including Word and excel.
• Excellent telephone manner.
• Valid Standard DBS on the update Service
• You will need a working knowledge of current legislation to assist to clear a backlog of casework due to high demand within the service.