Job Introduction
The pay range for this role will be £33,699 - £39,152 (pro rata for part time colleagues)
We’re looking forward to welcoming new colleagues under this refreshed framework of pay, terms, and conditions. To promote fairness and consistency, all new starters will begin at the bottom of the pay band. This reflects our commitment to equity across the organisation and aligns with the approach taken with existing staff during the transition. While the starting salary is fixed, the role offers excellent scope for growth, meaningful contribution, and being part of a forward-thinking team.
You can also find out more about the new terms and conditions that we are introducing on our careers site on, 'More than just a job' brochure ]
Housing
Housing Options Officer – Offender Specialist
Want to help to help & support offenders to resolve their housing problems?
We are looking for an enthusiastic Housing Options Officer to join our dynamic & innovative team providing housing advice & support to people in the criminal justice system with housing problems. Experience of working with people in an advice or problem-solving capacity is required and we will offer opportunities for training and professional development.
This role will challenge you every day to use your excellent customer service and problem-solving skills within a supportive and motivated team, helping offenders in often complex and difficult situations, including homelessness.
If you can:
- Communicate effectively, to really understand how to help people to resolve their housing situation
- Manage a caseload effectively within competing demands
- Collaborate with residents, other services and your colleagues & help them to find a lasting solution to their problem
- Understand homelessness prevention and support, proactively working to prevent housing crisis.
Then we want to hear from you!
Key Responsibilities
- To provide specialist advice on a range of complex housing options and homeless prevention initiatives
- To hold a caseload & carry out detailed legal assessments of applications for housing, making decisions on all aspects of housing or homelessness applications including verification, eligibility, housing need and support
- Determine the support needs of households in housing need and refer to specialist providers where appropriate.
- To participate in Housing Options Duty Rota, providing excellent customer service in respect of a range of complex and contentious housing enquiries, through a range of communication channels, online, face to face & in the community.
- To lead multi-agency case meetings for households with complex problems
- To act as housing lead in response to serious domestic abuse, child protection, adult safeguarding etc. where clients have identified housing needs.
- To develop strong relationships with all housing providers and promote multi-agency initiatives in the prevention of homelessness
- To maintain continuous professional development and up to date knowledge of related legislation, such as landlord and tenant, family, welfare benefits, child and adult safeguarding
- To prevent homelessness wherever possible by negotiation and collaboration with a range of stakeholders
- To effectively manage a caseload through personal housing plans, communication strategies and effective record keeping.
- To provide affidavit evidence in cases where legal review is triggered.
- To apply client confidentiality procedures to investigations undertaken and to follow guidance in relation to lone working where there are potential risks to personal safety.
- To constructively participate in one-to-one supervision, case reviews and case conferences, employee appraisals and training sessions. To assist in providing induction and/or training programs to other officers as required.
- To respond to and initiate routine and non-routine correspondence with a wide range of agencies including Councillors and Members of Parliament.
- To produce and analyse statistical reports as appropriate.
- To respond to emergency situations where appropriate, attending cover at externally located rest centre(s).
- During the course of your employment, you will be required to maintain a record of all training and development undertaken.
- To undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time commensurate with the level of the post.
- To comply with all decisions, policies and standing orders of the Council and any relevant statutory requirements, including Equality and Diversity legislation, the Health and Safety at Work Act and Data Protection Act.
Specific Qualifications and Experience
- Level 4 diploma or the equivalent experience
- Significant experience of providing excellent customer service
- Experience of providing professional advice to people in housing need or a relevant sector.
- Experience of working for a range of different vulnerable clients (e.g. victims of domestic abuse, mental health, offenders, substance misuse, young people, learning or other disabilities)
- Experience of managing a caseload and developing support plans
- Experience of team working and multi-agency working
Personal Qualities & Attributes
- Ability to understand and impart information and legislation though face to face interviews and in writing
- Effective interpersonal and negotiation skills.
- Be able to deal with conflict and challenging behaviour and have strategies to deal with this
- To be able to problem solve and make decisions using professional judgement and intuition in a complex environment
- Able to organise a diverse workload without close supervision and manage competing demands
- Ability to recognize issues relating to Adult safeguarding, child protection and domestic abuse
- Ability to effectively use casework management systems
- Enthusiasm and commitment to supporting households in need
- Enjoy working in a supportive team & highly pressurised, rapidly changing environment dealing calmly & effectively with a wide range of challenging client behaviours
- Understanding and commitment to diversity and equal opportunities
Remote / Hybrid Working Opportunities and Flexible Working Available
This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for the role
A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is preferred.
You must be able to evidence your right to work and commit to the duration of the contract.
For an informal discussion about this post please contact Tom Moore on 01202 093706 or tom.moore@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.
About BCP Council
BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.
Our Benefits
A Place to Thrive – Join BCP Council
At BCP Council, we’re not just building a workforce— we’re transforming how we recognise and reward our people.
Check out our attractive enhanced benefits and find out more about the new Pay and Reward package at (Employee benefits | Working for BCP link to careers page)
Be the difference - Join an organisation that values you
More About us | Working for BCP
DBS
BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Applicants to this post will be required to complete the appropriate level of Disclosure & Barring Service Check. Please refer to the Job Description or Role Profile for more details.
