Housing Options Officer - Rough Sleeper specialist (vulnerable females) - 12 month FTC

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 ]

Are you passionate about finding solutions to homelessness and supporting people who are rough sleeping or who have experienced rough sleeping?

An opportunity has opened for a Housing Options Officer within BCP housing Rough Sleeping Prevention team.  You will be joining our existing dynamic and specialist team, our aim is to prevent rough sleeping wherever possible and where it is not possible ensure it is rare, brief and non-recurring.  

We are looking for a specialist Housing Options Officer to work with vulnerable females who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping or are vulnerably housed.

You will have experience and a passion for working with females often experiencing complex challenges and vulnerabilities in an advice or problem-solving capacity.  

This role will require your excellent customer service, partnership working and problem-solving skills, helping people in often complex and difficult situations.

If you can:

• Communicate effectively, to really understand how to help people to resolve their housing situation
• Apply relevant legislation to make decisions based on quality investigations and assessment
• Manage a caseload effectively within competing demands
• Collaborate with 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

1. To provide specialist advice on a range of complex housing options and homeless prevention initiatives
2. To hold a caseload & carry out detailed legal assessments of applications for housing under Part VII Housing Act 1996 (as amended), making decisions on all aspects of housing or homelessness applications 
3. Determine the support needs of households in housing need and refer to specialist providers where appropriate.
4. 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.
5. To lead multi-agency case meetings for households with complex support needs 
6. To act as housing lead in response to serious domestic abuse, child protection, adult safeguarding etc. where clients have identified housing needs. 
7. To work closely with BCP commissioned Rough Sleeping service and other relevant partner agencies to provide wrap around support to people rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping.
8. Contribute to BCP’s muti-agency delivery of Severe Weather Provision (SWEP) when triggered to safeguard and protect people who are rough sleeping.
9. Participate in supporting clients within various community hubs across BCP to prevent rough sleeping.
10. To develop strong relationships with all housing providers and promote multi-agency initiatives in the prevention of rough sleeping and homelessness 
11. 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
12. To effectively manage a caseload through personal housing plans, communication strategies and effective record keeping. 
13. To provide affidavit evidence in cases where legal review is triggered. 
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. To respond to and initiate routine and non-routine correspondence with a wide range of agencies including Councillors and Members of Parliament.
17. To produce and analyse statistical reports as appropriate.
18. To respond to emergency situations where appropriate, attending cover at externally located rest centre(s).
19. During the course of your employment, you will be required to maintain a record of all training and development undertaken. 
20. To undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time commensurate with the level of the post. 
21. 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

1. Level 4 diploma or the equivalent experience
2. Significant experience of providing excellent customer service
3. Experience of providing professional advice or support to people in housing need or a relevant sector.
4. 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)
5. Experience of managing a caseload and developing support plans
6. Experience of team working and ability to work in partnership with internal teams and external agencies.

Personal Qualities & Attributes

1. Ability to understand and impart information and legislation though face to face interviews and in writing
2. Effective interpersonal and negotiation skills.
3. Be able to deal with conflict and challenging behaviour and have strategies to deal with this
4. To be able to problem solve and make decisions using professional judgement and intuition in a complex environment
5. Able to organise a diverse workload without close supervision and manage competing demands
6. Ability to recognise issues relating to Adult safeguarding, child protection and domestic abuse
7. Ability to effectively use casework management systems
8. Ability to support vulnerable households in trauma informed and strength based manner
9. Enjoy working in a supportive team & highly pressurised, rapidly changing environment dealing calmly & effectively with a wide range of challenging client behaviours
10. Understanding and commitment to diversity and equal opportunities

We offer opportunities for training and professional development.

The role is largely community based but there is an opportunity for some hybrid and flexible working

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Becki Parsons on becki.parsons@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

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.

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.