4Recruitment Services are seeking a
Housing Support Officer
for our client based in Swanscombe, Kent.
The client is supporting individuals and families who have experienced domestic abuse and offers service users the opportunity to move on and live fulfilled, safe lives following the trauma they've experienced.
As a Housing Support Officer you will provide housing and tenancy-related support to people experiencing Domestic abuse issues. You'll work alongside colleagues in supported housing or outreach services in Kent. This will include helping families to stay safe from abuse, enabling access to welfare benefits and help with debt, providing emotional support and helping to seek and apply for more permanent housing.
The working hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm, most of the work is conducted over the phone, but the Officer may need to attend in person meetings at safe meeting spaces such as a council office or café.
The client will welcome candidates with experience in the housing and support sector. But they are also looking for people who may not have this experience but have the qualities and skills they feel would most benefit their customers; professionalism, empathy and understanding, life experience and a desire to develop their knowledge and skills to best support their customers.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Provide a high quality support service for customers, assisting them to achieve their identified outcomes and goals. Coordinate the support services offered to individual clients by developing SMART support plans with them implementing, monitoring and reviewing documentation within agreed timescales.
- Signpost and support customers to access additional external support and resources including: primary healthcare, statutory services, criminal justice and legal services, DWP and job centres, health and well-being services, counselling and therapeutic programmes.
- Participate in the selection of new referrals helping to maintain performance targets on lettings and allocations. Be responsible for signing up new customers; explain tenancy / licence agreements to the customer and their rights, responsibilities and obligations as a tenant. Complete appropriate lettings paperwork. And support customers to apply for housing and council tax benefit.
- Facilitate needs and risk assessments with and for customers; develop risk management plans, raise awareness of identified risk issues with local managers and promote customer safety.
- Ensure customers and stakeholders have access to good quality information about the clients services including scheme information, customer handbooks and welcome packs.
- Contribute to maximising scheme income through the collection of rents and service charges and the appropriate implementation of rent arrears policies and procedures with customers. Support customers to access appropriate welfare benefits and, where necessary, signpost to support with managing debt.
- Work together with customers to agree a tailored individual budget plan which helps them to improve their money management skills and which enables them to maintain their tenancy.
- Provide resettlement services and support for customers transitioning into new accommodation. Offer support, advice, advocacy and ‘signposting' to customers living in the community (Outreach). Actively and regularly engage with local community meetings and initiatives such as One-Stop-Shops, Mental
Health Action Groups, Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC), Homeless forums, statutory services and community participation initiatives.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
- Knowledge of the social care sector and relevant legislation including housing/homelessness
- Demonstrable experience of working in housing management and / or housing related support service.
- A good understanding of the needs of customers in supported accommodation, supported living and other social care settings
- A good understanding of the needs of customers living in the community including outreach
- Able to demonstrate basic financial competency
- IT awareness including Microsoft Word and Outlook
- A working knowledge of welfare benefit
- Enhanced DBS Check
What we offer:
- 24 hour one on one specialist consultant based within your geographical area
- 4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme
- Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment
Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.
To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies, please contact our Team on or email