We have a fantastic opportunity for two Homeless Officers for Wakefield Council, this is a full-time Temporary role for the next 5 months, with the possibility of extension.
What is the role?
Wakefield Council are looking for a two Homeless Officers, to work within the Service Wide Duty Team of the Housing Needs Service, dealing with new inquiries and approaches for homeless assistance both by telephone, and in person at the services office. Yoh will undertake homeless assessments, inquiry work and associated functions to enable the council to meet its statutory responsibilities. You will provide homeless prevention and housing options advice.
What are your responsibilities?
- Work as part of a duty team to ensure that all homeless people and potentially homeless people have had their circumstances fully assessed.
- Explain to service users the process of making a homeless application, the reasons why detailed enquiries will be undertaken and possible outcomes and implications of such an assessment. To inform service users on how an outcome affects the way we can help them. This will involve managing difficult and challenging situations in a professional and safe way.
- To inform and explain to service users where appropriate to do so, any rights of occupancy that they have and how their decisions relating to occupying/giving up such accommodation may affect their current and future homeless applications.
- Interview homeless applicants and gather relevant information regarding their homelessness and to obtain permission from the applicant to make enquiries with third parties where it is necessary to do so.
- To make relevant third-party enquiries and obtain information to help establish eligibility, homelessness, priority need, intentionality and local connection. This could involve a variety of enquiries to private individuals, landlords, lenders, statutory and voluntary organisations.
- Complete assessment forms accurately and legibly and update case notes to a standard which are capable of being used in homeless decision making and potentially court challenge.
- Provide service users with a full appraisal of their situation and to encourage them to consider all options available to them to obtain new accommodation or prevent losing their existing accommodation.
- Prevent or delay homelessness by negotiating with existing and potential housing providers to allow the applicant to return to or move to accommodation.
- Manage a case load of homeless applications, ensuring that appropriate work is undertaken, recorded and passed to a manager for a case review or to undertake a decision within the timescales set.
- To set up cases on the in-house case management system and update the systems in an accurate and timely manner.
- Respond to applicants queries and keep service users up to date regarding the progress of their application.
What skills do you Need?
- Must have recent experience of working as a Homeless Officer, for either a local authority or housing association.
- Strong IT Skills, as you will be using Microsoft Office, and internal council IT systems
- Excellent people skills, as you will be speaking to the public, other members of staff and managers.
- Full UK Driving Licence, and access to a vehicle
- Valid Enhanced DBS on the update service
- This role is Office Based
Next Steps:
To receive a full job description please apply below or email your CV to