Job Description

Housing Options Officers are responsible for preventing homelessness, relieving homelessness and investigating and assessing the Council’s duties to customers who are homeless or threatened with homelessness under its statutory duties. You must be able to apply Housing and Homelessness legislation and case law to customers’ circumstances and then identify the relevant duties owed.

We are looking for a pro-active individual who can take an innovative approach to problem solving, is an effective negotiator and can provide a high quality of service to customers experiencing domestic abuse with housing problems. An ability to communicate clearly and effectively to customers, landlords, accommodation providers, partner organisations and other professionals whilst providing a high quality of service and customer care to all groups of the community is essential.

Day to day

The post requires you to be part of a rota dealing with housing enquires on the telephone and by email regarding relevant housing issues. When not on duty your time will be spent dealing with casework. We are soon to be re-introducing face to face meetings with customers which was suspended during covid.  We are currently still hybrid working – you will be largely working from home with some time to be agreed per week working in Grafton House (this is subject to change).

About you

You will be required to hold Maths and English GCSEs or equivalent skills. An up-to-date knowledge on landlord and tenant law, debt advice, income maximisation alongside effective homeless prevention initiatives and experience of processing homeless applications made under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) to produce clearly detailed and robust written s184 decisions in accordance with current legislation and case law will be an advantage. Experience of working with victims of domestic abuse would be advantageous.

Whilst previous experience of front-line interviewing within a demanding environment, applying the Housing Act 1996 Part VII, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Homelessness Act 2002, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and related legislation is desirable, full training will be provided to the right candidate who can demonstrate the qualities and skills required for these roles.

Hours of work are 37 per week, Monday to Friday.

This post is offered on a fixed term basis for 24 months.

As well as a good salary, we offer a career average pension scheme, generous holiday and sick pay entitlements, subsidised parking, public transport discounts, free swimming, cycle purchase scheme, plenty of personal and professional development opportunities, flexible working, hybrid working opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and the opportunity to work with great colleagues.

For more information about this role please contact Denise Lawson on 01473 433225 or via email denise.lawson@ipswich.gov.uk

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification to find out more about this role:

Job Description and Person Specification

The selection process will be an interview. Interviews will be held 15 May 2023.

The assessment interview process will be carried out in person at Grafton House, Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DE.

Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to interview candidates who meet the essential criteria prior to the closing date and / or to close the opportunity to applicants once we receive sufficient applications.