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Karina Nazarenko
Recruitment Consultant
I joined CRA Group in 2023, where I am responsible for the company's recruitment efforts. As CRA Group continues to experience rapid growth, I am excited to play a key role in ensuring our recruitment strategy aligns with the evolving needs of the business. Alongside my team, I am committed to supporting the company's impressive growth journey and contributing to its continued success.
Specialising in
Allocations Officer (Level 6)
2-3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Allocations Officer will provide expert advice and assistance on the Local Authority’s Allocations Scheme and Nominations Agreement. • You will be responsible for ensuring compliance with housing legislation and regulation, managing the allocations process, and supporting the matching of properties to applicants in line with policy guidelines. • This role is pivotal in the smooth delivery of the housing allocation service, ensuring that all decisions are made in accordance with the relevant frameworks. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Ensure all housing legislation and regulations are adhered to in the context of housing allocations. • Oversee the allocation process through to the matching of properties. • Make decisions on housing register applications, determining the status of the application and band awards. • Cross-reference housing applications with broader housing solutions services, where necessary. • Allocate accommodation in line with the Housing Allocation Scheme, including administering the direct matching process for vulnerable groups such as those with medical needs, homeless cases, and under-occupiers. • Coordinate the input of void and new-build properties from Housing Associations. • Liaise with other departments and external organizations to ensure efficient housing allocations. Skills/Experience: • Practical experience with housing management software such as NEC (Northgate), Civica, and Jigsaw in the allocations/housing register context. • Strong understanding of housing legislation and allocation procedures. • Ability to work effectively with vulnerable groups and a range of housing applicants. • Excellent communication and decision-making skills. • Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities. Additional Information: • The closing date: 07/04/2025 @15:00. • Hybrid position working in the office 3 days a week.
Contract
Compliance Officer for Fire Safety and Asbestos (Gr I)
6-7 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • The Compliance Officer for Fire Safety and Asbestos Awareness will manage and offer guidance on all aspects of fire safety and asbestos awareness for buildings owned or managed by the Council’s Housing Landlord. • This role involves overseeing the Fire Risk Assessment programme, the Asbestos Re-inspection programme, and maintaining the asbestos register. • The post-holder will be the point of contact for staff and other stakeholders regarding fire safety and asbestos issues, ensuring the organisation remains legally compliant with relevant legislation and regulations. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Manage the Fire Risk Assessment and Asbestos re-inspection programmes. • Ensure that review dates are met for Fire Risk Assessments and Asbestos re-inspections. • Prioritise and log actions, ensuring they are tracked and completed in accordance with regulations. • Maintain and update the asbestos register. • Control and manage relevant budgets to deliver effective remedial works and inspections. • Serve as the point of contact for internal staff and external stakeholders regarding fire and asbestos safety matters. • Ensure all fire safety and asbestos-related compliance activities meet legal and regulatory standards. • Prepare and submit regular reports on the progress and status of fire safety and asbestos safety measures. • Provide advice and guidance to staff and contractors on safe working practices regarding fire safety and asbestos awareness. Skills/Experience: • Proven experience in managing fire safety and asbestos compliance within the housing sector. • Strong understanding of relevant fire safety and asbestos-related legislation and regulations. • Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and programs effectively. • Experience in managing budgets related to safety and compliance work. • Excellent organisational, communication, and interpersonal skills. • Experience in liaising with internal and external stakeholders on health and safety matters. • Knowledge of asbestos management procedures and fire risk assessment processes. • Ideally, professional qualifications in fire safety, asbestos awareness, or related fields. Additional Information: • The closing date: 04/04/2025 @15:00. • Full-time role – 36 Hr/week.
Contract
Category Specialist
2-3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: •The role involves supporting effective category management across procurement and supply, ensuring the delivery of commercial solutions from the commissioning, procurement, or contract stages. •This includes applying innovative thinking, reviewing work related to goods, works, and services, and developing tailored solutions while considering governance, risks, opportunities, and sustainability. •The successful candidate will manage procurement activities, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, and drive service improvement processes. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): •Complete assigned work in procurement and supply that support effective category management from commissioning, procurement or contract stages, considering the choice of possible solutions and using innovatory thinking to deliver the required commercial solution, doing and not just advising as necessary. •Appreciation/application of main cycles and steps therein, including the procurement and supply, category management and/or contract management cycle. Act proportionally and add value, maximising use of electronic systems e.g. for e-auctions, tendering, invoicing etc. •Review category work for goods, works and services, appraise potential ways forward, develop and plan a solution, evaluate and keep track of progress, taking appropriate responsibility for the work that you are managing, considering new or less obvious options and solutions. •Identify and utilise the correct procurement and supply guidance, template, form or system needed for any stage in the process, recognising there may be numerous potential options to select from and in some cases will need adapting to a more bespoke approach. •Undertake procurement supply work in a consistent and timely way, which may result in different ways of working, alternative practice in service delivery/stakeholders or impact on procedures, adhering to governance requirements and ensuring value for money and savings. •Consider council/procurement strategies and balance risks, opportunities, sustainability, collaboration with advice/actions that may have significant service implications for your colleagues, other services, partner organisations, residents, businesses and/or suppliers. •Develop and input project planning, market/spend analysis, business cases, impact assessments, specifications, approval/award processes, TUPE needs, internal/external consultation/engagement, adverts, procurement/tender documentation/assessment and feedback. •Drive forward procurement and supply service improvement processes and procedures, which may have significant service or supplier implications for others, with appropriate tenacity and sensitivity, including change, financial, objective and transitional arrangements. •Cascade your advanced subject matter skills as needed to others e.g. clients and commissioning departments etc., act always in line with corporate governance, fraud awareness, the Council’s Constitution and Procurement Rules, raising concerns promptly to senior management. •Take responsibility for any equipment needed to undertake your role. Undertake financial support activities as needed, including processing invoices for management approval, creating/amending suppliers, reviewing, compiling and maintaining payment information etc. •Attend meetings, audio/conference calls and webcam based calls on or off site(s) as directed and/or reasonably required by the role, utilising prescribed technology, collaboratively covering for peers, undertaking extra commensurate level work at no additional remuneration. •Undertake relevant and more complex specialist procurement and supply contract related work to an auditable advanced level, displaying specialist skills in a specific area such as procurement or contract management across the full spectrum of the category or detailed knowledge across multiple categories. •Lead and manage professionally specialist and complex procurement and supply work requiring detailed knowledge across your specialist category area with a highly developed knowledge in particular area of expertise across goods, works or services as defined within the overall category management area. •Contribute specialist or detailed knowledge in category work with considered, proportionate and non-discriminatory advice/action, incorporating economic, social and environmental social value, inclusive economies, community wealth building and/or income needs, showing advanced knowledge. •Source and manage third party relationships to an advanced level within your allocated sphere of responsibility, including supporting specifying requirements; developing tender documentation, criteria, evaluations and feedback; and contract management arrangements. •Input specialist procurement and supply knowledge into understanding business needs; market/industry trends; organisational practice; relevant compliance, legislation and policy; contracts/agreements; service, service user, organisational and partner needs/demands. •Conduct and disseminate contractual reporting information at relevant stages of procurement and supply, performing and escalating procurement and supply health check needs, inputting and managing specialist systems, ensuring effective controls and control systems. •Maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to director level, residents, businesses, audit and fraud, and where necessary service users with visible high levels of confidence, satisfaction and professionalism, acting in an ethical way. Including, resolving issues which are not straight forward which require assessments, evaluation and advice. •Manage a frequently changing programme of work with tight deadlines responding to unexpected events, challenging idea, conflicting priorities smoothly in difficult and often forthright exchanges of views, adapting your approach to competing service needs. •Ability to undertake responsibility for delivery of an area of work, as opposed to a series of procurement projects or contracts with an area, dealing with matters of a complex area, taking a level of responsibility for delivery of that assigned area and providing professional challenge. •To apply advanced skills within a defined category to deliver on any aspect of industry recognised category management, procurement, and supply and/or contract management cycle activity, writing, reviewing and presenting business reports, performance dashboard and/or presentations for internal or external audiences. •To achieve and record relevant savings demonstrating your understanding of total costs, social value (whether economic, environmental, or social), community wealth building, inclusive economy, fairness, reduce inequality, achieve net zero carbon and any other corporate ambitions/targets, demonstrating skills across diverse disciplines. •To consider effective management of the supplier base which does not present unnecessary barriers and actively supports business growth for small and medium enterprises, local businesses, community, or employee-owned businesses, black and minority owned businesses and the voluntary sector. •To enhance and deliver on the category plans and strategies by delivering highly complex procurement and/or contract management activity as needed including at initiation; strategy and opportunity preparation; delivery including implementation; change and maintaining category needs; aligning, improving and enhancing strategies. •To be able to write and input in reports or actual procurement/contractual activity at a junior managerial level in line with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, Council and/or industry recognised relevant category, procurement and supply or contract management cycles. •To provide any relevant training as necessary to others. Skills/Experience: •Solid experience in a large organisation including a professional procurement and/or supply environment. •Experience finding/reviewing guidance and providing advice to remove barriers to participation. •Experience of using practical, theoretical and technical advanced knowledge to finding solutions to queries/issues across a range of different matters. •Experience using analysis, interpretation and evaluation to produce solutions for corporate ambitions or savings. •Experience delivering or supervising on procurement and supply; category or spend; or project related work. •Understanding of CIPS Global Standards for Procurement and Supply competency level ‘Managerial’. •Demonstrated ability to ensure quality of data inputted into systems and providing information to management. •Ability to handle high volume requests on-time and to the required standard, dealing with frequent challenges. •Demonstrated ability to deal with contentious matters with tact, persuasion and sensitivity. •Ability to support the creation, monitoring and implementation of new or existing policy and practice. •Demonstrated ability to challenge requests in a considered way that impact on others. •Demonstrated ability for the effective use of resources, making recommendations and understanding implications. •Demonstrated ability to cope with conflicting priorities and frequently changing demands. •Ability to work flexibly with work location, travel safely with equipment and work extended hours when needed •Ability to perform calmly in a considered way regularly in contentious and confrontation scenarios. •Demonstrated ability work with minimal support, requiring you demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills or aptitude in a range of specialist matters relevant to the post. •Ability to adhere to the Council’s Dignity for All policy. Additional Information: •Full-time role: 35 Hr/week. •Relevant academic subject qualification at Ofqual Level 4 (i.e., HNC or higher); and/or equivalent professional, vocational or technical qualification; and/or equivalent assessed professional accreditation. •Relevant personnel management or project management qualification from accredited college, university or institution at Ofqual RQF Level 4 (HNC) or higher level; or commitment to upskilling programme at level 4, being performance managed and in probation to achieve in 24 months.
Contract
Unqualified Senior Broker LBS-011
2-3 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: • This role involves working within the Access to Resources Team to ensure that children and young people are placed in suitable placements that meet their needs, helping them to achieve their full potential. • You will work proactively to secure appropriate placements, track referral patterns, and manage placement costs, ensuring the best outcomes for children and young people. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): • Placement Management: Ensure all children are placed in suitable placements, monitor referral patterns, and the use of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). Alert senior management to any risks or threats to sufficiency. • Referral & Placement Systems: Develop and manage systems to track referrals, placements, placement moves, and endings. Ensure that high-quality management information is available for planning and review. • Efficient Service Delivery: Deliver a responsive service alongside the Fostering Service. Keep all parties informed when placements are made and ensure children’s views are considered in the process. • Sourcing & Negotiating Placements: Source and negotiate suitable placements. Contribute information about the market for health to ensure the quality of services and maintain accurate records in Mosaic. • Cost Negotiation: Negotiate placement costs and support packages to ensure cost-effective placements. Ensure placement agreements and contracts are completed timely and financial activities are updated on Mosaic. • Foster Carer Payment Systems: Help put systems in place to ensure foster carers and providers are paid promptly and fairly, ensuring adherence to the Fostering Payment Policy. • Placement Monitoring & Reporting: Maintain an overview of all children waiting for placements. Monitor progress and alert senior managers to any risks to the sufficiency strategy. • Management Information: Ensure information systems are fit for purpose and generate high-quality management information to support decision-making and planning. • Resource Optimization: Maximize the use of Southwark’s fostering resources, minimising the use of external placements, and promoting the use of Friends and Family Placements where appropriate. • Market Knowledge & Best Practice: Stay updated on local and national changes in best practice for securing placements, including legislative changes and Ofsted guidance. • Professional Development: Provide professional guidance and support to less experienced social work colleagues and supervise social work students. Contribute to group and individual supervision to support evidence-informed decisions. • Case Records & Supervision: Maintain case records and management information on appropriate systems. Work independently with the ability to seek advice when necessary, contributing to professional resilience in decision-making. Skills/Experience: • Brokerage Experience: Must have experience as a broker, preferably within children’s services or a similar environment. • Placements Knowledge: Understanding of placement services and the dynamics of Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). • Negotiation Skills: Strong skills in negotiating placement costs and managing financial aspects of placements. • Case Management: Proficient in using case management systems like Mosaic and other placement tracking tools. • Communication: Excellent communication skills to keep all parties informed and to deliver high-quality professional guidance. • Problem-Solving: Ability to respond to complex and urgent placement issues in a fast-paced environment. Additional Information: • Hybrid role - 2 days/week and 5 days for the week when they are on duty.
Contract
Housing Choice & Applications Officer (G6)
5-6 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: •To provide a comprehensive end to end, seamless housing register and allocations service to Havering residents. •To carry out holistic assessments of housing needs and provide timely and appropriate advice, practical support and referrals in line with the Housing Allocation Policy. •To provide a customer-centred advice for those in housing need, enabling residents to make informed choices about housing options available to resolve their housing needs, including those who are not eligible to join the housing register. •To assess applicants’ eligibility for re-housing in conjunction with Housing Allocation Policy. •To allocate Council and Housing Association properties to meets a diverse range of needs from eligible residents. •To be pro-active in minimising void period on vacant Council and Housing Association properties by re-letting with minimum delays. •To process applications for tenants due to be ‘decanted’ from the regeneration programme estates and allocate suitable alternative accommodation to ensure •Take proactive steps to prevent and resolve crisis across the housing, health and social care agendas. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): •Experience of working in a housing register management and/or housing allocations setting. •Working knowledge of 1996 Housing Act Part VI in relation to accommodation and application of Housing Allocation Policy. •Knowledge of legislation and case law on security of tenure, relationship breakdown and domestic abuse; welfare benefits, including personal benefits and housing related benefits. •A general awareness of the different housing options available to residents. •Experience of assessing and interviewing vulnerable people, extracting sensitive information and providing excellent customer care. •Ability to deliver at pace and quickly to tight timescales •Ability to work on own initiative and manage own workload. •Ability to provide complex advice to customers verbally and in writing and write accurate and comprehensive decisions on own initiative in line with the Housing Allocation Policy •Ability to deal with complex and contentious cases and make bespoke recommendations to the line manager. •Ability to respond quickly and positively to changing work demands and conflicting priorities. •Ability to recognise when to seek timely guidance from service managers to prevent casework delays and prevent escalation of cases and complaints. •Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively engage with a diverse range of audiences, including senior managers, members, landlords, solicitors, partner agencies and vulnerable customers, in a courteous and professional manner. •Good IT skills, including databases to log and manage information and use of mobile and remote technology to communicate. •Ability to champion service developments and gain commitment and input from other colleagues across the service. •A good understanding of the local community, cultural diversity and the need to adapt services to enable equality of access to services. •Ability to constructively challenge in the workplace – but to also overcome obstacles and proactively find solutions. Skills/Experience: •Knowledge of the Housing Allocations Policy and the ability to assess applicants' eligibility for re-housing. •Experience in delivering accurate and realistic housing advice via personal, telephone, and written communication. •Ability to carry out comprehensive financial assessments and provide debt management support to residents. •Familiarity with making referrals to Housing Medical Advisers, Occupational Therapy teams, and other specialist services. •Experience advising residents on a wide range of housing options, including council housing, private renting, mortgage advice, and shared ownership. •Proficient in advising on tenancy support services such as income maximisation, debt advice, Discretionary Housing Payments, and Housing Benefit support. •Experience using identity/credit verification software to assess housing register applications. •Knowledge of managing the termination of tenancies, including liaising with customers and/or relatives. •Experience managing void properties, including lock changes and ensuring timely re-letting of properties. •Competence in conducting pre-tenancy checks and managing the offer of accommodation, including accompanying viewings and tenant sign-ups. •Ability to prepare and sign appropriate Tenancy Agreements or Licenses for customers. •Familiarity with managing a list of adapted properties and ensuring suitable lettings. •Experience identifying support needs of new tenants and referring them to relevant support services. •Ability to identify cases of fraud and misrepresentation and take appropriate action. •Strong understanding of statutory requirements, government guidance, and codes of conduct in housing services. •Experience resolving customer complaints and correspondence in line with council procedures. •Strong record-keeping skills, including maintaining written and computer records, reports, and monitoring information. •Ability to prioritize caseloads, meet deadlines, and organize work efficiently. •Experience driving innovation and implementing best practice solutions in housing services. •Demonstrated commitment to providing customer-focused service, ensuring "right first-time" housing advice. •Ability to promote service user involvement and support service delivery improvements. •Awareness of cost-consciousness and ability to implement cost-effective changes to work processes. •Experience completing CORE returns and contributing to service improvements. •Strong links with internal and external stakeholders to enhance service delivery and housing outcomes. •Ability to attend and represent the Housing Allocation & Choice Manager at multi-agency meetings. •Proven track record of meeting performance targets, including timely assessments, housing register reviews, and minimizing void periods. Additional Information: •The closing date: 31/03/2025 @00:00. •Primarily remote working.
Contract
Housing Register Officer (BR6)
6-7 months contract with a Local Authority Job Summary: •The officer will make decisions regarding priority and banding for each housing application, issue letters, and manage incoming correspondence. •They will process applications, including high-priority cases such as homeless individuals, leaving care clients, and those supported by the Resettlement Team. •The officer will also provide tailored housing advice, maintain accurate records, and assist with administrative tasks to support the housing service. Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample): •Make decisions on housing need assessments in line with the London Borough of Bromley Allocations Scheme and agreed policies and procedures. •Determine priority and banding for each application and issue letters in accordance with the Council’s procedures. •Process applications in compliance with the Council’s policies and procedures. •Assess and process high-priority move-on applications (e.g., homeless cases, leaving care clients, and support/resettlement team clients). •Handle both straightforward and complex customer queries via phone and in-person, ensuring accuracy and meeting agreed performance targets. •Provide tailored housing advice and information to customers, addressing their specific needs. •Actively participate in team meetings, working groups, service development, and reviews. •Operate and maintain Council computer equipment and IT systems, updating and amending records to ensure data is correct. •Stay updated on developments, options, and products within the housing sector, ensuring accurate and timely information is provided. •Assist in administrative tasks, including photocopying, distributing post, and supporting customers in completing forms. •Respond promptly to inquiries via phone, correspondence, or in person, meeting or exceeding the Council’s response targets. •Foster positive relationships with colleagues and external partners, including PCT, housing associations, housing providers, and voluntary agencies. •Perform general office administration tasks such as filing, clerical duties, and other related activities. Skills/Experience: •Previous experience in a housing-related role or similar public sector service environment. •Knowledge of the London Borough of Bromley Allocations Scheme and housing policy is desirable. •Ability to assess and process housing applications, including complex and high-priority cases. •Strong communication skills, including the ability to handle customer queries efficiently and accurately. •Experience in providing housing advice and information, particularly tailored to individual needs. •Competence in using IT systems for record-keeping and data management. •Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize tasks. •Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. •Proactive approach with a customer-focused attitude. •Flexibility and adaptability, including the ability to work remotely if required. Additional Information: •Full-time role: 35 Hr/week.
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