Housing Advice & Homeless Prevention Officer

Posted 11 September 2025
Salary 30
LocationHillingdon UB10 United Kingdom
Job type Full time
Sector Community & Social
ReferenceRQ1596629

Job description

3 months contract with local authority

The role involves delivering comprehensive housing options advice to individuals, focusing on security of tenure, low-cost home ownership, and homelessness prevention. The position requires managing a caseload across housing options, move-on, and homeless prevention, supporting clients in accessing various housing solutions, and making referrals to other services when necessary. The post-holder must ensure compliance with statutory requirements and contribute to achieving local team targets through effective case management.

Responsibilities


  • Provide proactive housing options advice, including security of tenure and low-cost home ownership.
  • Prevent homelessness by investigating household circumstances and conducting statutory assessments.
  • Manage a caseload across housing options, move-on, and homeless prevention.
  • Support and guide clients to access a broad range of housing options and make relevant referrals.
  • Ensure statutory requirements are met and local team targets are achieved.
  • Deliver professional, responsive, and individualized service to residents requiring housing advice.
  • Provide holistic, informed, and accurate housing advice to all service approaches.
  • Empower residents to independently manage their housing situations and make informed choices.
  • Advise potentially homeless clients on available benefits and assistance.
  • Assess and determine applications from homeless households under the Housing Act 1996.
  • Maintain high standards of record-keeping and adhere to agreed procedures.
  • Stay informed about housing legislation, policies, and case law.
  • Communicate effectively with staff, customers, and stakeholders to manage expectations.
  • Represent the service at meetings and contribute to strategy and policy development.
  • Detect and prevent fraudulent housing applications and refer cases to the Counter Fraud Team.
  • Investigate complaints and ensure corporate standards are met.


Requirements

Requirements:

  • Expertise in housing options, including low-cost home ownership and homelessness prevention.
  • Ability to manage casework using knowledge of legislation and established networks.
  • Experience in developing relationships with private sector landlords and agents.
  • Ability to engage with various teams and services to deliver a seamless service.
  • Skills in identifying and managing safeguarding concerns and risks.
  • Experience in providing expert advice on security of tenure and managing complex cases.
  • Ability to build effective working relationships with social care and external partners.
  • Understanding of social care legislative requirements as they affect housing.
  • Capability to investigate and discharge the Council’s homeless duty appropriately.