Job description

Conduct thorough and timely reviews of homelessness decisions in accordance with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, including part VI reviews of Housing register assessments and housing offers through choice based lettings
Manage cases that go to section 204 appeal in the County Court and to further appeal in the higher courts, as well as judicial reviews and other housing court challenges
Reduce the need for temporary accommodation and resulting expenditure by ensuring effective and timely reviews, while also providing high-quality options, prevention, and relief advice as part of reviews casework
Take responsibility for recording high-quality, key data on all types of reviews to support submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government, ensuring availability of information on homelessness and allocations for local analysis
Play a key role in providing housing advice and homelessness services to vulnerable customers in compliance with relevant legislation
Utilize comprehensive knowledge of housing advice and homelessness legislation, welfare benefits, and adult & children social care to support customers and achieve positive outcomes
Work collaboratively with customers to resolve their housing problems and identify effective solutions proactively
Be innovative, dynamic, and solutions-focused in pursuing all available housing options to prevent homelessness
Contribute to the ongoing development and design of the service and solutions for customers
Manage all aspects of own casework, including keeping detailed case notes, liaising with customers and their advocates, and responding to correspondence within target and to a very high standard
Provide necessary input on cases appealed in the County Court and beyond, preparing witness statements and responses to appeal as required
Make appropriate decisions on requests for interim accommodation pending review or county court appeal
Support the response to emergency judicial review applications and work with Legal Services to defend all legal challenges
Conduct reviews of suitability of temporary accommodation, private rented sector offers, and discharges of the homelessness duty
Fully consider customers' vulnerability under relevant housing and care legislation
Effectively assess customers' support needs, record and act on these, and make referrals for resettlement support as required
Contribute to the development of high-quality Personalised Housing Plans
Assess customers' support needs and make referrals for resettlement support as required
Contribute to the development of the reviews service as a member of the team
Make recommendations for housing assistance through the bond and incentive scheme and prevention payments
Prepare effective responses to Members Enquiries, Complaints, and Ombudsman Enquiries, Freedom

Reviews Officer

Reviews Officer

Job description

Hoang Nguyen