Accommodation Assessment & Lettings Officer

Job Category : Housing
Location : Laurence House, Lewisham Council
Hours Per Week : 35.00
Start Date :Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £21.92

We are looking to recruit an officer responsible for the allocation of emergency temporary accommodation, setting up rent accounts and discharging interim and full housing duty.
The successful candidate will work within a team of officers and participate in a duty rota to fulfil the needs of the service. A good understanding of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 is required along with experience with delivering a front-line service to vulnerable clients. They will serve as a point of contact for clients placed in emergency accommodation ensuring that appropriate offers of accommodation are made and all queries are responded to in a timely manner.

Knowledge
Excellent knowledge and detailed understanding of Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and other
relevant housing and homelessness legislation, case law and guidance S
Knowledge of Landlord and Tenant Legislation, the Housing Act 1985 and Protection from
Eviction Act 1977 S
Suitability and affordability assessments for accommodation provided under homelessness
provisions S
Up to date knowledge of the welfare benefit system and its application- S
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System
Good knowledge of the management of voids and lettings practices
Comprehensive understanding of the needs of vulnerable people and how their needs can be
met, including their social, emotional and wellbeing needs- S
Aptitude
Ability to maintain databases and work effectively with IT systems S
Aptitude for working creatively and acting on own initiative.
Committed to continuous service improvement
Ability to prioritise competing demands in a pressurised environment, recognize
service priorities and manage a high workload within agreed targets.
Ability to meet performance targets and deliver positive outcomes.
Ability to liaise with professional staff from across the Council and with partners
Ability to take a proactive role in reviewing and developing working practices in order
to continually improve service delivery.
Aptitude for utilising new technology to help develop the service.
Skills
(Skills can only be used as shortlisting criteria if the skill is to be tested)
(To Be Tested – S)
Excellent prioritisation and problem solving skills
Excellent customer care skills
Excellent negotiating and influencing skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to understand and explain both
local policies and statutory legislation S
Experience
Experience of working in a customer demand led business in the public or private sector S
Experience of dealing sensitively with distressed or challenging customers/service users S
Experience of working with landlords and managing agents to access void properties and to refer
clients S
Experience of administrative systems and office work S
Experience of responding to correspondence and resolving complaints S
Effectively programming/prioritising/planning own workload
Experience of achieving performance targets and meeting departmental performance objectives
Self-motivated and able to work with a caseload to achieve targets and continuous improvement
S
To think flexibly and broadly, approaching situations from many perspectives S
General Education
Good standard of education to include Maths and English GCSE Grade C and above or
equivalent experience.