Housing Advice & Early Intervention Officer

Job Category: Housing
Location: Laurence House, Lewisham Council
Hours Per Week: 35.00
Start Date: Immediate Start
End Time: 17:00
Salary: £18.28

Main Purpose of the job:
• To act as the first point of contact for clients and others presenting to the service.
• To undertake initial triage assessments to identify support and housing need for clients who may be vulnerable with complex needs.

• To provide an efficient, person centred, information, advice, guidance, intervention, assessment, assistance and practical support service to residents, enabling them to make informed choices in relation to their housing needs and signpost as necessary.
• To carry out holistic assessments of housing, health and social care needs, providing appropriate interventions and referrals, with the aim of minimising avoidable escalation to homelessness and use of higher level statutory and crisis service provision.

• To provide advice information and assistance in regards to housing options and services available.
• To coordinate referrals to other services where appropriate. To ensure that all client details are logged and updated accurately.
• To carry out administrative duties to ensure efficient service delivery.

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of housing related support services
• Knowledge of the housing options approach to homelessness prevention.
• Knowledge of the support needs of vulnerable adults in housing need. Knowledge of support services available to vulnerable adults.
• Good Knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (as amended)

Aptitude:
• Analytical thinking and judgment
• Managing self and relationships with others
• Creativity and innovation
• Personal effectiveness
• Ability to deliver excellent customer service outcomes for clients.

Skills:
• Ability to focus on service priorities in a pressurised and high-profile environment.
• Ability to apply the principles of diversity and equality in service provision.
• Ability to build up and maintain a network of external contacts who can help achieve service goals.
• Ability to use IT systems to support the achievement of goals.

• Ability to develop new ideas and practically implement them to solve problems and bring about improvements to services and resources.
• Excellent communication and customer care skills
• Excellent communication skills- verbally and written.

Experience:
• Experience of working with vulnerable customers
• Experience of working within an outcome focused service Experience of working with IT systems.
• Experience of carrying out administrative duties for a service. Experience of dealing with and managing challenging behaviour.

General Education:
• Good level of general education
• Personal Qualities
• Motivated, adaptable and accurate
• Able to influence others.
• Able to work as part of a wider, corporate team.