12 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

• To deliver an effective, professional homelessness prevention and assessment service on behalf of the Council. The role aims to reduce homelessness and the use of temporary accommodation by providing early intervention, high‑quality advice, and statutory homelessness assessments in line with the Housing Act 1996 (Part 7), the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and relevant case law. The postholder will act as a key point of contact within the Gateway Service, resolving customer needs at first contact wherever possible and working collaboratively with partners to prevent homelessness.
  

Key Duties/Accountabilities

• Resolve customer housing needs at first point of contact within the Gateway Customer Service Team.
  
• Undertake statutory homelessness applications, assessments, and decision‑making in accordance with legislation and statutory guidance.
  
• Develop, implement, and regularly review Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs) to prevent or relieve homelessness.
  
• Provide advice on tenancy sustainability, including rent arrears, Discretionary Housing Payments, under‑occupation schemes, mutual exchange, and Housing Benefit support.
  
• Act as a local intelligence lead for key homelessness presentation trends within the borough.
  
• Engage and build effective working relationships with internal services and external partners to explore alternative housing solutions.
  

Essential Experience Required

• Experience of working effectively within a team environment.
  
• Experience of maintaining accurate and high‑quality electronic records.
  
• Experience of meeting performance targets and working to deadlines.
  

Essential Qualifications Required

• Strong understanding of inner‑city housing issues and access to social housing.
  
• Working knowledge of housing legislation, including homelessness, lettings, private sector housing, and tenants’ rights.
  
• Awareness of services, benefits, and support available to people experiencing housing difficulties.
  

Additional information to note

• Working Hours: 36 hours per week
  
• 2 days remote, 3 days in the office.
  
• HASS, Ground Floor, 17-19 Bournemouth Road, Southwark, Surrey, SE154UJ, United Kingdom
  
• We work on bi-weekly schedule.
  

The role closes on 17^TH April 2026, apply ASAP.