Housing And Compliance Officer

BCOP (Broadening Choices for Older People) was founded as a charity in 1946 to provide a variety of services for older people.   Today it continues to provide a range of accommodation, care and support, including independent and supported housing, care homes with nursing and Day Care places within our care homes.

About You

• Experience of working within housing management
• Previous experience in positively resolving incidents
• Working knowledge of housing law and benefit systems

Role Profile

Deliver an Allocation & Letting Service:

• Liaise with external stakeholders to deliver an effective referral pathway into the service/properties
• Ensure occupancy targets are met, through lettings and refurbishment of empty properties in line with the scheme’s re-allocation procedures
• Allocate properties ensuring customers meet the criteria, affordability and required landlord checks
• Meet with customers to provide practical support with setting up a new tenancy, ensuring all documents are complete and liaising with external stakeholders if required
• Show new customers the accommodation and communal amenities, clearly communicating tenant responsibilities and Compliance to enable them to fulfil and maximize their tenancy
• Liaise with the Tenant Support Officer (supported services) to consider existing dynamics and needs within the service, and ensure the most appropriate accommodation is offered to applicants.
• Visit new customers to make sure they are settling into their accommodation and are being supported to follow their tenancy agreement

Deliver a Housing Management Service:

• Produce/complete tenancies and explain requirements to new customers, manage all tenancy issues and complete appropriate records to enable the resolution/termination of tenancies where appropriate
• Undertake day-to-day housing management duties, ensuring high standards of cleanliness are maintained within services and that rooms are prepared, ready for site inspections
• Respond to arrears in a timely way, writing to residents as soon as arrears occur, with clear breakdown of any HB owed – whilst clarifying ultimate responsibility of the debt, creating repayment plans with the resident and supporting them to meet their obligations. Where all support action has failed, to proactively progress to issue notices as applicable.
• Proactively support independent customers experiencing issues that may put their accommodation at risk; work closely with the Tenant Support Officer in supported schemes so that they may deliver a tenancy sustainment advice service to support customers to maintain their accommodation, e.g. claiming correct benefits.
• Where appropriate issuing warnings and Notices to Determine/Quite or Notices of Seeking Possession (NTDs/NTQs/NSPs) in consultation with Housing and Charitable Services Manager and in line with the tenancy requirements.
• Prepare files and case notes in readiness for court
• Work directly with customers to monitor or reduce issues of anti-social behaviour within the service
• Meet regularly with customers to discuss ways to improve their accommodation, promoting involvement and consultation on matters impacting their housing
• Ensure the safety of our customers by recognizing and acting on any risk by following local safeguarding procedures and escalating appropriately
• Monitor and assist in maintaining health and safety requirements standards

Support the Maintenance and Asset Management service:

• Be responsible for ensuring empty properties are referred to Asset colleagues for void works, following the void procedure to ensure rooms are ready-to-let
• Report and monitor the delivery of reactive repairs within properties to ensure they are maintained and health and safety compliant
• Liaise with contractors and colleagues around planned maintenance programs, ensuring that on-site delivery is well coordinated and in line with customer requirements
• Provide an administration service to Asset colleagues, ensuring works completion reports, invoices, quotes and other documents are processed and filed appropriately.

Deliver an Administration Service:

• Carryout administrative tasks to support efficient running of the service
• Produce reports and other written documentation as required to support housing management delivery
• Maintain and update clear, accurate and strength-based records on the appropriate digital platform

Other Information

• You will be required to work flexible hours to meet customer and business needs, which may not include normal office hours
• You will be required to travel to different properties within the defined area as and when required
• Use the Lone Worker system as and when necessary
• Ensure customers are safe at all times - carrying out all of your duties within BCOP’s Policy and Procedure framework e.g. health & safety, safeguarding, dignity at work, GDPR
• Deliver your role in line with BCOP company values
• Participate in team meetings, attend regular supervisions and appraisals
• Undertake regular training and take responsibility for continuous development to enable you to deliver your role safely
• From time to time you may be required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities in consultation with your Line Manager

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of working within housing management
• Experience of dealing with/organize property repairs and statutory compliance data
• Be a team player with a caring, empathetic, flexible and have a resilient, can-do attitude.
• Previous experience in positively resolving incidents
• Demonstrate initiative and confidence to make and act on decisions
• Competent administrative and IT skills (to be able to produce reports and other communications)
• Full Driving License and access to a car.

Desirable

• Knowledge of current benefit systems
• Knowledge of Housing regulations
• Experience of working in challenging environments with the ability to plan, prioritise, organise tasks to achieve results 
• Experience of working within a care & support environment
• Experience of working with the ‘big 6’ compliance streams – Fire, Legionella, Electrical, Gas, Asbestos, Lifts.