Temporary Accommodation Officer

My client requires a Temporary Accommodation Officer for an initial four month interim placement based in Northampton.

As a Temporary Accommodation Officer you will support tenants from the moment they move into accommodation advising them of the full range of affordable housing options and ensure that residents of Temporary Accommodation receive the help they need to sustain their accommodation, pay their rent and move on as quickly as possible.

Duties will include;

• Complete Temporary Accommodation sign-ups, ensuring that every homeless household is given the necessary advice and guidance regarding their accommodation including rent, licence conditions and housing benefit.
• Liaise with local guesthouses and nightly paid providers to ensure that accommodation offered is maintained to the correct standard and that households booked in are residing there as expected.
• Complete data entry associated with accommodation placements to ensure that records on various housing systems are up to date and accurate.
• Conduct visits to units of accommodation in line with the Council's policies and procedures to make sure that properties are not abandoned, are maintained in good condition as well as dealing, responding to or aiming to prevent instances of antisocial behaviour.
• Aim to minimise a customer's stay in Temporary Accommodation, supporting them on to the housing register and helping them manage payments to their rent account, ensuring housing benefit claims are submitted with correct documentation to ensure prompt payment and where appropriate negotiate payment plans to clear the build-up of arrears
• To work collaboratively with other members of the team, the wider service, partners and agencies to ensure that those homeless households residing in Temporary Accommodation are supported with hope of reaching positive outcomes.

Applicants must have experience of working in Temporary Accommodation signs up with experience of tenancy management, creation of rent accounts, dealing with antisocial behaviour and administration. Previous experience working within homelessness with vulnerable or challenging customers yet able to provide advice and information face-to-face and over the telephone.

This is an interim role with a minimum of four months duration.

Applicants must have an Enhanced DBS on the update service.