Housing Advisor (Temporary Accommodation) - REQ006139

Job title: Housing Advisor (Temporary Accommodation)

Salary: C3 £32,061 - £33,669

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

Leeds City Council has been allocated a Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant, with funding confirmed for the next three years.

We are pleased to be recruiting to 8 C3 posts across the Housing Options service, this will strengthen the support we offer to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. These roles will enhance our capacity in key operational areas, including:

Advice & Assessment
Leaving institution Team (e.g. prisons)
Temporary Accommodation Outreach

Successful candidates will be matched to the role that best aligns with their skills, strengths and experience. All positions play a vital part in improving outcomes for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

About the Roles

Postholders will work within our busy Housing Options service, delivering high‑quality housing advice and taking an active role in preventing and relieving homelessness. Depending on the specific post, duties may include:

Providing face‑to‑face and telephone housing advice
Managing caseloads in line with homelessness legislation
Conducting homelessness assessments and producing legally compliant decision letters
Working directly with temporary accommodation providers to support move‑on and reduce placement durations
Supporting people leaving prison to secure safe and sustainable housing
Supporting C1 Housing Advisors through day‑to‑day guidance, advice and mentoring
Assisting with elements of managing the front‑facing service, ensuring smooth delivery and a positive customer experience
Working in partnership with internal and external agencies across the city and managing dedicated homelessness prevention pathways for example; those coming through the criminal justice system.

You will be joining a committed, supportive team where high standards, partnership working and person‑centred practice are central to what we do.

About You

We are looking for individuals who:

Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
Can work confidently with vulnerable people and those displaying challenging behaviour
Have strong problem‑solving and analytical skills
Can manage a varied and fast‑paced workload
Are resilient, compassionate and committed to delivering excellent public service
Work well in a multi‑agency environment
Have an understanding of homelessness legislation, safeguarding and equality principles

Experience in housing, support work, customer‑facing environments, or similar roles is desirable, but full training will be provided.

What We Offer

A supportive working environment committed to learning and development
Opportunities to gain specialist knowledge across multiple areas of homelessness prevention
The chance to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives
Access to the full range of Leeds City Council employee benefits

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

The post holder will take lead responsibility for managing a portfolio of approximately 150 emergency access and other supported housing units commissioned by the Council as temporary accommodation for homeless people. The post holder will be responsible for the timely and appropriate move-on from these units, taking lead responsibility for all aspects ofbthe re-housing process, to ensure that homeless people can be re-housed as swiftly as possible, placements are minimised and the cost to the Council of temporary accommodation placements is closely controlled. The post holder will also be responsible for liaising with commissioned services to determine the suitability of referrals to the temporary accommodation units. In addition to the above, the post holder will also undertake the standard Housing Advisor functions including offering housing advice to prevent or relieve homelessness and carrying out assessments of housing need/duty in accordance with the statutory framework. The post holder will be based with the Leeds Housing Options Service.

Responsibilities:

Take lead responsibility for case managing a portfolio of approximately 150 emergency and temporary accommodation units commissioned by the Council
Take lead responsibility for delivering swift move on from the commissioned temporary accommodation including all aspects of the re-housing process
Lead on the day to day contact with the commissioned temporary accommodation service providers
Be responsible for providing regular updates to service management on placements made, move-ons achieved and total number of placements
Deliver a face to face housing options service, in accordance with Part VII of the 1996
Housing Act (as amended) to people who are homeless, threatened with homelessness or in some of housing need, at a variety of locations including the Leeds Housing Options Service at Merrion House.
Deliver a telephone based, or using other mediums such as email, housing options service
Take responsibility for caseload of homeless and housing need cases
Carry out homeless and other additional need assessments in accordance with Part VI and Part VII of the 1996 Housing Act (as amended)
Write homeless decision letters in accordance with the legal framework
Liaise with supported housing and other temporary accommodation providers to secure suitable temporary accommodation for people owed such a housing duty
Help people to secure private rented options through the Private Sector Lettings scheme and through other routes such as requesting a Homeless Prevention Fund payment
Help people to access mediation services as required
Help young people to access youth mediation services as required
Help people to access Sanctuary scheme funding as required
Help deliver a mortgage and tenancy advice service as required
Prepare Homeless Prevention Fund applications as required
Assist service managers in the quality assurance of service delivery by providing case work information held in case files or IT systems, decision letters and financial payments
Help develop partnering arrangements between the Leeds Housing Options Service and other public, private and third sector organisations
Work flexibly to help deliver an effective Housing Options Service
Attend meetings and forums as required relating to the delivery of the Housing Options Service
Undertake any other duties as required commensurate with the responsibilities and grade of the post
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and Equality & Diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Skills Required

Demonstrate evidence of problem solving, analytical and social skills required to provide a housing options service to vulnerable people
Demonstrate excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
Ability to use a range of ICT applications including Word and email and to be able to word process reports
Ability to extract and analyse information sourced from different ICT systems
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to work in partnership with a range of public, private and third sector organisations
Ability to identify support needs
Ability to identify safeguarding concerns and escalate them appropriately
Ability to deal with people who are displaying challenging behaviour
Ability to take lead responsibility for managing a portfolio of approximately 150 temporary accommodation units

Knowledge Required

Awareness of housing options law and policy
Awareness of the needs of homeless people and others in housing need
Awareness of services in Leeds for homeless people and others in housing need
Knowledge and understanding of Equal Opportunities law and policy
Awareness of safeguarding policy and practice

Experience Required

Experience of working in a busy team environment
Experience of working in a multi-agency partnership environment
Experience of writing and reports
Experience of working with homeless and other people in housing need

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Commitment to working with homeless and other people in housing need
Commitment to adhere to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy
Willingness to adhere and take personal responsibility under theCouncil’s Health and Safety Policies
Willingness to engage in training

Apply for this job