HOST Casework Officer – HALTED

We are currently recruiting for a HOST Casework Officer in London.

Pay rate: PAYE £20.29 per hour/UMB £26.06 per hour.

Contract duration: Temporary ongoing.

Purpose:

• To provide homelessness prevention, housing options and bespoke service to those single clients homeless or threatened with homelessness.
• To assist and guide single clients with support needs to make appropriate choices reading their housing pathways.
• To ensure that single clients receive, either directly or through relevant partners, appropriate advice on their housing options that offer alternatives to the making of a homeless application.
• To ensure that all enquiries and cases are progressed speedily and efficiently and that all set targets are achieved.
• To ensure excellent customer service standards are maintained.

Duties: 

• Use a dedicated assessment tool to determine the most appropriate form of supported accommodation for single clients.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of team plans and other relevant council plans and strategies so that targets and performance requirements are met.
• Effectively communicate the Council’s duties and policies to customers and partner organisations directly, in writing and through customer information.
• Provide detailed customer care letters to clients setting out advice given and the agreed housing pathway where homelessness cannot be prevented.
• Write s184 decision letters.
• Be the contact point for one or more local hostel providers and to develop excellent working practices between them and the council.
• Make recommendations on the use of temporary discretionary accommodation pending a supported hostel placement.
• Develop and share a comprehensive network of contacts across the public, private and voluntary sectors to improve partnership working.
• Work with supported housing providers to determine suitable placements having regard to the needs and requests of the clients.
• Hold a caseload of single clients from first referral to HOST to satisfactory and appropriate housing solutions.
• Ensure all housing options casework is clearly and appropriately documented.
• Record data and statistical information accurately and on time.
• Represent the Council at joint assessment, casework, hospital discharge and probation meetings.
• To contribute to the setting and achievement of HOST’s KPIs, targets and objectives.

Qualifications/Experience: 

• The ability to deliver homelessness prevention and housing option solutions with these being tailored to diverse communities and differing customer needs.
• The ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a good standard, giving advice and information sensitively and persuasively.
• The ability to negotiate both with homeless people and on their behalf to broker housing solutions.
• Experience of working in a busy customer-oriented environment, delivering excellent customer service.
• Excellent IT skills, with the ability to use a range of databases and MS Word and EXCEL to produce a wide range of letters and documents and MS Outlook to process the full range of email and diary functions.

Apply online or contact Terri O’Keefe on 07879 585551. You can also email terri@peelsolutions.co.uk  for more information on this role.