Specialist Accommodation Officer - Young People

Part Time - 18.5 hours per week

Gloucestershire's best place to work and 2023 Housing Heroes employer of the year? Yes, that's us. Awarded for our inclusive culture and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion? That's right. Shortlisted at National Healthy Housing Awards? You've guessed it.

The opportunity

It's an exciting time for us as we have recently acquired a new homeless property to support young people aged 18-25 at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping, which will be ready in January 2025.

Because of this, we're now seeking a Specialist Accommodation Officer -someone to be responsible for ensuring our young person's accommodation are safe, and well-maintained places to live.

Working closely with customers and their representatives, you'll support sustainable licenses by identifying a different proactive approach to resolving anti-social behaviour cases including a restorative approach. You'll facilitate and attend multi-agency case conferences and problem-solving groups, coordinating results and any actions required and conduct individual room inspections at the scheme, identify actions (e.g., Repairs, breaches) as appropriate and raise with the relevant team or external agency

Providing general and practical advice on housing related support queries, welfare benefits, crime prevention, and housing options, you'll be responsible for the effective case management to maximise income collection for the scheme. Recording and reporting all safeguarding concerns, incidents and sharing appropriately with the wider team and your manager, you'll manage all breaches of licenses effectively, ensuring that appropriate action is taken in accordance with the trauma informed approaches with an aim to sustain licences, only taking enforcement action as a last resort.

We'd like you to have

Proven understanding of delivering housing management functions and statutory housing services. Good understanding of housing and property management, especially in relation to licence agreements and the legal remedies. Experience of anti-social behaviour case management, income collection and relevant criminal and civil legislation. Experience dealing with customers with chaotic and complex needs sensitively in challenging circumstances. Understanding to prepare legal notices and witness statements. Experience or ability to use IT systems, including CRM, Teams, CCTV, mobile phones, digital cameras and PDA's, to gather, store and process information. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills with a strong customer focus. The ability to give accurate and up to date advice, information, and support on a broad range of topics including Housing and ASB legislation, welfare benefit legislation and advice. Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people or adults with multiple and complex needs. Current knowledge and understanding of relevant housing law in application within specialist housing, including experience of rent collection, ASB and enforcement action. Sound understanding of Safeguarding and the ability to identify safeguarding concerns and make referrals to appropriate agencies where required. Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion. Why us?

You may have sensed that we're not just any social housing provider. We look to do things differently to achieve our commitment to building a healthy, vibrant, and inclusive organisation that treats people with respect and creates opportunities for all.

We have strong community roots and an ambitious five-year strategy which we are refreshing right now. In the last year we have undergone significant change in our operating environment, regulatory framework and with the needs and expectations of customers and colleagues.

Application Information

We're interested to know about you, your skills and knowledge, and your motivations and how these align with our vision and values. To demonstrate this, please provide a CV and Personal Supporting Statement.

Closing date: 13 November 2024

Shortlisting will be carried out throughout the period of the advert and this closing date may be brought forward should we receive a large response from suitable candidates.

Interview Dates: Monday, 2 December and Tuesday, 3 December