Berry Recruitment are currently looking for a Housing Advisor to work on a 6-month contract located near Stratford-upon-Avon.
As a Housing Advisor, your responsibility is to prevent and relieve homelessness by helping customers retain their current accommodation or, where that's not possible, securing suitable alternative housing options.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities include:
- Deliver statutory homelessness duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, including prevention and relief of homelessness and where not possible accept main duty.
- Assess and investigate cases for customers who are homeless or at risk, determining the Council's legal obligations.
- Create and review personalised housing plans, ensuring timely decisions and accurate record-keeping.
- Provide comprehensive housing options advice, including retaining accommodation, securing alternatives, debt and welfare advice, and resolving landlord-tenant disputes.
- Liaise with internal teams and external partners (e.g., social services, voluntary sector, landlords) to coordinate support and housing solutions.
- Negotiate emergency accommodation arrangements, manage costs, and liaise with internal teams e.g Housing Benefits.
- Advise landlords on legal responsibilities, preventing harassment and illegal eviction.
- Participate in multi-agency meetings, where housing is a key issue.
- Administer private rented and financial assistance schemes, including property inspections and compliance checks.
- Provide out-of-hours homelessness service on a rota basis.
- Ensure safeguarding compliance, health and safety awareness, and contribute to an inclusive workplace culture.
Previous experience/Qualifications required:
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills; able to build trust and engage effectively with customers and partners.
- Problem-solving and negotiation ability; skilled at overcoming barriers and finding practical housing solutions.
- Empathy and resilience; supportive yet assertive when working with vulnerable individuals in challenging situations.
- Organisational and case management skills; capable of handling a varied caseload and meeting statutory deadlines.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively; adaptable, flexible, and proactive in a team environment.
- Commitment to safeguarding and equality, ensuring a positive and inclusive service.
- Good IT proficiency for accurate record-keeping and case management using systems like Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Experience of dealing with people facing difficult circumstances.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team, manage time well and to work effectively under pressure and to deadlines.
- Ability to work in partnership, network, influence, problem solve, overcome barriers and apply solution focused approaches.
- Understanding of homelessness and the housing challenges people face.
- Experience of working in a housing environment.
- Experience of working with young people and people experiencing domestic abuse.
Please note, this role is for a 6 month period and home visit across the district may be required.
Working hours are: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Hybrid working is available.
For further information, please contact Lauren at Berry Recruitment- based at the King's Lynn branch.
We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. All applicants will be considered on the basis of their skills, experience, qualifications and ability to perform the role, and no applicant will be treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.
