Placement Officer

Job purpose

To manage movement into, and out of, the council's temporary accommodation - having regard for best use of stock and resources, as well as the specific needs of the client. To manage issues arising throughout the duration of all placements, including repairs, transfers and anti-social behaviour.

Principal accountabilities

1. To allocate accommodation, making best use of stock, based on assessment information and within policy and procedure. Whilst also Maintaining a fair and consistent system of prioritising customers for types of accommodation and 'in area' accommodation according to customer needs and in line with organisation policy.
2. To prepare all tenancy and licence agreements, plus Housing Benefit claims applications and communicate appropriate information including viewings, to customers in order to place homeless households in temporary accommodation with flexibility of working longer hours and under pressure to ensure that statutory duties are fulfilled in a timely manner.
3. Consider specific risks and safeguarding issues associated with vulnerable clients and clients with complex needs in order to suitably place in temporary accommodation.
4. To effectively, and holistically, manage all tenancies and licences; actioning any issues as they arise. This includes monitoring tenants use of temporary accommodation, establishing cases of abandonment and taking appropriate action, actioning reports from providers regarding anti-social behaviour etc, serving warning letters, actioning reports from residents of damage or disrepair etc.
5. Report maintenance and property management problems and liaise with customers and property managers to ensure that the problems are resolved within an appropriate and agreed timescale. Also carry out regular in-person property inspections, inspecting the condition of the internal and external areas and the common parts, ensuring that the residents are complying with the terms and conditions of their licence and that property management companies are fulfilling their contractual obligations.
6. To establish, develop and sustain effective working relationships with internal teams and external organisations, working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for customers and achieve service objectives including; sustaining tenancies, effectively tackling anti-social behaviour, nuisance and harassment and addressing rent and service charge arrears.
7. To maintain accurate records for tenants and tenancies on relevant computer systems, including setting up cases and resources, recording any changes of circumstances, maintaining records necessary to monitor voids, and making full reports of all visits and enquiries. To interrogate the housing management computer system and other statistical information on computerised databases ensuring adherence with confidentiality and GDPR.
8. Maintain a working knowledge of BHCCs allocation policies, and the legal framework these sit within e.g.: Housing Act 1996. Keep abreast of organisational and national policy changes relating to housing and homelessness - including provisions regarding the accommodation suitability standards. Provide advice and information to customers, external agencies and other BHCC teams on accommodation options and on our statutory housing duties.
9. To identify when to refer to other specialist teams for casework intervention and/ or refer to non-statutory services due to concerns regarding child protection, mental health, safeguarding, self-neglect and illness, and ensuring referrals are made in a timely manner.
10. To effectively manage the re-connection of left belongings with former residents and lead on the process of removal, storage and eventual disposal (where necessary) of belongings left by former residents, in accordance with legislation and agreed procedures.
11. To accurately scrutinise and verify provider invoices (eg spot-purchased accommodation, Council Tax, storage and removal costs etc) for payment.
12. To make initial investigations with providers and third parties to help determine whether notice needs to be served to end a tenancy. Prepare the notice to quit (for authorisation by senior management) and certificate of service documentation and serve this on the resident at the address. Monitor expiration date of notices and make enquiries to determine whether the resident has left upon expiry. In cases where the resident has not left, collate all correspondence and case file notes to create a timeline of events and populate a witness statement- assisting Legal Services with preparation for court action. Attend Court to field questions as they arise and, on occasion, present evidence. Where possession is granted, prepare Bailiff's risk assessments.

Job-related education, qualifications, and knowledge

• Knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 (specifically parts VI & VII), Homeless Reduction Act 2017, Homelessness Act 2002, Localism Act 2011, Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and other relevent legislation. Familiarity with the current Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities.
• Knowledge of main welfare benefits and housing benefits
• A broad understanding of the responsibilities of tenants, landlords and other accommodation providers.
• An awareness of the impact of changes in national policy on accommodation solutions.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation relating to accommodation provision

Experience

• Experience of using communication skills to provide a customer focussed service.
• Experience of managing customer expectations with sensitivity and clarity
• Experience of providing advice and information to customers who may approach under difficult circumstances.
• Experience of assessing housing need.
• Recent experience of working within a high pressure, customer orientated environment.
• Experience of working within a team including providing flexible cover for colleagues
• Experience of using, interrogating and applying a variety of Information Technology packages, databases, spreadsheets and word processors.

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.