Homeless prevention officer

Homeless Prevention Officer The Homeless Prevention Officer will be based within the dynamic Housing Advice Service, providing critical housing-related advice to a diverse clientele. The primary objective of this role is to prevent homelessness by utilizing a wide range of tools and strategies. The officer will participate in multi-agency meetings to support the most vulnerable members of the community, ensuring the sustainability of tenancies and accommodation arrangements. Main Duties and Responsibilities 1. Homelessness Prevention: Proactively determine duties owed to applicants and prevent homelessness through timely and appropriate actions under current homeless legislation. 2. Develop and manage Personal Housing Plans. 3. Advice and Assistance: Deliver the Council rsquo;s statutory duty to provide advice and assistance to customers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 4. Front Line Service: Provide efficient and effective front line assessment and prevention service. 5. Accurately assess housing need and homelessness in line with housing legislation through various assessment methods, ensuring the Council #39;s legal duties are met. 6. Collaboration: Work with external partner agencies including Registered Providers, Private Rented, and Voluntary Sector to promote homelessness prevention. 7. Identify and implement multi-agency actions and solutions, aligning with customer expectations and needs. 8. Fairness and Equality: Continuously improve fairness and equality for customers, staff, and partners with regard to race, disability, gender, sexuality, religion, and age. 9. Teamwork: Collaborate with team members to meet deadlines and fulfill roles and responsibilities. 10. Assist in developing best practices for homelessness services and solutions. 11. Community Engagement: Engage actively with community groups, external partners, charities, and other organizations to reduce homelessness across the Borough. 12. Performance and Reporting: Meet individual and team performance targets.Maintain high standards of record keeping, report activity, and contribute to monitoring, review, and data management activities. 13. Meetings and Policies: Attend internal and external meetings as required. 14. Comply with Council policies and procedures, including health, safety, welfare, customer care, emergency, evacuation, and security protocols. 15. Flexibility: Work flexibly, including undertaking other duties appropriate to the employee rsquo;s background, skills, and abilities.Engage in personal development as needed. About You Essential Qualifications: * Level 3 qualification or equivalent in a housing-related field. * Minimum of 3 GCSEs, including English and Maths. Essential Skills, Knowledge, and Experience: * Proven experience in planning, organizing, and prioritizing workloads to meet performance targets and deadlines. * Experience working with vulnerable and homeless people, conducting client assessments and interviews. * Ability to make s.184 decisions for Homelessness Prevention, Relief, and Final Duty. * Understanding of issues faced by homeless individuals and adults at risk. * Ability to exercise sound judgment, solve problems, and seek advice as necessary. * Strong negotiation and conflict management skills. * Proactive and creative in finding solutions for various homelessness scenarios. * Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of presenting accurate information through case notes and emails. * Knowledge and experience of allocations processes and homelessness software. * Customer-focused, with an understanding of the needs of customers requiring additional support or referral. * Relevant experience in homelessness or housing management, with an understanding of the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2002, Localism Act 2011, and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017