Housing & Homelessness Support Assistant - Homeless Triage Officers

Housing & Homelessness Support Assistant
£34,416 - £35,448 per annum

About the Job

Homelessness in London is a big problem with more than 6500 households approaching London Borough of Newham alone last year. Homelessness is as a result of private sector evictions, it’s the result of overcrowded families, it’s the result of domestic abuse.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is new to the world of homelessness, but who has a passion for making a positive difference to people’s lives.  Homelessness can be a challenging career path, but also one that brings great rewards.  This can be the start of an exciting journey for years to come.

The role can be challenging but also rewarding. The right candidates have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of hundreds of residents across Newham.

This is an excellent role for starting a career in housing, with clear opportunities for progression.

Interesting, challenging, fulfilling and never boring.

You will be expected to:

• Be available at the Stratford and Canning Town Housing Hubs up to 3 days a week to provide assistance for vulnerable residents who are not able to use other methods of communication or require a greater level of assistance to access the Service.
• Triage applications for households who are either homeless or threatened with homelessness, contributing to the Council fulfilling its statutory duties set out within Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended).
• Ensure individuals and families, who may be vulnerable, have multiple complex needs, and in a state of heighted anxiety, are able to proceed with a homeless assessment, making sure all applications are supported with the appropriate documentation and evidence, provided in a timely manner.
• Provide consistent and professional messages regarding realistic housing options, are given to clients from the first point of contact. 
• Maintain high levels of good customer care and empathy throughout. We may not always be able to give people what they want, but we should always be honest and treat them with respect, in consideration of their situation.

About You

You will be expected to have a broad understanding of the housing issues facing a high demand London local authority and to possess the following skills, abilities and experiences:

• Dealing with a diverse and vulnerable clientele either face-to-face, on the phone or through email.
• Work within a pressurised and high profile office environment, supporting a wider team and ensuring the provision a quality customer care.
• Understand the value of achieving performance targets in order to meet the wider departmental objectives.
• Use a wide range of IT systems, including databases, spreadsheets and word documents.
• Providing high levels of customer care.
• Follow processes, procedures and policy, with a good eye for detail and accurate recording.
• Possess the desire for continual learning and development

What Newham can Offer

We've been working hard to make Newham a great place to work.  We will offer you:

• A competitive package of up to £33,957
• Flexible working arrangements and the opportunity to work from home at least 2 days a week
• Tailored support and training for officers who wish to progress to more senior roles within the homelessness prevention service
• Smarter Working with new modern technology
• Permanent and stable senior leadership with a consistent vision.
• Wellbeing service, leisure and discount benefits (Council scheme).
• Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension.

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement through our recruitment portal. The supporting statement should demonstrate how you meet the relevant requirements listed in the person specification section of the job description. This should be no more than 2 sides of A4. Applications without a statement are unlikely to be shortlisted.

Please view JD here

Closing date: 10th February 2025

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.