Housing Allocations Officer - 4Recruitment Services : Job Details

4Recruitment Services are seeking  a Housing Allocations Officer for our client based in West Northamptonshire.You will be required to deliver an efficient and professional allocations service, ensuring the council’s Housing Register, allocation of accommodation within the council’s own stock and nominations to partner registered provider vacancies are administered in accordance with the Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme (policy), service procedures, national code of guidance and housing legislation (Part 6 of the Housing Act).  DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• To process complex and detailed correspondence and telephone enquiries in relation to housing allocations applications, including who can join the Council’s Housing Register, the banding scheme and what priority a customer may be awarded under the scheme and the provision of realistic advice on the availability of social housing and a customer’s housing options.
• Comprehensively assess, investigate and determine housing applications to join the Council’s Housing Register in terms of eligibility and qualification for social housing and level of priority awarded to those applicants that can join the Council’s Housing register in accordance with the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme and all relevant codes of guidance and legislation.
• Process applications where there is a medical need and assess the applicant’s basic medical condition in relation to their housing circumstances. Make decisions on the level of priority that should be awarded to the applicant and the type of property to best suit their needs. In particularly complex situations, make an appropriate referral to the Council’s specialist medical advisor for guidance and advice to inform decision-making.
• Ensure that investigations are robust and verification of all housing register applicants’ circumstances are completed in accordance with the agreed policy and procedures. This will require interviewing applicants both in their home and within locality hubs, such as council offices.
• Receive information about available properties from the Council’s ALMO and Registered Providers in the area and create adverts for regular choice-based lettings advertisement cycles (to make applicants on the Housing Register aware of the available properties that they can bid on).
• Responsible for allocation of properties through each choice-based letting cycle. Ensure that the shortlisting and nomination of applicants against properties is undertaken in an appropriate and timely way in accordance with the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme and in relation to prescribed nomination agreements. Ensure that any risks are properly assessed and escalated, as appropriate, in accordance with MAPPA, MARAC and any relevant safeguarding and/or health and safety procedures.
• Ensure all administrative records are updated promptly in accordance with the approved policy and procedures including annual reviews of housing applications and changes of circumstances of applicants.
• Work with other Council departments and external voluntary and statutory bodies to identify housing need and ensure that the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy is applied correctly to meet need.  Key stakeholders include Children’s Trust, Adult Social Care, Probation and Police.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:  

• Experience with a local housing authority or Registered Housing Provider in a customer service or Housing capacity.
• Experience of providing comprehensive advice and assistance on all housing matters and related issues, including accessing all forms of accommodation, including different tenures and supported accommodation.
• Conducting complex investigations, enquiries, interviews and casework management, with a focus on positive outcomes and preventing homelessness.
• Ability to interview applicants skilfully and sensitively to elicit as much information as possible, give the appropriate advice and make informed decisions.
• Ability to produce concise and persuasive written reports on complex issues.
• A thorough working knowledge and understanding of current housing law, such as the Housing Act 1996, Parts VI and VII, Homelessness Act 2002, Localism Act 2012, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and immigration law as it applies to housing eligibility, relevant code of guidance and case law.
• A working knowledge of local/regional/national policies in relation to allocations, nominations and meeting housing need.

A full JD is available upon request.What we offer:

• 24 hour one on one specialist consultant based within your geographical area
• 4Recruitment Services Employee Benefits Programme
• Our own dedicated payroll support ensuring you get the full benefits of your payment

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies, please contact our Team on or email  .