Central is currently recruiting for a Housing Support Officer, to work across Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster areas. The service provides flexible housing support to tenants with mental health and learning disabilities in the community.

The successful candidate will be required to work 37.5 hours per week, working across Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM. Some flexibility is required to occasional start earlier or finish later. Temporary cover is required for approximately 1-2 months. The pay rate for this role is £13.85 per hour, with £2.15 holiday pay, totalling £16.00 per hour.

Please note; you will be required to work from the main office in Brent and travel across different properties in Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster.

In this position, you will be expected to;

* Work in a person-centred way, ensuring the rights and entitlements of service users are respected

* Conduct weekly fire, health and safety checks including fire alarm testing of specified housing schemes as well as monthly and quarterly flat/room checks in order to ensure compliance with relevant legislations

* Carry out regular assessments of tenants' support needs and risks, draw up and implement individual support plans

* Attend all relevant external liaison meetings, forums and appointments

* Implement a recovery focused approach to working with people with mental health issues

* Regularly organise and carry out tenant's house meetings within specified schemes

* Be the first point of contact for tenants to report housing repairs to and support them in either organising repairs to addressed or reported to relevant landlords

* Turn around voids within agreed timescales and facilitate lettings/ sign up of new tenants

* Regularly monitor and ensure correct rental charges including service charges are received from tenants.

* Ensure tenancy sustainment through the management of reported disputes, implementation of relevant procedures when necessary, ensuring tenants are aware of up-to date complaints procedure and this is applied.

* Develop and maintain professional relationships with all relevant stakeholders involved with tenants` health, social care and welfare including Community Mental Health Teams, Landlord and GP's

* Liaise with other staff and external professionals to provide a safe and supportive environment for tenants

* Advise, encourage and support tenants so as to maximise their self-care and independent living skills.

* Provide support and advice to tenants to enable them to move to more appropriate accommodation as applicable

Please note: this role involves lone working

To apply for this role, you must have;

* Experience of working or volunteering in a housing management role

* Experience of carrying out fire, health and safety checks including carrying out fire panel tests and conducting fire drills for residents

* Experience of supporting tenants to sustain tenancies/ licences

* Very good knowledge of tenancy enforcement processes including all forms of tenancies and licences breaches

* Good knowledge of IT including Microsoft Office Packages i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint

* An understanding of how equality of opportunity can be delivered in a supported housing framework

* Ability to work jointly as part of a team and in partnership with external statutory and voluntary agencies.

* Good knowledge of health & safety legislative requirements in housing with support

* Knowledge of the allocation, move on and resettlement process

* Strong communication skills to work effectively with people with mental health needs

Candidates must confirm their interest as soon as possible, with in person interviews scheduled shortly after and the appointed candidate expected to start as soon as possible.

Further requirements:

In order to register with Central Recruitment Services for temporary agency work, candidates must meet the following criteria:

* Current valid right to work in the UK

* Minimum 12 months' of paid experience in a front line social care role within the last 3 years* (unless recruitment criteria states otherwise)

* A fully enhanced DBS registered on the DBS update service or willingness to apply for one through Central (at a cost of £60)

* Employment or education history to cover the last 5 years which can be verified through the referencing process

How to apply:

If you feel that you fully meet the above outlined criteria for this role and would like apply for this post, please forward your CV for consideration.

*Please note the outlined experience is the 'minimum' first stage criteria, and we will therefore be unable to consider your application unless you are able to demonstrate a relevant work history in line with this position