Job Title: Homelessness Prevention and Early Intervention Officer

Salary Range: £35,094 - £42,525 per annum

Permanent Fulltime 

Location - Civic Centre 44 York Street, TW1 3BZ

Other essential information - Working in both Richmond and Wandsworth Boroughs

Are you driven by the desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives? 

As a Homeless Prevention Early Intervention Officer, you will be at the forefront of preventing homelessness for our residents. 

Your role is pivotal in providing the early support and intervention to households at risk of homelessness, ensuring that they receive the help they need before their housing situation escalates. 

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful change while working within a collaborative and innovative environment.

About the Team 

You will be joining the Richmond Homeless Prevention and Solutions Team, where you will play a key role in preventing homelessness and offering support to those in housing need. 

Your role will directly support the team’s mission to mitigate homelessness through proactive measures and early interventions. 

By providing expert advice and managing cases effectively, you will play a crucial part in helping individuals and families secure stable housing, thereby improving their quality of life.

About the Role 

As a Homeless Prevention Early Intervention Officer, your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing Expert Advice on housing issues, including tenancy rights, financial advice, and housing options.
• Conducting Enquiries to identify risk factors and early intervention opportunities.
• Engaging with landlords, family members, and housing providers to explore solutions and prevent homelessness.
• Verify circumstances and gather information through home visits to support case assessments.
• Identify cases that require full homelessness assessments and allocate them to appropriate officers.
• Maintain accurate case records and support data collection for various initiatives.

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

To excel in this role, you should possess:

• Demonstrable experience in housing or a related field, with a strong understanding of homelessness legislation and prevention strategies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of housing rights, welfare benefits, and housing options.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively provide advice and support.
• The ability to assess complex situations and identify practical solutions to prevent homelessness.
• Proficiency in managing caseloads, maintaining records, and adhering to data protection policies.
• Experience of working collaboratively in a team environment and supporting colleagues.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline:

Closing Date: Sunday 29th September 2024 

Shortlisting Date: 30th September 2024

Interview Date: TBC

Useful Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.