Housing Support and Resettlement Officer Ref: 13-25

Salary: Grade 9, starting at £24,916 per annum (pay award pending)
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Place of Work: The role is a mix of office based (Dereham and Thetford), working remotely on site, at temporary accommodation locations within and outside of the district and also in people's homes.
Basis: Fixed Term - 1 year

After a review of the Housing and Communities service we are excited to be expanding our service and we have a number of rewarding positions available. Some of these are technical and specialist positions, ideal for individuals with knowledge and experience in housing legislation and some are more public-facing roles, which are perfect for those who excel at connecting with people, fostering relationships, and creating a welcoming environment.

We are recruiting a Rough Sleeper Support & Resettlement Officer to join our team for one year.

For this role, would you like a job where what you do:

• Can have a direct and positive impact on the lives of people?
• Uses your interpersonal and empathy skills to gain the trust of vulnerable people to support them transition to a more stable lifestyle?
• Links across the housing service to help assist and advise those who need it most, often facing challenging circumstances?

As a Rough Sleeper Support & Resettlement Officer you will:

• Deliver an outreach service to identify, engage, assess, and advise people sleeping rough.
• Provide support to our service users as they transition through the pathway from homelessness, rough sleeping or emergency / supported accommodation into sustainable tenancies. 
• Support service users to find and plan move on accommodation and continue to work with them for a period of time to ensure they are settled, are able to live independently and maintain their tenancies. Carry out appropriate interventions in order to prevent homelessness wherever possible.
• Work closely with other agencies to promote and safeguard the welfare of clients and provide welfare benefits advice to ensure maximization of income, accessing education, employment and training, help with setting up a new home and general tenancy support.
• Deliver wrap-around intensive, trauma informed support to service users with multiple and complex issues. 

About you

Your qualities and behaviours are as important to us as your work experience.  Is this you?

• 'I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input'
• 'I listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge'
• 'I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things'
• 'My approach to work is filled with positivity and optimism'
• 'I am flexible ensuring I provide the best possible service, wherever and whenever is best for the customer'
• 'I am driven to achieve results and show courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan'
• 'I take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisation's development'
• 'I treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, valuing their thoughts, background and experience'
• 'I understand and take care of my own well-being and of that of those around me.'

Please see the job descriptions and person specifications for more a comprehensive list of duties that the role normally entails as you could be asked to occasionally pick up other responsibilities, and also for the personal qualities needed.

Please be aware that applicants who do not submit a supporting statement showing how they meet the person specification will not be considered for interview.

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please contact Beki Stephenson, Rough Sleeper, Support and Resettlement Team Leader, by emailing beki.stephenson@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date: 9am, Friday 16^th May
Interview date:   Friday 30^th May

Job summary

Description of duties

• To provide a range of support to clients in temporary accommodation including welfare benefits advice, tenancy support and to work with other agencies to promote and safeguard the welfare of clients in temporary accommodation.
• To establish and maintain contact with residents in temporary accommodation liaising with Housing Solutions Officers and other agencies to ensure any support needs are identified.
• To signpost residents to appropriate support agencies to ensure effective tenancy sustainment and intervene where necessary to ensure that residents have appropriate support and advice to claim benefits.
• To support clients with maximising income, claiming benefits, eligibility issues (i.e. NRPF), debt management, accessing education, employment, and training, etc.
• Practical help with setting up a new home including help to arrange and attend viewings, secure funding for furniture and fittings, white goods, setting up utilities, moving in, support with budget planning and ongoing regular support to maintain the accommodation. 
• To liaise with accommodation providers in relation to any issues relating to resident's behaviour and provide support where necessary to ensure residents understand the consequences of any breach of accommodation conditions including in relation to the Council's ongoing duties towards them.
• Carry out regular checks that residents are correctly banded on the Housing Register and are bidding through Key Select, encouraging them to bid and supporting those who need additional help to do so.
• Support residents to access alternative supported accommodation where the Council does not have an ongoing accommodation duty, including making referrals to specialist supported housing and where necessary accompanying residents to interviews for accommodation.
• Perform robust assessments to ensure referrals are made to the most appropriate agency to ensure the required support is provided.
• To demonstrate to good practice Safeguarding procedures with a positive risk-taking approach to ensure the wellbeing of vulnerable people.
• To be responsible for keeping accurate records of clients making file notes and liaising with other officers as necessary.
• To attend training and development opportunities to ensure knowledge and skills are maintained and are current.
• Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.
• To make subjective and objective complex judgements to arrive at logical solutions based on customers housing circumstances.
• The post holder will be required to communicate with Members of the public, colleagues within Housing and other departments, elected members, registered providers and other landlords, voluntary and statutory agencies.
• Responsible for Council provided laptop, mobile phone and any other IT devices provided.
• To be able to meet the physical and travel/mobility requirements of the post and to maintain a vehicle for use within and outside the district in accordance with Council policy and make home and out of office visits as required.
• The role is a mix of office based (Dereham and Thetford), working remotely from home or on site.

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service. This will be in consultation with the post holder, as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates a flexible approach to work and contributes positively within a team environment
• Experience of dealing with demanding and challenging people in difficult/sensitive situations.
• Experience of using negotiation and/or diplomacy skills to resolve problems.
• Active listening skills, ability to communicate and negotiate clearly, explaining complex ideas simply and clearly.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and a wide range of office ICT applications
• Good standard of verbal and written communication skills and experience of accurate data management.
• Able to work on own initiative, self-motivated, enjoys setting goals and targets for themselves and achieving them.
• Have an empathetic manner and resilience to the emotional demands of the post.
• Knowledge, understanding and being committed to the importance of equal opportunities and service delivery.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a customer facing environment giving information or advice both in person and in writing
• General knowledge of housing issues particularly regarding allocations, homelessness and housing advice
• Experience of working in the housing sector
• Good knowledge of services, welfare benefits and support available to applicants experiencing housing problems.
• An understanding of the complex interdependencies of mental health and substance abuse and offending behaviour.
• Knowledge of Homeless Legislation and other relevant legislation i.e. Care Act, Children's Act.
• Good knowledge of landlord and tenant law
• Commitment to life-long learning and continuous professional development
• Experience in analysing and organising information

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to GCSE level in both Maths and English (or equivalent).

Desirable

• Housing qualification.

Behaviours

Collaborative

• I look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas while also sharing my views and knowledge.
• I recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input.
• I make sure people feel trusted, valued, informed and supported

Ambitious

• I always ask myself 'How could we do this better?', taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it.
• I take ownership of change and help others to understand, adapt to, implement and embed change
• I am motivational and drive positivity; taking an optimistic approach and engaging others

Results-driven

• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions; I am driven, showing courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan.
• I am driven to achieve results and show courage and resilience even when things don't go to plan.
• I am flexible ensuring I provide the best possible service, wherever and whenever is best for the customer

Empowering

• I show energy and drive to explore new opportunities and challenge the status quo - acting on opportunities to generate income or reduce costs, embracing new technology and promoting digitalisation.
• I ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don't go well, learning from it for my own and for the organisation's development.
• I take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisation's development

Supportive

• I treat others as I would want to be treated myself ensuring I am welcoming, friendly and approachable.
• I understand and take care of my own well-being and of that of those around me, and give time to colleagues who need help or support.
• I treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, valuing their thoughts, background and experience.

Mental Demands

The post requires the successful candidate to deal sensitively with customers who may be vulnerable and/or emotional and situations that may be challenging, demanding and stressful, but still require clear and logical decisions to be made to bring matters to an acceptable conclusion.  

The role is led by service demand and, at times, is likely to require regular re-prioritisation of existing workload to cope with unpredictable peaks in demand for the service in order to deal with this and manage customer expectation whilst maintaining professionalism at all times. This means that the role can regularly be mentally and emotionally demanding.

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

The post is exposed to occasional unavoidable risks including:

• Visits to properties that are 'filthy' and/or verminous, or with trip/slip hazards or outdoor sites in adverse weather conditions
• Dealing face to face with difficult situations that may be confrontational such as aggressive/intoxicated clients

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2024 staff survey to convince you..

• 94% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 90% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 89% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 94% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 91% said they felt supported by their manager

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays)
• Free car parking.
• Remote-enabled working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office. See what it is like working here by watching this short film: 
  

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

If you haven't already, please review the job description and person specifications for a comprehensive list of duties that the role normally entails, and also for the personal qualities needed.

Please be aware that applicants who do not submit a supporting statement showing how they meet the person specification will not be considered for interview.

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please contact Beki Stephenson, Rough Sleeper, Support and Resettlement Team Leader, by emailing beki.stephenson@breckland.gov.uk

Closing date: 9am, Friday 16^th May
Interview date: Friday 30^th May

APPLY ONLINE

Please be aware that if you are selected for this role there will be a requirement to undertake a DBS check as part of pre-employment checks.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies. These are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.