Housing Allocations Officer Ref: 48-25

Job Description

Job summary

Grade:	9
Responsible To:	Housing Allocations Team Leader
Responsible For:	No direct reports
Job Purpose:	To carry out assessments of applications to the Housing Register according to the Council's Allocations Policy. To liaise with partner housing associations in relation to the advertising and lettings of properties. To review current housing register applications against the Allocations Policy. To assist with the smooth running of the Council's Choice Based Lettings Scheme, Key Select.
Location of Job:	Dereham, Thetford and within the Breckland district at a variety of locations including drop-in sessions at other organisations offices. Occasional travel beyond the district may be required
Directorate/ Service Area:	Housing & Communities

Description of duties

Carry out assessments of applications to join the housing register against the council's Allocations Policy, taking into account any special factors which may affect their applications.
Advise households who do not qualify for the housing register about alternate housing options.
Notify applicants on any decisions made on their application.
To provide comprehensive advice and assistance to applicants on the Breckland Key Select Scheme to ensure they understand how to apply for housing but also understand the limitations.
Deal with incoming and outgoing enquiries from clients and other third parties: in person/by telephone/by email
Follow up decisions with decision letters and liaise with applicants to ensure they understand the decisions.
Ensure all records are accurate and maintained in a timely manner
Make decisions according to the Allocations Policy and notify applicants where a change to their circumstances has changed their priority on the housing register
Review cases to ensure the banding and bedroom allocation is accurate
Carry out regular system data cleanses including for non-bidders and annual reviews of cases
Ensure applications that are suspended following a change of circumstances being submitted, are dealt with appropriately and in a timely way.
Ensure properties are advertised correctly and liaise with partner landlords in relation to this.
Ensure all systems are updated following relet of properties
Carry out administrative procedures relating to the lettings process and produce statistical information on homelessness, allocations, voids etc.

Responsibilities for:

Finance

Raise payment invoices and requisitions to be signed off by Team Leader or Manager.

Decision Making

To make appropriate decisions on Housing Register Applications and provide evidence and reasoning for the decisions.

To regularly make subjective and objective complex judgements to arrive at logical solutions based on data analysis, as well as evidence gathered in the field and from customers. Post-holder to be able to discuss/defend such decisions against challenges from lay or legal persons informally or formally in a court of law or tribunal.

Communications

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. This will include routine exchanges of information, communication with individuals or groups, influencing, directing and negotiating.

Communicate with internal and external agencies for routine exchanges of information, including but not limited to: Employers, GPs and Hospitals, Other Councils, Benefits Agencies, Police, Probation, and Children's' Services.

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.