Job Description - Reviews Officer
Job Title
Reviews Officer
Department
Housing Needs / Homelessness Reviews / Temporary Accommodation
Reports To
Reviews Manager / Housing Needs Manager
Job Purpose
To manage and determine statutory housing and homelessness reviews in accordance with housing legislation, ensuring legally compliant, evidence-based, and defensible decisions. The postholder will review decisions relating to homelessness duties, suitability of accommodation, discharge of duty, intentional homelessness, local connection, and temporary accommodation placements, while ensuring excellent customer service and minimising legal challenge risk.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Statutory Reviews
Conduct reviews under Section 202 of the Housing Act 1996 and related homelessness legislation.
Review decisions relating to:
Homelessness duties
Relief and prevention duty discharge
Intentional homelessness
Priority need
Local connection
Eligibility
Suitability of temporary accommodation
Offers of accommodation
Discharge of main duty
Assess all evidence, representations, and case records to make legally sound review decisions.
Case Investigation & Decision Making
Analyse housing files, assessments, officer notes, and supporting evidence.
Request and review additional documentation from applicants, solicitors, support workers, and partner agencies.
Draft legally robust decision letters with clear reasoning.
Ensure decisions are compliant with:
Housing Act 1996 Part VII
Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Homelessness Code of Guidance
Relevant case law
Meet statutory deadlines for review completion.
Temporary Accommodation & Suitability
Review suitability challenges relating to temporary accommodation placements.
Assess affordability, location, medical needs, schooling, support needs, and risk factors.
Make recommendations regarding alternative placements where required.
Legal & Complaint Handling
Respond to legal correspondence, pre-action protocol letters, Ombudsman complaints, and solicitor representations.
Prepare files for legal challenge, county court appeals, and judicial review.
Liaise with legal services and counsel.
Support defence of Section 204 appeals where required.
Stakeholder & Partnership Working
Liaise with Housing Needs Officers, TA teams, medical assessment officers, legal teams, and external support agencies.
Attend complex case meetings and legal case reviews.
Provide advice to operational teams on legally compliant decision-making.
Performance & Quality Assurance
Maintain accurate records on housing systems.
Monitor review outcomes and identify service learning themes.
Support continuous improvement in homelessness decision quality.
Contribute to policy and procedure updates.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
Statutory homelessness and housing reviews
Section 202 reviews
Temporary accommodation suitability reviews
Drafting legally defensible decision letters
Housing litigation / appeals support
Council homelessness service experience
Knowledge
Housing Act 1996 Part VII
Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Suitability and affordability law
Temporary accommodation duties
Case law and Code of Guidance
Judicial review / Section 204 appeals
Skills
Excellent analytical and decision-making ability
Strong legal letter drafting
Report writing and case review skills
Attention to detail
Time management and statutory deadline control
Stakeholder and legal liaison
Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.
Eden Brown Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 3643845. Our registered address is 5th floor 4 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AR, part of nGAGE Specialist Recruitment Limited T/A nGAGE Talent. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This message is intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to us, and immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. We take reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email but cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage sustained as a result of computer viruses and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) are virus free.
Reviews Officer - Redbridge
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