Review officer - Redbridge - £28.88 p/h umb
The post holder will be required to have comprehensive knowledge of all housing advice and homelessness legislation, other general housing legislation, welfare benefit expertise and knowledge of the adult & children social care environment and impact and to use this knowledge to support customers and achieve positive outcomes
The post holder will be required to have specialist knowledge of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Children Act, and the Care Act. Combined with specialist knowledge of the Welfare Reform Act.
The post holder needs to use this knowledge to work collaboratively with customers to resolve their reviews and to identify the most appropriate and effective solutions to their housing problems and to do so proactively at the most appropriate time - ensuring the maximum opportunities for early intervention
The post holder will be required to be innovative, dynamic and solutions focussed and consider and pursue all available housing options to prevent the customers from becoming homeless.
The post holder will be required to use their experience to contribute to the ongoing development and design of the service and solutions for customers.
Operations and Support
To contribute as a member of the Reviews and Service Improvement team.
To manage all aspects of own casework in association with all reviews carried out, keeping detailed case notes, liaising with the customer and their advocates, and responding to solicitors and other correspondence within target and to a very high standard
To provide any necessary input on cases that are appealed in the County Court and beyond, preparing witness statements and responses to appeal as required in conjunction other officers and managers, and the Council's Legal Department.
To take appropriate decisions on requests for interim accommodation pending review or county court appeal.
To support the response to emergency judicial review applications in a timely and professional way on topics including failure to accommodate pending review, suitability of temporary accommodation offered under s.193, and to work with Legal Services to defend all legal challenges. Respond to pre action protocol letters in cases of threatened Judicial Review proceedings and take appropriate action to ensure the Council complies with its statutory obligations to homeless households.
To carry out reviews of suitability of temporary accommodation, private rented sector offers and discharges of the homelessness duty including as a result of refusal of part VI offers.
To fully consider customers vulnerability under either the law on housing, the Care Act 2014, or the Children Act 1989
Provide appropriate contributions to the development of high quality Personalised Housing Plans.
Effectively assess customers support needs, record and act on these, making referrals for resettlement support as required
Conduct non statutory reviews of allocations scheme decisions under part VI of the Housing Act 1996, including decisions on qualification and level of preference.
Carry out high quality and compliant new Homelessness Reduction Act reviews of the prevention, relief and main duty requirements, and accommodation offers.
Support learning from reviews and other casework and assist in improving the consistency of decision making and quality of decisions by raising and working through issues that arise on reviews with Housing Solutions Officers & Team Leaders, Housing Supply Team Leader & Officers, Acquisitions & TA Team Leader and Officers and Suitability Officers.
Support innovation within the service through the application of best practice housing and homelessness solutions as a means of mitigating the negative impact of welfare reforms.
Work with customers and colleagues to contribute to Personalised Housing Plans for customers on behalf of the council in light of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
Contribute to the development of the reviews service as a member of the team.
Make recommendations for housing assistance through the bond and incentive scheme and prevention payments where expenditure on and discretionary assistance of this type is appropriate.
Prepare effective response to Members Enquiries, Complaints, and Ombudsman Enquiries, Freedom of Information Requests as directed.
Liaise as appropriate with the Housing Supply and Acquisitions team regarding issues arising in review related to customers specific needs, accommodation standards in temporary accommodation and performance by managing agents and private sector landlords.
Provide an effective, customer-focussed and efficient service to customers presenting with housing problems.
Prioritise early intervention and create an environment for responding to customers issues as soon as possible
Provide proactive and timely housing advice and options to customers that supports the achievement of positive outcomes for households wherever possible To advise customers on full range of options to solve their housing problem, including
To refer customers for specialist information as necessary - on landlord and tenant issues, mobility options, resettlement and rough sleeping
Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer.
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