Job Details
11 weekscontract with West Northamptonshire based LocalAuthority
JobSummary:
To deliver anefficient and professional allocations service ensuring the councils Housing Register allocation of accommodation within the council sown stock and nominations to partner registered provider vacanciesare administered in accordance with the Council s HousingAllocation Scheme (policy) service procedures national code ofguidance and housing legislation (Part 6 of the HousingAct).
KeyDuties/Accountabilities:
To processcomplex and detailed correspondence and telephone enquiries inrelation to housing allocations applications including who can jointhe Council s Housing Register the banding scheme and what prioritya customer may be awarded under the scheme and the provision ofrealistic advice on the availability of social housing and acustomer s housingoptions.
Comprehensivelyassess investigate and determine housing applications to join theCouncil s Housing Register in terms of eligibility andqualification for social housing and level of priority awarded tothose applicants that can join the Council s Housing register inaccordance with the Council s Housing Allocations Scheme and allrelevant codes of guidance andlegislation.
Processapplications where there is a medical need and assess the applicants basic medical condition in relation to their housingcircumstances. Make decisions on the level of priority that shouldbe awarded to the applicant and the type of property to best suittheir needs. In particularly complex situations make an appropriatereferral to the Council s specialist medical advisor for guidanceand advice to informdecisionmaking.
Ensure thatinvestigations are robust and verification of all housing registerapplicants circumstances are completed in accordance with theagreed policy and procedures. This will require interviewingapplicants both in their home and within locality hubs such ascounciloffices.
Receiveinformation about available properties from the Council s ALMO andRegistered Providers in the area and create adverts for regularchoicebased lettings advertisement cycles (to make applicants onthe Housing Register aware of the available properties that theycan bid on).
Responsible forallocation of properties through each choicebased letting cycle.Ensure that the shortlisting and nomination of applicants againstproperties is undertaken in an appropriate and timely way inaccordance with the Council s Housing Allocations Scheme and inrelation to prescribed nomination agreements. Ensure that any risksare properly assessed and escalated as appropriate in accordancewith MAPPA MARAC and any relevant safeguarding and/or health andsafetyprocedures.
Ensure alladministrative records are updated promptly in accordance with theapproved policy and procedures including annual reviews of housingapplications and changes of circumstances ofapplicants.
Work with otherCouncil departments and external voluntary and statutory bodies toidentify housing need and ensure that the Council s HousingAllocations Policy is applied correctly to meet need. Keystakeholders include Children s Trust Adult Social Care Probationand Police.
To maximisepersonal productivity minimise duplication and errors; and manageour information efficiently and securely to reduce risk thougheffective use of Office 365 and our internal IT systems andapplications.
EssentialExperienceRequired:
MUSTHAVE ALLOCATIONS EXPERIENCE. NOTACCEPTING HOUSING OPTIONSEXPERIENCE!
A thoroughworking knowledge and understanding of current housing law such asthe Housing Act 1996 Parts VI and VII Homelessness Act 2002Localism Act 2012 Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and immigrationlaw as it applies to housing eligibility relevant code of guidanceand case law.
A workingknowledge of local/regional/national policies in relation toallocations nominations and meeting housingneed.
Knowledge/recent experience of welfare rights benefit systems and debtissues.
Additionalinformation tonote:
Primarilyoffice based at the GuildhallNorthampton.
This role isaccountable to the Housing Allocations and QualityManager.
The role sitswithin the Housing Solutions Service part of the Communities& OpportunitiesDirectorate.
The closing datefor this position is Thursday29/08/2024.
