4Recruitment Services are seeking a Criminal Justice Housing Adviser to work for a council based in West London.
About the role:
- Provide housing advice and support to prevent and resolve homelessness among single homeless ex-offenders approaching the Housing Solutions Service following a custodial sentence.
- Be the main point of contact and between Probation Services and the Housing Solutions team.
- Identify and assess support needs and refer to relevant supported accommodation pathway.
- Identify ex-offenders as appropriate for referral into the AfEO scheme.
- Develop and implement new processes in coordination with probation services and AfEO coordinator to ensure early intervention prior to prison release to prevent homelessness.
- Assess, administer and make decisions on the outcome of individual homelessness applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) in accordance with legislation and case law.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Set up and maintain good communication channels between Probation Services and Housing Solutions team to identify LBHF residents that will be homeless at the point of prison release. This will include regular meetings with Probation Services and occasional co-location at Probation Services.
- Work closely with the tri-borough AfEO coordinator to identify housing solutions for Ex offenders and to help reduce rough sleeping in Hammersmith & Fulham.
- Attend multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) and other relevant meetings as appropriate.
- Develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of housing legislation relevant to the post such as Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, welfare benefits, legislation who are homeless or threatened with homelessness in a person-centred way, including carrying out enquiries into applicants’ circumstances, checking and verifying documents and visiting as appropriate, maximising prevention opportunities, creating and updating Personal Housing Plans, providing advice and appropriate assistance to enable applicants to remain in existing accommodation to source alternative accommodation.
- Manage and determine a caseload of applications by conducting detailed enquiries, assessing against relevant legislation, guidance and caselaw, using initiative to ensure applications are fully investigated and determined with minimal management input.
- Work in partnership with a wide range of internal and external partners by making onward referrals, initiating or attending meetings / case conferences etc as appropriate;
- Carry out detailed affordability assessments, give advice on the availability of suitable and affordable accommodation, and to assist qualifying applicants access such accommodation.
- Recommend placements into temporary accommodation where all prevention opportunities have been exhausted, taking care to ensure that recommendations are in line with statutory duties and having regard to the financial constraints on the Council;
- Ensure that all statutory notifications and decisions are issued correctly and on time, that decision letters are fully reasoned, considered and of sufficient quality, that adequate file notes are made in relation to all casework undertaken and that all relevant databases are kept up to date at all times;
- Carry out risk assessments of people referred to the service and that the operation of all policy, procedures and legislation that relate to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children and vulnerable adults is adhered to, notifying and escalating issues of concern as appropriate;
- Assess applications to join the Council’s housing register, taking care to always ensure that applications are correctly assessed. Including verifying circumstances by gathering evidence, visiting as necessary and determining priority in accordance with the Council’s Allocations Scheme.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
- Experience of working with ex-offenders and providing advice, assistance and homelessness prevention services to this cohort.
- Good knowledge of the needs of vulnerable single people in housing need and the ability to apply this knowledge to applications for housing assistance.
- Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively, in writing and orally, with landlord, tenants, members, solicitors, stakeholders, partners and the public.
- A good understanding of issues relating to homelessness and housing legislation including the Homelessness Reduction Act and experience of working in this are
Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.
To discuss this vacancy in further detail or any other vacancies, please contact our Team on 0800 988 6307 or email .
