Housing Adviser

Full Job Description

Housing Adviser

SO2: Starting salary £40,005 per annum incl LW

Hybrid working

Contract type: x1 permanent post and x3 one year fixed term contract or secondment opportunity

About Us:

It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council, we have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through our Lambeth 2030 Plan ‘Our Future, Our Lambeth.  To deliver on these ambitions, we have embarked our transformational One Lambeth Programme ensuring we are ‘connected by purpose,’ in everything we do to deliver excellence. We are proud to have recently developed a refreshed set of One Lambeth Values and Behaviours that were develop for staff by staff; Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability. For more information, please have a look at our dedicated One Lambeth Values and Behaviours page.  

About the Borough:

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community. 

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.

About the Team:

The Homelessness Prevention Service is the Council’s frontline response to alleviating homelessness in the borough. This is an exciting opportunity for a suitably motivated and skilled individual to join the team working to reform the response to homelessness. The team manages a varied case load in a busy and often challenging environment and prevent or relieve homelessness through the provision of advice, advocacy, negotiation and mediation. Our proactive housing options approach prevents homelessness by finding real solutions for people in housing difficulties.

About the Role:

The Housing Advisor post forms part of the Council’s approach to reducing homelessness in the borough. Your role will be to prevent and relieve homelessness in accordance with the provisions of the Homelessness Reduction Act, associated Code of Guidance, case law and best practice.

You will be responsible for carrying out in depth interviews with households approaching the Council because they are threatened with homelessness. You will advise customers of the housing options available to them and complete Personal Housing Plans. You will also investigate complex housing situations and issue decisions in accordance with the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

We welcome applications from fresh graduates and those that do not meet all the essential criteria but have transferable skills and the ability to develop any gaps in knowledge. On the job training will be provided to all successful applicants.

To be considered for interview, your CV and supporting statement will clearly evidence:

• Awareness of legislation relating to housing advice, homelessness, housing management and the allocation of housing, with a good practical understanding of the range of housing problems people may experience
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the housing and support needs of homeless and housing applicants and tenants
• Experience of providing quality advice and information to members of the public and of handling complaints and enquiries
• Excellent knowledge of negotiation and mediation techniques and their practical application

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in hyperlink below:

Job Description and Person Specification

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Oluwatoyin Ogunyemi at

Recruitment Timelines:

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 10^th December 2023.

Shortlisting: 11^th /12^th December 2023

Interviews: 19^th /20^th /21^st December 2023

Benefits:

We believe in rewarding our staff. When you join us, you'll gain access to a range of benefits, including:

• Participation in our 5 Staff Networks: Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic, LGBTQ+, Disability, Young Professionals, and Women's.
• Generous annual leave entitlement starting from 27 days, increasing to up to 35 days depending on length of service.
• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Hybrid Working.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Occupational Sick Pay based on length of service.
• Discounts at local restaurants.
• Discount at our Active Lambeth Gyms.
• Learning and Development opportunities, including Apprenticeships.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Secure Bike Storage facilities at our Town Hall and Civic Centre.
• Trade Union Membership.

How to Apply:

If you're interest in this opportunity, click on the apply button and complete an online application. 

In your supporting statement, please clearly demonstrate how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an 'A' at shortlist stage. We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. For a full list of our accreditations, please click here .