Housing Officer - Homeless Prevention

Housing Officer – Housing Advice / Homelessness Prevention

Location: Barnstaple
Contract Type: Full-Time, 3-Month Contract
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Additional Requirements: Occasional out-of-hours / on-call support
Pay: £30.20 per hour

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Housing Officer to join a busy frontline housing team, supporting individuals and families who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness.

You will manage your own caseload, investigate homelessness applications, make legally compliant decisions, and work closely with internal departments and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable individuals.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide frontline housing advice via office, telephone, home visits, and partner locations

• Assess housing need and identify suitable housing solutions

• Investigate homelessness and threatened homelessness cases

• Make statutory homelessness decisions in line with legislation and Council policy

• Liaise with landlords, letting agents, lenders, debt advisers, and families

• Mediate tenancy and family disputes

• Support financial assistance options to prevent homelessness

• Support customers through court proceedings where required

• Issue formal homelessness decisions and notifications

• Manage a complex caseload and meet deadlines and performance targets

• Work with health, social care, police, probation, and voluntary agencies

• Support safeguarding responsibilities for children and vulnerable adults

• Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with data protection requirements

Person Specification

• Experience in housing advice, homelessness prevention, or statutory housing services

• Strong knowledge of homelessness legislation and housing law

• Experience managing complex casework and vulnerable clients

• Strong communication, negotiation, and interviewing skills

• Ability to manage workload independently and make sound decisions

• Understanding of welfare benefits and support services

• Awareness of safeguarding, domestic abuse, mental health, and substance misuse issues

• Strong IT, literacy, and organisational skills

Qualifications

• HND, degree, or equivalent housing experience

• CIH membership or equivalent (desirable)

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference within a frontline housing service, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the community. You will be part of a supportive team environment, managing meaningful casework where your decisions directly prevent homelessness and improve lives.

Apply

Send your CV to applications@recruitmentunlimited.co.uk or call 01884 904 980.