Homelessness Prevention Adviser

• To provide tailored advice to customers approaching the Housing Options and Advice Service on a range of options and opportunities including housing training & employment wellbeing welfare benefits and debt.
  
• To provide specialist advice and casework service to a range of residents including homeless households households who are threatened with homeless households in insecure accommodation young people and families within families.
  
• To work jointly with the Housing Assessment and Allocation Services to maximise homelessness prevention and the take up of a range of effective solutions to meet housing need.
  
• To work with the Private Sector Initiatives Team to plan the delivery of a broad range of housing options which meet the needs of homeless households and others in housing need.
  

Good knowledge of homelessness prevention and the public and private sector options available to people in housing need. Good knowledge the issues affecting homeless, or households threatened with homelessness and the range of policy initiatives to address these. Good knowledge of housing options, opportunities, training & employment, wellbeing, welfare benefits and debt. Good working knowledge of immigration and related social welfare legislation and benefit regulations. Ability to apply negotiation tools and mediation to promote options and opportunities Ability to engage people who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or disillusioned in mature conversations about needs, aspirations and life goals Ability to maintain detailed case records, recognise service priorities and meet deadlines. Ability and commitment to respond effectively to emergencies to achieve positive solutions. Ability to work successfully with partner services to refer customers effectively and to develop and maintain effective joint working partnerships with a range of service providers. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team to think creatively and solve problems to meet performance targets and to take responsibility and achieve desired service outcomes. Excellent interpersonal written and verbal communication skills. Ability to provide first-rate customer care and achieve customer satisfaction and ensure that good value outcomes are achieved Ability and willingness to undertake home visits and site inspections if required. Ability to apply for the Camden Ways of Working in all duties and relationships with colleagues, customers and other parties. Experience of working in a service within a pressurised and high-profile environment providing a quality service. Experience of working in an advice setting. Ability to manage a varied caseload including landlord/tenant, mortgage arrears, welfare rights and homelessness in the public and private sector.