Housing Allocations Officer

11 weeks contract with West Northamptonshire based Local Authority

Job Summary:

To deliver an efficient and professional allocations service ensuring the council s Housing Register allocation of accommodation within the council s own stock and nominations to partner registered provider vacancies are administered in accordance with the Council s Housing Allocation Scheme (policy) service procedures national code of guidance and housing legislation (Part 6 of the Housing Act).

Key Duties/Accountabilities:

To process complex and detailed correspondence and telephone enquiries in relation to housing allocations applications including who can join the Council s Housing Register the banding scheme and what priority a customer may be awarded under the scheme and the provision of realistic advice on the availability of social housing and a customer s housing options.

Comprehensively assess investigate and determine housing applications to join the Council s Housing Register in terms of eligibility and qualification for social housing and level of priority awarded to those applicants that can join the Council s Housing register in accordance with the Council s Housing Allocations Scheme and all relevant codes of guidance and legislation.

Process applications where there is a medical need and assess the applicant s basic medical condition in relation to their housing circumstances. Make decisions on the level of priority that should be awarded to the applicant and the type of property to best suit their needs. In particularly complex situations make an appropriate referral to the Council s specialist medical advisor for guidance and advice to inform decisionmaking.

Ensure that investigations are robust and verification of all housing register applicants circumstances are completed in accordance with the agreed policy and procedures. This will require interviewing applicants both in their home and within locality hubs such as council offices.

Receive information about available properties from the Council s ALMO and Registered Providers in the area and create adverts for regular choicebased lettings advertisement cycles (to make applicants on the Housing Register aware of the available properties that they can bid on).

Responsible for allocation of properties through each choicebased letting cycle. Ensure that the shortlisting and nomination of applicants against properties is undertaken in an appropriate and timely way in accordance with the Council s Housing Allocations Scheme and in relation to prescribed nomination agreements. Ensure that any risks are properly assessed and escalated as appropriate in accordance with MAPPA MARAC and any relevant safeguarding and/or health and safety procedures.

Ensure all administrative records are updated promptly in accordance with the approved policy and procedures including annual reviews of housing applications and changes of circumstances of applicants.

Work with other Council departments and external voluntary and statutory bodies to identify housing need and ensure that the Council s Housing Allocations Policy is applied correctly to meet need. Key stakeholders include Children s Trust Adult Social Care Probation and Police.

To maximise personal productivity minimise duplication and errors; and manage our information efficiently and securely to reduce risk though effective use of Office 365 and our internal IT systems and applications.

Essential Experience Required:

MUST HAVE ALLOCATIONS EXPERIENCE. NOT ACCEPTING HOUSING OPTIONS EXPERIENCE!

A thorough working knowledge and understanding of current housing law such as the Housing Act 1996 Parts VI and VII Homelessness Act 2002 Localism Act 2012 Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and immigration law as it applies to housing eligibility relevant code of guidance and case law.

A working knowledge of local/regional/national policies in relation to allocations nominations and meeting housing need.

Knowledge/ recent experience of welfare rights benefit systems and debt issues.

Additional information to note:

Primarily office based at the Guildhall Northampton.

This role is accountable to the Housing Allocations and Quality Manager.

The role sits within the Housing Solutions Service part of the Communities & Opportunities Directorate.

The closing date for this position is Thursday 29/08/2024.