The team is a busy statutory frontline service which seeks to sympathetically yet robustly assist those households who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. You will have the support of a number of different teams based within the service to help you deliver the best options for our customers.
This post offers the flexibility of working in a hybrid way. There is the option to be have an office base at a number of locations across Dorset as well as working from home. Our Housing Caseworkers are available for in person surgeries held at a number of Customer Access Points in our Libraries and the successful candidate will partake in a duty rota to deliver this.
The post will be offered initially on a fixed term contract of 1 year to cover a secondment with scope to remain in the post beyond.
The reason why someone becomes homeless is varied and as a Housing Caseworker you will be expected to deal and offer advise over a wide range of issues including but not limited to:
- assessing any duties owed under the Housing Act 1996
- tenants rights and occupation
- benefit eligibility and assisting to make claims where required
- rent or mortgage arrears
- managing debt
- assisting people who are at risk of violence or abuse
- applying for social housing
- obtaining accommodation in the private rented sector.
For those customers who are owed a duty under homeless legislation you will be assessing customers needs and devising Personal Housing Plans outlining the steps that both you and the customer will take to remedy the situation.
Do you develop positive and professional relationships?
We need people who can work in partnership with other agencies to assist and support our clients. The successful applicants will need to maintain and develop professional relationships with colleagues, landlords and a wide range of agencies.
Are you customer focused with good communication skills?
We need applicants who can adapt their communication style to provide specialist advice with a wide range of people and organisations. Our successful candidates will be able to communicate well verbally and in writing.
Are you able to switch from one task to another ?
Housing Caseworkers deal will diverse cases from one moment to the next. You will need to develop an understanding not just of homelessness legislation but other statutory sources in order to fully advise our applicants.