Location
London Borough of Lambeth
Hours
Full Time / Hybrid Working
Salary
Starting salary SO2: £42,912 per annum rising in annual increments to £44,235 per annum including London Weighting
About the Role
The Housing Adviser role forms part of Lambeth Council’s approach to reducing homelessness in the borough. You will work within the Family Help Service and Adolescent Service, based in new multi-agency teams responding to the Family First Social Work Reforms. These teams aim to prevent the need for ongoing statutory social work intervention by providing short, targeted support to families and adolescents. Housing Advisors are integral to these teams, addressing housing issues early to prevent crisis.
Your responsibilities will include preventing and relieving homelessness in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act, associated Code of Guidance, case law, and best practice. You will conduct in-depth interviews with households threatened with homelessness, advise on housing options, complete Personal Housing Plans, investigate complex housing situations, and issue decisions under the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
This is a fixed term or secondment opportunity for 12 months. On-the-job training will be provided, making this role suitable for recent graduates or those with transferable skills looking to develop their knowledge in housing advice and homelessness prevention.
About Us
Lambeth Council is committed to bold ambitions for its communities through the Lambeth 2030 Plan ‘Our Future, Our Lambeth’. Our One Lambeth Programme ensures we are connected by purpose to deliver excellence. We uphold values of Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability, developed by our staff for our staff.
Lambeth is a vibrant South London borough with over 317,600 residents, rich in diversity with more than 130 languages spoken. It is home to the Windrush generation, London’s largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community. The borough offers exceptional schools, green spaces like Brockwell Park, cultural institutions such as the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned facilities including St Thomas’s Hospital.
About the Team
The teams you will join are multi-agency, combining social workers and alternatively qualified workers to deliver innovative, early intervention services. The Short-Term Service focuses on short, targeted family work, while the Adolescent Service offers alternative approaches to support young people and prevent escalation of concerns. Housing Advisors play a key role in these teams by addressing housing needs proactively to prevent homelessness.
Experience
Awareness of legislation relating to housing advice, homelessness, housing management, and housing allocation, with a practical understanding of the range of housing problems people may face.
Broad knowledge of the housing and support needs of homeless individuals, housing applicants, and tenants.
Experience providing quality advice and information to the public, including handling complaints and enquiries.
Excellent negotiation and mediation skills with practical application.
About You
Motivated and skilled individual with the ability to work in a busy and challenging environment.
Willingness to learn and develop knowledge through on-the-job training.
Ability to manage a varied caseload and work proactively to find real housing solutions.
Qualifications
We welcome applications from recent graduates and those with transferable skills. Specific qualifications are not mandatory as full training will be provided.