Location
Brixton Hill, London

Hours
Hybrid working arrangement

Salary
Starting salary £42,912 per annum inclusive of London Weighting

About the Role
The Housing Advisor – Rough Sleepers will play a vital role within Lambeth Council’s Homelessness Prevention Service, the frontline response to alleviating homelessness in the borough. This one-year fixed term contract or secondment opportunity involves working closely with the Supported Housing Commissioning Team, particularly the Rough Sleeping Coordinator, to identify rough sleepers in need of housing assessments and to conduct these assessments at various locations such as day centres, supported housing schemes, or emergency hotel accommodation.

Your primary responsibility will be to prevent and relieve homelessness for rough sleepers in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act, associated Code of Guidance, case law, and best practice. This includes carrying out in-depth interviews, advising customers on housing options, completing Personal Housing Plans, investigating complex housing situations, and issuing decisions under the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

This role forms part of the Council’s broader approach to reducing homelessness and requires a proactive, solution-focused approach to housing difficulties. While experience working with rough sleepers is desirable, recent graduates and those with transferable skills are encouraged to apply as comprehensive on-the-job training will be provided.

Lambeth Council is committed to its One Lambeth values of Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability and is dedicated to delivering excellence through its transformational One Lambeth Programme. The borough itself is a vibrant, diverse community with a rich cultural heritage and a strong commitment to supporting its residents.

Experience
- Awareness of legislation relating to housing advice, homelessness, housing management, and housing allocation.
- Practical understanding of the range of housing problems people may experience.
- Broad knowledge of the housing and support needs of homeless individuals, housing applicants, and tenants.
- Experience providing quality advice and information to the public.
- Experience handling complaints and enquiries.
- Excellent knowledge and practical application of negotiation and mediation techniques.

About you
- Motivated and skilled individual with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to work effectively in a busy and challenging environment.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Willingness to learn and develop knowledge through on-the-job training.
- Commitment to the values of Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability.

Qualifications
- No specific qualifications required; recent graduates and those with transferable skills are encouraged to apply.
- On-the-job training will be provided to support development and knowledge gaps.