Location
Kingston upon Thames

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£42,060 per annum

About the Borough
Found in zone 6 with good transport links in and out of London, Kingston is a vibrant and diverse university town which creates a rich sense of community shared across the borough and its residents. Kingston boasts an idyllic riverside location, good shopping and great restaurants, as well as a mix of modern and historic town centre. The borough has lots of open parklands and cycle routes that help connect the district town centres into an enjoyable place to live and work.

About the Service and Team
The Housing Solutions Team work proactively and collaboratively with households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness to provide comprehensive advice and assist them to prevent their homelessness by retaining their current housing where possible, or otherwise to help relieve their homelessness by securing alternative accommodation.

About the Role and Our Ideal Candidate
You will be the frontline professional delivering a first class, modern and flexible service to some of the most vulnerable people in the borough. You will fulfil the council’s statutory housing and homelessness assessment and decision-making function, with particular focus on preventing homelessness. We are looking for someone with housing knowledge, especially of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, plus an understanding of the importance of homelessness prevention within the social and welfare needs of households. Previous experience is welcomed, however we seek candidates who demonstrate an understanding of the needs of households when assessing and determining the statutory duties involved with homeless applications, as well as an ability to comprehend sometimes complex situations.

Our Offer to You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We constantly strive to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across, however big or small, will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.

Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work-life balance, including:
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 25-32 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
- Three volunteering days per year in Kingston
- Hybrid working (dependent on the role)
- Flexible and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks
- Learning and development portal offering a range of courses
- Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres
- Interest free season ticket loans
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle leasing scheme
- Confidential health & wellbeing and counselling support

Application Process
Apply online outlining what skills, abilities and experience you can bring which make you an ideal candidate for this role. Please refer to the requirements outlined in the job profile when completing your application and check your CV details have been uploaded correctly in the relevant sections.
We value authenticity and look for individuals who can clearly demonstrate their own skills, experience and motivation for the role and embrace our STAR values. The closing date is given as a guide; we reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received, so it is strongly advised to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Diversity and Inclusion
We are proud to be a diverse and welcoming borough and strive to create a workforce which reflects the community we serve. We celebrate and respect differences and appreciate the value of having a diverse workforce, therefore we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums and inclusive staff networks to support our diversity agenda. We are a disability confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria. As an accredited London Living Wage Employer, all employees are guaranteed the London Living Wage regardless of contract length or type.

Additional Information
The UK has a points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. Sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility and budget limitations. We cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

Experience
Previous experience in housing or homelessness is welcomed but not essential. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and the statutory duties involved in homeless applications. Ability to assess and comprehend complex social and welfare needs of households is required.

About You
You will be a frontline professional committed to delivering a first class, modern and flexible service to vulnerable people. You should have strong communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work collaboratively within a team. A proactive approach to preventing homelessness and supporting residents is essential.

Qualifications
Relevant housing qualifications or training are desirable but not mandatory. A commitment to continuous professional development and learning is expected.