Location
Kingston Upon Thames, South West London

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£33,987 per annum

About the Role
As a Temporary Accommodation Visiting Officer, you will proactively engage with and support households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including those in Temporary Accommodation. Your role involves visiting clients in their homes to identify their most likely route to re-housing in settled accommodation. You will work intensively with households to establish their pathway to settled housing, support access to move-on options such as qualifying offers, private rented sector access, and supported housing, and liaise with other service areas to identify suitable private rented accommodation. You will advise clients on sourcing accommodation and available assistance, undertake holistic needs and financial assessments, and use a range of resources and tools to support the move-on process. Additionally, you will carry out procedures for housing customers into private rented and other accommodation types, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. You will support and advise service users on housing register applications and provide information related to Housing Act 1996 (Part VII) applications. Building strong relationships with clients to manage expectations and identify support needs for sustaining future accommodation is key. You will collaborate with other agencies involved in care and resettlement to ensure residents sustain temporary housing and successfully move to settled housing. Your duties also include undertaking home visits to verify residence and housing needs for Housing Solutions Team and Housing Register investigations, managing caseloads and data, monitoring delivery of targets, and capturing relevant data and outcomes. Maintaining a thorough understanding of relevant legislation, including the Housing Act 1996, Homeless Reduction Act 2017, Children’s Act, Care Act, HHSRS, landlord and tenant legislation, benefits, welfare rights, immigration, asylum, matrimonial and family law is essential. You will also develop and maintain knowledge and skills around safeguarding issues and raise concerns appropriately.

Experience
- Knowledge and understanding of the housing and support needs of vulnerable tenants
- Knowledge of repairing and health and safety obligations relating to temporary accommodation
- Knowledge of housing benefit (Local Housing Allowance), Discretionary Housing Payments, income benefits, and assistance with arrears repayment and debt management
- Knowledge of safeguarding requirements
- Knowledge of housing options available to prevent homelessness
- Experience working in a busy, frontline public housing service or similar environment
- Experience dealing face-to-face with a diverse and vulnerable clientele
- Experience working in a pressurized, high-profile environment within a multidisciplinary team
- Experience with application and administration of welfare benefits, Housing Benefit, and related payments
- Experience using various IT systems to manage caseloads and monitor targets
- Excellent interpersonal skills including active listening and negotiating
- Customer service focused with ability to think, plan, and act creatively to solve problems
- Ability to work unsupervised, prioritize workloads, and meet targets and deadlines
- Strong knowledge of negotiation and mediation techniques and their practical application
- Ability to question and challenge existing ways of working with an understanding of the bigger picture
- Demonstrated agility and adaptability in mindset and ways of working
- Ability to work successfully with key stakeholders within and outside the Council
- Commitment to personal and professional development
- Demonstrated innovation and creativity
- Active engagement in positive cross-organizational communication and team working
- Clear, confident, and appropriate communication with colleagues

About You
You must be able to undertake all physical tasks associated with conducting property and site visits. You will be a motivated individual who is committed to supporting vulnerable households and improving housing outcomes. You will demonstrate resilience, empathy, and professionalism in all interactions.