Location
25 Bournemouth Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4UJ

Hours
36 hours per week

Salary
£53,319 per annum

About the Role
Do you want to provide the right support at the right time and help people remain safely housed? Are you passionate about early intervention, problem-solving and making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join Southwark Council as a Visiting Officer.

Visiting Officers play a key frontline role in preventing homelessness before situations reach crisis point. This role involves working directly with residents, landlords and partners across the borough to understand challenges, identify risks early and take action when it matters most.

Through home visits, mediation, negotiation and practical problem-solving, you will support residents through challenging housing situations and help resolve issues before they escalate. You will be part of a forward-thinking service that values innovation, partnership working and professional judgement. Working alongside colleagues across the council, voluntary sector organisations and wider community partners, you will help deliver a coordinated “no wrong door” approach, ensuring residents receive timely, effective and personalised support.

Your responsibilities will include visiting residents in their homes and communities to assess risks and provide tailored housing advice; responding quickly to homelessness risks such as exclusions, eviction threats and housing instability; mediating disputes; working with landlords to support tenancy sustainment; developing personalised housing plans; supporting residents to maximise income and access financial assistance; managing a complex caseload; collaborating with internal and external partners; and contributing to service improvements including those linked to Renters’ Rights reforms.

Every day will bring new challenges where your communication skills, resilience and solution-focused approach will make a real and lasting difference to residents’ lives.

Experience
Experience handling complex situations and making balanced decisions in a fast-paced environment is essential. Experience in mediation, negotiation and early intervention to prevent homelessness is highly desirable.

About you
You are passionate about prevention and motivated by helping people find solutions before they reach crisis point. You build trust quickly and communicate confidently with residents, landlords, families and partner organisations. You can manage challenging conversations with empathy, professionalism and a clear focus on positive outcomes. You are confident working independently in the community while contributing positively as part of a wider team. You understand the importance of early intervention and are committed to delivering a resident-centred service that promotes dignity, choice and sustainable solutions.

Qualifications
Please refer to the detailed job description and person specification for specific qualifications and requirements.