Assessment & Relief Officer

The Assessment & Relief Officer post forms part of the Council’s approach to reducing homelessness in the borough. Your role will be to relieve homelessness in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, associated Code of Guidance, case law and best practice.

You will be responsible for carrying out in depth interviews with households approaching the Council as homeless. You will advise customers of the housing options available to them and complete Personal Housing Plans. You will also investigate complex housing situations and issue decisions in accordance with said Acts.

Please refer to the Job Description attached for more information.

We are recruiting for 2 positions and would welcome candidates who wish to explore a career in housing.

Candidate Profile

To be considered for interview, your CV and supporting statement will clearly evidence:

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

For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.

Bexley is a vibrant and diverse outer London Borough nestled in the Thames Gateway between London and Kent which means it combines the perfect blend of city vibe and the tranquillity of Kent. It's got award-winning parks, open spaces, and heritage sites. The borough has excellent transport connections, including the Elizabeth Line and proximity to the M25. Bexley offers fantastic amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, and shopping areas. Our borough is also home to numerous primary and secondary schools, as well as further education institutions.

Our Offer to you

We will offer you in return a package that includes a competitive salary, coaching and mentoring programmes, an excellent pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays. For more information on the benefits package on offer please refer to the Candidate Information document attached.

Recruitment Information

As a disability confident employer Bexley welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on  [email protected]

This role may be available as a development opportunity through secondment for the Council’s existing employees.  The Council’s Secondment Scheme can be found here. If this option is of interest, please contact the recruiting manager.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.