Overview
Housing Advisor (Rough Sleeper) – Cambridge
Reference: CCC00509
Description: Do you want to help end rough sleeping in Cambridge? Do you want to join a team that has an excellent track record of helping rough sleepers into accommodationBy joining the Council’s Housing Advice Service, you will be working towards our aim in ending rough sleeping within Cambridge. The ideal candidate will be someone who has, or who shows ability to quickly develop, an excellent understanding of helping vulnerable people into accommodation and a good understanding of housing & homelessness law. Training will be provided, so if you think you could do the above, we will certainly welcome your application!This role may involve the occasional early start with our Street Outreach colleagues to identify and help rough sleepers in Cambridge. You will use this knowledge to negotiate with landlords while using your influencing skills to help rough sleepering to make realistic choices about their housing options. While working as part of a wider team, you will be given significant freedom to make decisions and show initiative.In return we offer a competitive benefits package including family friendly policies, a generous annual leave allowance, and access to the highly valued Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).About You:This is a specialist role to provide comprehensive housing options, choice based lettings (CBL), housing advice and homelessness prevention casework service to members of the public that have a history of rough sleeping or are at risk of rough sleeping. The role will focus on delivering the Council’s statutory homelessness functions by assessing customers’ needs and housing options and agreeing these in the form of a personal housing plan. For customers who are threatened with homelessness this will mean attempting to prevent homelessness or identify alternative housing options.The post holder will be responding to immediate homelessness situations via placement in emergency accommodation or longer term temporary housing. At each stage, the post holder will be making key decisions about whether the Council’s statutory duties have been discharged and will be issuing formal decision notifications to this effect. It will also encompass the delivery of advice and information to statutory and voluntary agencies in the areas listed above.The post holder will support the rough sleeping cohort through the homelessness application process, whilst recruiting colleagues and other professionals to offer support to find accommodation and address the problems that are the root cause of the homelessness or threat of homelessness.In addition to these objectives, the role will play a key part in the delivery of an enhanced housing options service by advising on and signposting customers to other related advice services such as debt and employment advice, with a view to assisting them to sustain future accommodation. The post holder will be offering housing advice pertaining to landlord tenant law and assessing housing need with reference to the Lettings policy and sub-regional CBL system.The role will bring the post holder into contact with customers with a range of needs; some customers’ needs are complex and will include those with mental health problems, substance misuse issues or a history of being the victim of domestic abuse.This role will involve working closely with the Street Outreach Team, which will require some early starts and on occasion attending destinations where people are sleeping rough. The post holder will also be required to work closely with the Street’s to Home partnership and Rough Sleeping Initiative funded services (both in and outside of the Council).What we can offer:A variety of learning and development opportunities via a range of sources and methodsAccess to the highly valued Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)Additional Voluntary Contribution (Shared AVC) SchemeAgile and Flexible workingAnnual leave purchasing schemeAnnually negotiated pay and award progressionConfidential advice and support via an Employee Assistance ProgrammeCycle to Work SchemeFamily friendly policiesFlexible Bank HolidaysFree swimming at CCC swimming poolsGenerous annual leave allowance 25 days’ per annum, rising to 30 days’ after five years continuous service; plus 8 days public holidays (pro rata for part time)Gym Membership salary sacrifice schemeHome & Electronics salary sacrifice schemeLifestyle Savings with over 750 discounts from the UK’s leading retailers, restaurants, supermarkets, attractions and moreProfessional Membership Fees paid for, dependent on roleRelocation Assistance may be payable in approved casesStaff reward and recognition framework- including annual staff awards ceremonySubsidy for public transportYour Care dynamic wellbeing platformHours: 37 hours per week.If you believe you have the skills and experience to join us and would like to discuss different working patterns, please do get in touch. Working Pattern: Monday – FridayContract: Fixed Term – 12 MonthsSalary: £37,280 – £41,771per annum (City Pay Band 5), pro rata for part time.Location: This is a semi flexible role – working in Cambridge in homeless services, at one of our offices or working from home. You will be able to balance your work location accordingly.More Information: You can click on the links here to find out more information about Staff Pay and Benefits, Working for the Council, our Values & Behaviours, Equality & Diversity in Recruitment or Our People & Culture Strategy.If you would like an informal chat, please e-mail simon.penn@cambridge.gov.ukApplication Process: To be considered for this role, please click ‘Apply Online’ and submit an application.If you are an internal candidate you can apply by logging in to your Employee Self-Serve (ESS) and access the ‘Useful Links’ (top right of the dashboard, under the person icon) and click on ‘CCC Job Opportunities’.Cambridge City Council is an Equal Opportunity employer and embraces diversity, creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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Salary: *GBP*37,280 – *GBP*41,771per annum (City Pay Band 5), pro rata for part time.
Package:
Contractual hours: 37
Basis: Full time
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
