ROLE OF THE JOB
We are looking for an enthusiastic, hard-working and customer-focused individual to join our team as a Homefinder Registration and Assessment Officer. The Homefinder team is made up of 3 x full time and 1 x part time Homefinder Registration & Assessment Officers, 2 x part time Vulnerable Persons Registration & Assessment Officers, 1 x Housing Assistant and 1 x Housing Occupational Therapist. Homefinder is a fast-paced, reactive service delivering an inclusive housing register for Northumberland.
Main duties:
Registering and assessing all housing applications in line with the Common Allocation Policy, which involves making decisions on:
- Bedroom eligibility
- Immigration Status
- Safer Estates eligibility
- Financial Assessments
- Overcrowding
- Medical/welfare
Make all relevant enquiries to outside agencies where additional information is required.
Identify urgent priority and multiple needs cases and refer these to Vulnerable Persons Registration Officer and/or Senior Homefinder Officer.
Liaise with internal departments to determine if any additional priority is appropriate i.e. Environmental Health, Estates, Safer Neighborhood's.
Carry out former tenancy checks on applicants where necessary.
Assist the Senior Homefinder Officer and contribute to continuous development of the service, promoting joint working with partners and assist with the development of associated strategies.
Accurately record all contact with customers using the CRM system.
Maintain accurate records in line with processes.
This role is a fixed term contract for 2 years.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB
- Applicants are not required to have experience in registering and assessing housing applications as training will be provided, however the successful candidate will need a good understanding of the Homefinder service and should have experience in Housing, experience with the Abritas system is desired.
- Good standard of education to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of Northumberland County Councils Common Allocation Policy.
- Effective IT skills and ability to understand and develop the use of IT to achieve work objectives.
- Confident and competent in expressing own views and an active participant in internal and external meetings.
- Customer focused and able to deliver within tight timescales.
- Proactive and achievement orientated.
- Experience in engaging effectively with others and building productive partnerships.
NCC INFO AND BENEFITS
Northumberland is world-renowned as a visitor destination and an ideal location to strike a perfect work/life balance. There is no better way of enjoying the picturesque scenery and stunning coastline than on an everyday basis!
Northumberland County Council's (NCC) vision is ‘To Foster a thriving and collaborative culture where our people are valued, empowered and encouraged to be their very best for Northumberland'
For further information about working for NCC, please visit our website here.
Why choose us?
We have some outstanding benefits to offer you, including:
- 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
- Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Flexi scheme (if applicable) - up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)
- Local government discount schemes available to all employees with offers at local businesses along with various national brands
- Commitment to work/life balance offering flexibility through various schemes including job sharing, flexible working, term-time only, and compressed hours
- A range of salary sacrifice schemes are available
- Staff networks - run by staff, for staff, providing opportunities for peer networking, mutual support, staff development e.g. Armed Forces, ASD, Enable (disability), LGBT+, Menopause, Mental Wellbeing, Racial Equality
Further information
Please note that this is a full time position but applications on a secondment or part-time basis would be considered for the right applicant.
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes
here.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you wish to notify us of your eligibility for this scheme, please email
hrrecruitment@northumberland.gov.uk or ring 01670 623930 with your name and the job title you have applied for and one of the recruitment team will ensure this is factored into the shortlisting process and kept anonymous. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.
Alternative application format:
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss:
Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930
Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.