Technical Advisor

**Reed Talent Solutions** are currently working with a West Yorkshire based Local Authority to recruit a Technical Advisor/Officer on an initial 6-month contract. Working within the Accessible Homes Agency, the primary objective of the postis to ensure that the works mainly arranged by the Accessible Homes Agency are carried out to a high standard and to assist in providing home adaptations for disabled clients across the Borough. The service will involve providing technical advice, guidanceand support to clients, Occupational Therapists, Landlords, property owners, and other members of staff on all technical aspects.

**Role Information**
- 6-month contract with potential to extend
- PAYE Pay Rate: £17.06 per hour
- Umbrella Pay Rate: £20.81 per hour

**Key Responsibilities**
- Provide a full support, information and advice service for various Housing Service applicants.
- Ensure that the Council’s Accessible Homes Agency and related services are delivered in line with clients’ needs and to quality standards and ensuring that applicants are fully advised and sensitively supported throughout the whole assistance process. Includesproviding technical advice, guidance and support to clients.
- Ensure that completed adaptation work is necessary, appropriate, reasonable and practicable in line with grant legislation and Council policies.
- Carry a case load of Major Adaptations and to provide a comprehensive technical service, from inception to completion for all Home Adaptations offered by the Council. The service will include assessing the scope of the work required, writing specificationsand/or schedules, preparing plans where necessary.
- The service will involve providing technical advice, guidance and support to clients, Occupational Therapists, Landlords, property owners, and other members of staff on all technical aspects.
- To act as the eligible applicant/client’s agent and advisor in all matters relating to the works i.e. Initial survey, compiling schedule of works, inspections, resolving issues that may arise during or on completion of the works.
- Organising and administering tenders with full work instructions, placing job orders, supervising work in progress and authorising payments of accounts on satisfactory completion of works (and interim payments where necessary) in line with departmentalcouncil policies and standing orders.
- Undertake visits and inspections in accordance with an agreed work programme and provide a full and effective appraisal service on options available to eligible applicants such as major adaptations, relocation, non-agency work and self funding includingmonitoring of the site activities of appointed contractors and to check quality standards.
- Monitor and control the site activities of appointed contractors and to define and enforce quality standards.
- Be involved in the production of plans and briefs for works of a complex nature and to ensure that statutory permissions are obtained before work commences and liaise with any required external specialist consultants.

**Essential Criteria**
- Hold a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle for work purpose
- Qualification in a construction related discipline
- Practical or technical experience in a broad range of construction works including plumbing, building and joinery
- Understanding of housing repair/maintenance problems and practical assessment of building maintenance problems
- In depth knowledge of the Building Act 1984, the Building Regulations and associated legislation
- Construction related technical drawing experience, either using drawing packages such as CAD or by hand
- Experience of providing service and support to persons with disabilities, including the provision of adaptations