Housing Officer

This is not an ordinary Housing Officer job. At Westmoreland we are a provider of Specialist Supported Housing for customers with care needs - this means that we provide all aspects of tenancy and property management as you might expect, but we work very closely with Care Providers who provide the day to day care and support for our customers. All of our customers have high care and support needs and receive a care package funded by the Local Authority or NHS.

We are expanding and getting ready to transfer in some properties to us - as a result we need to increase our Housing Officers and are looking for someone to join us for a permanent role based in the Home Counties with travel with Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Surrey. Unfortunately although we love to develop people, at this critical stage in our journey you will need to have had experience of delivering a customer focused housing management service or equivalent.

The post will support the provision of specialist supported housing in working with specific services to let and manage properties to meet the needs of the customers. We currently operate and provide support services for over 900 homes, providing a safe space for adults with a wide range of care and support needs including learning difficulties, autism, brain injuries and other physical and mental impairments.

You will work closely with a number of care providers, some of which provide an on-site 24-hour service, others of which provide lower support, and ensure good liaison with our partners including local authorities, health services, and voluntary organisations.

You will deliver a safe, good, proactive and adaptable service to all customers on an allocated patch across specialist supported housing homes. You will build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues within the organisation and external stakeholders.

You will deliver an exceptional housing management service which puts customers at the heart of what we do and provides a stable and sustainable environment which promotes successful living and engagement and promotes inclusion.

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**

Provide a responsive and pro-active tenancy management service, including requests relating to the tenancy.

Investigate and resolve tenancy breaches in line with Westmoreland’s procedures and where appropriate work in partnership with other agencies and Westmoreland colleagues, whilst supporting vulnerable residents to maintain their tenancies, or take enforcement action if appropriate, always making sure any action is proportionate.

Ensure grounds maintenance and communal cleaning is managed to a high standard, and to raise any concerns with the Cleaning and Gardening Contracts Manager.

To make sure our homes are safe, and all fire actions arising from fire risk assessments are carried out within specified timescales.

Support the Income Officer in the recovery of arrears by liaising with advocates, appointees, power of attorneys and care providers, and engaging with customers regarding rent income.

Promote the service to stakeholders and ensure up to date information about the accommodation and housing management service.

Efficient management of void properties to ensure quick re-let; with pre-let and post processes, ensuring void repairs are ordered and completed quickly.

Draw up tenancy agreements and get customers signed up to their tenancy agreements, including the use of Westmoreland’s easy read tenancy. Ensuring customers understand their tenancy agreement and how to maintain this. Where a person doesn’t have capacity to sign their tenancy agreement, working with Appointees/Deputies/Attorneys to ensure the tenancy agreement is signed.

To meet with new customers at the point of moving in, as part of their induction and understanding of their tenancy responsibilities and rights.

Carry out monthly visits to all properties within your patch and meet with customers and care providers to provide a pro-active service to all customers and ensuring all hazards and risks are addressed and managed.

Work in partnership with care providers and local authorities and/or Occupational Health teams to arrange adaptations and alterations to help maintain tenancies within guidelines.

To work closely with the Housing Benefit Officer and Senior Housing Benefit Specialist to ensure paperwork is received in a timely manner to enable them to claim Housing Benefit for customers entitled to it.

Pro-actively resolve incidents of antisocial behaviour (ASB) and nuisance with the involvement of the care provider as appropriate.

Establish good relationships with neighbours of properties and ensure any concerns or incidents they have are responded to professionally and quickly.

To work in partnership with the care provider to pro-actively react to and address issues of disrepair, cyclical works and improvements.

To adopt a positive and flexible approach to your role, which requires you to attend meetings