Allocations Officer

At Hammersmith & Fulham, we are ambitious in reforming the council to ensure this is a place for everybody. Within the Economy department, we aim to be efficient in everything that we do. We believe our residents deserve a place that is safe, clean and green, with high quality services they can rely on.

The role of the Housing Allocations Officer is to allocate suitable emergency and temporary accommodation in accordance with the relevant statutory housing requirements. You will also be responsible for moves into different housing pathways, to achieve positive outcomes for homeless residents accommodated in different forms of temporary accommodation.

You should have experience of working within a busy public facing housing environment, responding to the daily demand for emergency housing provision in accordance with the Council’s statutory duties.

Our mission is to be the best council. To do this we need the best people to help build our vision. If you’re looking to develop your career in a fast-paced, professional environment whilst making a difference, then we look forward to hearing from you.

Please refer to the **Role Profile** for more information.

**Role Responsibilities**:
1.1 To allocate suitable emergency and temporary accommodation in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements. To operate within relevant Codes of Guidance, statutory guidance, council policy and procedures and relevant housing legislation.

1.2 To ensure all bookings request are completed on the day of the request.

1.3 To support the delivery of a coordinated and ruthlessly financially efficient allocation service, this may be delivered through the promotion of all available housing solutions and initiatives.

1.4 To ensure the timescales for letting temporary accommodation are met in line with targets to minimise lost revenue of rent. Actively work in partnership with colleagues and providers to achieve this as well as identifying new initiatives to help reduce void turnaround times.

1.5 To provide comprehensive housing advice, guidance, and support to residents, with regards to all potential housing options, temporary accommodation, and social housing.

You will need to:

- To maintain a detailed knowledge of relevant legislation and Council policy in relation to the statutory provision of temporary housing. To operate within relevant Codes of Guidance, statutory guidance, council policy and housing legislation.
- To ensure the timescales for letting temporary accommodation are met in line with targets to minimise lost revenue of rent. Actively work in partnership with colleagues and providers to achieve this as well as identifying new initiatives to help reduce void turnaround times.
- To facilitate the temporary allocation process and all related functions including assessing and placing homeless households in all forms of suitable and affordable temporary accommodation in discharge of the Council’s duty, setting up and ending tenancies as appropriate
- To assess whether the essential housing needs of applicants have been met in the provision of temporary and interim accommodation, conducting refusal interviews and where necessary undertaking the discharge of the Council’s relevant duty.
- To assist with required arrangements and transport, removals, storage for households moving into/out of temporary accommodation, interpreting services and related functions.

**People Values**:
How we act defines who we are. At the heart of our organisation is a common approach to defining ‘who we are’. We are looking for people who can build this into everything they do.

**We are fair**

We treat everyone with compassion, dignity and fairness. We value the views and opinion of others, and promote benefits and opportunities for all.

**We are caring**

We care about our borough and doing things well. We focus on standards and continuous improvement; learning from our mistakes and celebrating success.

**We are collaborators**

We work together for a better society. We work with our residents, businesses, schools, third sector and others for better outcomes for everyone.

**We are driven**

We will only settle for the very best. We seek to continually improve and put our residents, customers and businesses at the heart of everything we do.

**Recruiting for Attitude**:
Your skills and ability are important however, we recruit as much for attitude as we do experience. We are looking for people who have the following attributes:
**Complex problem-solving**
The ability to work within a complex system and find simple solutions and outcomes that deliver real change.

**Critical thinking**
The ability to challenge the norms through evidence-based approaches using both numerical and critical reasoning and thinking. You can rationalise decision-making and form views quickly and soundly from a range of sources.

**Creativity**

**People management**
You can get the best out of people. You have a coaching-style and drive thr