Supported Housing Officer

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- *Hope Prospect56 Whetstone LaneBirkenheadWirralMerseysideCH41 2TJ
Tel: (0151) 650 1015
Fax (0151) 6471821
**_Job Description _**_
- _

TITLE: Housing Officer

SALARY: £26,000 per annum

HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT: 20 days per annum plus 8 statutory holidays pro-rata

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Deputy Chief Executive

**Hours of work**

The YMCA supported accommodation is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the year and the Housing Officers hours can be either 8.00am to

16.00pm or 09.00am - 17.00pm Monday to Friday, 37 ½ hours per week.

**Main Purpose of Job**:
To provide comprehensive housing and tenancy management services within the organisation and its dispersed housing and general needs portfolio, including the management of rent and service charge payments, arrears, voids and lettings tenancy management.

The postholder will support service users housing issues, many of whom present with a range of issues including homelessness, mental health, substance misuse and offending behaviour with the aim of promoting independent living. The role will require close liaison with the Dep CEO and Multi-Skilled Support Workers.
Key outcomes of this post are the identification of move-on options, preparation for move-on and support in making the transition into independent living, working in partnership with colleagues within services to equip clients with the skills and knowledge to enable them to move into their own accommodation within the community.

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**Main Responsibilities**
- To provide advice and information to tenants, service users and others on all tenancy matters, welfare benefits and re-housing requests.
- To assist service users with support needs to sustain and benefit from their tenancy.
- To assist the Support Manager to achieve occupancy targets and minimise voids, ensuring repair works are completed promptly and to manage the entire lettings process.
- To ensure that tenants and others understand the rights and responsibilities as set down in tenancy / licence agreements.
- To ensure that the conditions of tenancy are met by the organisation’s service users working with the support team to manage breaches and help resolve disputes.
- To manage rent and service charge payments, taking early and preventative action to minimise arrears.re necessary to assist in taking legal action to enforce the conditions of tenancy (non-payment of rent or other breaches).
- To assist the Deputy CEO in setting the service charges for all properties within the designated area and where applicable to consult with tenants about changes.
- To carry out Tenancy Audits, collecting and maintaining up to date information about service users and any changing support needs in order to assist the organisation to deliver a comprehensive quality service.
- To promote tenant and resident engagement in service delivery and decision making within the organisation.
- To attend internal and external meetings as required. Time off in lieu is available for attending meetings outside of normal office hours.
- To deal effectively with complaints in line with the organisation’s procedures, managing each through to completion.

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- Prepare for Quality Housing Audit
- inspections, along with achieving external and internal key performance indicators.

**Specific Duties**

**Responsibilities to Deputy CEO**
- To compile and collate monthly housing reports, including voids reporting.
- To liaise with the Support Manager in monitoring and actioning rechargeable accounts to maximise income.
- To comply with the required financial procedures and controls and ensure accurate records are maintained.
- To monitor clients former and current rent accounts and ensure the support team manage accounts to achieve effective service charge collection and arrears prevention.
- To prepare Service Charge budgets for all properties.
- To make recommendations to the Support Manager on the development of the service which involve any financial commitments or alterations to service delivery.
- Attend housing management meetings with the Deputy Chief Executive.

**Representing YMCA Wirral**
- Attend internal and external meetings as required.
- Attend stakeholder days, forums and other external events.
- Represent the YMCA Wirral at regional and national level from time to time.
- Develop relationships with partner agencies, referral agencies and all other stakeholders.

**HR Responsibilities**
- Support and develop the Support team to deliver high-quality support and housing service.
- compliance.
- Collate data on the performance of housing and move-on across all services and assist the Support Manager to ensure the organisation achieves its KPI’s.

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**Health and Safety**
- Ensure at all times the safety of yourself and others on the premises in which you work.
- Conduct routine Health & Safety inspections throughout the building.
- To report incidents, in line with Wirral YMCAW’s licence agreement, to tackle any n