Private Rented Housing Worker

**Interviews: 16 May**

**Role / team**

Private Rented Housing workers are part of Path’s Private Renting Access Service (PRAS), which aims to set up and support sustainable PRS tenancies.

This service therefore provides support to clients to gain access to private rented accommodation, including through giving deposit guarantees to private landlords for single people, couples and families, as relevant.

This role focusses on supporting offenders to secure accommodation, providing advice and support for the tenancies set up, as part of TASS: the Targeted Support Accommodation Service. The aim of TASS is to successfully house ex-offenders in new private rented sector tenancies for 12 months plus.

**Pre-tenancy (clients’ needs, options and support)**
- Responding to referrals; meeting clients and assessing and identifying their needs and options, benefits entitlements etc, inc advising about PRS tenancies and other solutions.
- In person, over the phone and as required, providing housing-related information and support, including regarding use of private rented sector
- Following up assessments, providing information and support to secure accommodation
- Working with clients and landlords to set up appropriate, sustainable tenancies, including visits to properties and checking inventories, as below
- Referring onto other services / agencies, where appropriate, including other Path services, to ensure joined up support; in particular, linking and working with Probation colleagues

**Pre-tenancy (properties, engaging with landlords)**
- Linking and building relationships with new landlords and agents; sending them information on the service; promoting accreditation and membership of professional bodies
- Negotiating with landlords over financial and support packages for clients to enable them to secure accommodation
- Where relevant, checking properties have essential safety and legal requirements in place and are free from hazards (using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System)
- Full inventory/checking of inventories and schedules of condition, where relevant
- Liaising with housing enforcement teams where required

**Tenancy sustainment**
- Supporting clients to set up and maintain their accommodation - providing regular support for each housed client for at least 12 months
- Providing advice and support to set up utilities and obtain household essentials
- Formal monitoring progress of individual tenancies and liaising with landlords re progress (e.g. rent payments in payment)
- Tenancy interventions: when problems occur taking a proactive approach to resolving issues, including setting up 3 way meetings, home visits, mediation and tenancy related problem solving.
- Where relevant, arranging or providing follow-on support for clients and / or their landlords. I.e. This may include support re benefits, advice, practical issues to maintain tenancies; and / or referring to other relevant services.
- Leading on providing, recording, reviewing and reporting on service provision and claims, inc regular, formal monitoring progress of referrals, tenancies and outcomes.

**Landlord liaison**
- Liaising with landlords over available properties
- Advising landlords over renting, especially in relation to the role of this service
- Working with colleagues to collate and disseminate weekly bulletins within Path and to partners of available rooms and properties

**General**
- Participation in team, staff and other meetings, as required
- Recording and reporting on work done
- Keeping up-to-date with relevant legislation and other developments
- Developing & maintaining RSS literature, monitoring systems & referral procedures
- Covering for other workers, when needed
- Representing Path at Private Rented Sector events and functions
- Other duties as required by line manager or Director
- Compliance with Path Worker Conditions.

Pay: From £23,500.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Flexitime
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Work from home

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Plymouth, PL1 1PY