Accommodation Officer

About the team we are recruiting to
We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

The Housing and Homelessness Service is a very busy environment and faces several challenges to meet the housing needs of citizens of Coventry. The team have grown significantly during the last 12 months and this reflects the fact that Housing & Homelessness are now a key council priority.

The team are responsible for the delivery of the following service functions:

- Provision of the statutory homeless service
- Provision of temporary accommodation
- Management of the housing register
- Co-ordination of support to citizens rough sleeping
- Commissioning of homeless services, and
- Responsibility for housing strategy

The Council has a strategic vision that is clearly set out in both the Housing & Homelessness and the Rough Sleeping Strategies which were both approved in 2019.

By becoming part of an expanding team who are focused on preventing households from becoming homeless as well as providing tailored support and interventions when someone does become homeless this is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

What is the job role?
We are recruiting for 3 x full time accommodation officers for a 12-month fixed term posts to join our already exclusive and vibrant team. You will deal with placing households into temporary accommodation, dealing with Housing Benefit and costs related to temporary accommodation. You will join the team at an exciting time for the housing and homeless service.

**The Role**
- Placements of households into temporary accommodation in line with the legislation, to move households out of or between temporary accommodation to ensure the best use of stock.
- Support Housing Benefit claims going into payment and deal with barriers preventing this happening.
- Deal with License Fee charges, investigate non-payments of rents, former debts and storage related charges.
- Identify where occupiers require additional support so they can move to permanent accommodation to end the duty.
- To work closely with landlords and providers to secure properties to meet the housing needs of the households under the Housing and Homelessness duties, whether for temporary or permanent accommodation.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?
For the role you’ll need
- A positive attitude towards helping people to overcome Homelessness.
- Strong negotiating skills, advocacy skills and IT skills.
- Resilience and determination to achieve right outcomes for Homeless people/families.
- Willingness to learn about the relevant legislation for Housing and Homelessness
- You will be able to use your initiative, be forward thinking and solutions led due to this being a reactive role.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Flexible and resilient
- The ability to travel around the city, full driving licence and access to vehicle required.

Interview date(s): First stage group assessment is held on 19th June 24, if successful in stage 1. stage 2 interview will be 21st June 24.

About Coventry
**Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.**

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

Our Values

Our Values are:

- Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
- Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
- Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
- Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
- Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
- Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.