Housing Solutions Advisor Apprenticeship

**Job number**

LBC03602

**Contract Type**

Apprentice

**Posting End Date**

19 February 2025

**Job Area**

Apprenticeships and Internships

**About the job**:
**Salary: £6.40 a hour**
**Hours per week: 37**
**Contract type: Fixed term until 31/3/2027**

Are you looking to start a rewarding career in housing and homelessness prevention? Do you want to make a real difference in people's lives while earning and learning on the job? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you

We are looking for a **Housing Solutions Advisor Apprentice** to join our dedicated team. This apprenticeship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience while working towards a **Housing and Property Management Level 3 Apprenticeship** and a **Chartered Institute of Housing qualification**.

As a Housing Solutions Advisor Apprentice, you will play a vital role in providing quality housing options advice and support, ensuring the council meets its statutory duties under the **Homeless Reduction Act 2017**, **Housing Act 1996 Part VII**, and related legislation.

Your key responsibilities will include:

- Assessing and advising individuals at risk of homelessness, both over the phone and in person.
- Facilitating moves into **suitable private or social sector accommodation** where possible.
- Gaining an in-depth understanding of housing law, including tenancy agreements, possession proceedings, harassment, illegal eviction, and tenancy sustainment.
- Working with partner agencies to provide effective homelessness prevention solutions.

**Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.**

**About you**:

- **Excellent communication skills** - able to provide clear and accurate advice in fluent spoken and written English.
- **Great organisation and problem-solving skills** - able to manage casework, prioritise tasks, and identify barriers to housing solutions.
- **Strong interpersonal skills** - able to engage with customers, including those displaying challenging behaviours, in a calm and professional manner.
- **Numerical ability** - to conduct affordability tests and assess financial support options.
- **A flexible and proactive attitude** - with the ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

**Eligibility & Qualifications**:
To apply, you must have:

- **Lived in the UK, Gibraltar, EEA, Switzerland, or an EU overseas territory for at least the past 3 years.**:

- Functional Skills Level 2 or **GCSEs (grades C/4 or above) in English and Maths** (or equivalent). If you do not have these qualifications, you must be willing to complete Functional Skills training as part of the apprenticeship.
- The ability to **travel between sites** as required.

**Why Join Us?**
- **Earn while you learn** - gain valuable hands-on experience while studying towards a recognised qualification.
- **Make a real difference** - help prevent homelessness and support individuals in need.
- **Career development** - excellent opportunities to progress within the housing sector.
- **Supportive team** - work alongside experienced professionals who will mentor and guide you.

**About us**:
Our ambitious **Luton 2040 Vision** - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

**Application Process**:
**Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.**

**Benefits**:
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:

- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbe