Tenancy Sustainment Officer

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**Job Title**: Tenancy Sustainment Officer

**Accountable to**: Chief Executive Officer

**Responsible to**:Service Manager / Senior Family Practitioner

**Based at **Catherine Court / Rothesay Court

**Hours of work 37** Hours, Monday - Friday

**Salary** Hourly rate: £11.15 £21,510.36 per annum

**Principal Objectives**

You will support people to set up and sustain their tenancies, in conjunction with Family Practitioners / Support Practitioners encourage and facilitate their independence, enhance their quality of life, health and well-being and assist those with challenging and complex needs by working in partnership with other agencies to establish short-term support plans to help maintain their tenancy. You will also support tenants with resettlement into their own property in the community.

Your work will be 3 days at Rothesay Court & 2 days at Catherine Court but you may be required to work at other Gingerbread premises.

**Tenancy Sustainment Officer Responsibilities**

**Duties**
- To provide effective housing management and income maximisation advice to tenants in relation to successful tenancy sustainment
- To support Tenants to set up accounts with Utilities Companies where required.
- To support Tenants to change address with services / companies.
- To liaise with the Local Authority Housing Benefit / Council Tax Departments to ensure all information required is available for the processing of a claims.
- To refer to an appropriate agency, for tenants in relation to rent payments and arrears control.
- To provide practical help to support vulnerable tenants who are experiencing problems managing their tenancy to comply with the terms of their tenancy agreement
- To work with colleagues to deliver a proactive service.
- To develop and promote new initiatives and contacts with various professional agencies as required.
- To work closely with Housing providers to ensure that the customer receives a seamless service
- To ensure that tenants are claiming all they are entitled to in welfare benefits.
- Empower and enable tenants to understand and complete necessary paperwork and forms
- To promote independence and support families to move on to sustainable way of life in their own home.
- Liaise with Housing Offices, Housing Associations, and other agencies, both statutory and voluntary, on the resident’s behalf.
- Implement group work; including responsibilities of being a tenant, budgeting and saving.
- Put together resettlement packs for residents, with leaflets, information and advice, which will help in their resettlement in to their new home.
- To attend viewing / sign up meetings with the tenant to ensure move on properties are suitable.
- To support the tenant to set up Utilities / Housing Benefit claims, following move on from supported accommodation.
- Encourage and empower parents to become involved in services in the community and take up any training or work opportunities.
- To be responsible for giving verbal warnings, as necessary, in line with Gingerbread policies and procedures.
- In cases where gross misconduct by a service user occurs and it impacts on the safety and welfare of others you will be required to take action to remove the service user/visitor from the building.
- To be responsible for Health & Safety as set down in the Health & Safety Policy of the Centre and in compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
**Safeguarding**
- Keep up to date with and work in accordance to Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety and protection of all children, young people and adults.
**Administration**
- To keep up to date, factual and accurate records.
- To provide information and statistics when required.
- To maintain contact with the appropriate statutory and voluntary agencies.
- To prepare and present reports as and when required.
- To keep lieu time and mileage books up to date.
**Development & Training**
- Attend and take part in meetings both one to one and team.
- Attend appropriate training courses, workshops, seminars to further personal development within the organisation.
- Use personal development to develop the job role for the benefit of the client group.
- attend Management Committee Meetings when required
- To develop your knowledge and skills in order to cover all elements of the post as it develops and changes in line with Gingerbreads requirements.
- Progression planning; if identified within your personal development plan, be willing to develop your knowledge and skills for advancement into other roles within The Gingerbread Centre
- To take ownership of Gingerbread’s Values, working to the good behaviours, improving your competences, learning and developing yourself to meet the requirements.
- High level of commitment, showing adaptability and ability to change.
- Ability to work harmoniously with staff and colleagues in line with our equal opportunities policy.
**Other Duties**
- To be pre