Remedy Social Work

Job Purpose To carry out inspections, investigations and take enforcement action to deliver the enforcement of the Council's various Property Licensing Schemes (This includes HHSRS inspections, Mandatory Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), Additional HMOs, Section 257 HMOs and Selective Licences properties). Sometimes at short notice. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that any schedules of works issued on deficient or unsatisfactory properties (including by other officers) are monitored and regulated by encouraging landlords, or licence holders, to complete works on time and to a safe, acceptable standard. They will be expected to take robust enforcement action where standards and conditions in licensed properties fall short. This will include inspections, gathering evidence using Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), enforcement letters, issuance of legal notices and orders under the Housing Act 2004 and other related legislation. They will be expected to investigate and evidence to the criminal standard and defend appeals at Court of First Tier Tribunal, as required. Where we suspect properties are operating without a licence or with the incorrect licence they will evidence and in line with the Enforcement Policy, issue civil or financial penalty notices or lead on prosecutions. The post holder will be required to work across the council, the local community, and the council's partners to deliver outcomes of the programmes. The post holder will be required to provide information and advice relating to their work and so must be very competent in using tablets and specialist software. This job specification requires all post holders to be trained and hold a certificate in Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS). All post holders must maintain their competence in HHSRS and the Housing Act 2004 through regular training and responding to feedback from Managers or Principal Officers If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.

Job Purpose The purpose of this role is to lead the newly created unlicensed team to ensure our private sector housing service and private rented property licensing schemes and to support the Service Manager in respect of development and operational management of teams. You will be responsible for the operational management of the unlicensed team which comprises of the inspection of houses of multiple occupation (HMO) and the identification and regularisation of all of the private sector housing functions including the borough wide private rented licensing scheme, private sector housing functions in respect of standards including tenancy sustainment and our empty homes portfolio. You will ensure that the team works collaboratively with the wider Privet ASectro Housing Service and the Compliance Team to ensure we improve quality, safety, and choice of residential accommodation in Barking and Dagenham through a range of professional and specialist interventions including, education and support, enforcement and legal action under relevant legislation. You will also ensure that all licensing arrangements are adhered to in respect of licensing of properties and taking robust enforcement action against criminal landlords. You will support in the growth of the private sector housing offer ensuring properties are safe for occupation, landlords comply with legislation and that residents behave in accordance with civic pride. You will support in the driving local improvements by ensuring the most appropriate course of action is taken in respect of non-compliance. Specific Accountabilities of the Role The postholder will have operational management responsibility of up to 15 staff across the service and will lead to ensure the council is effectively using its powers and duties to regulate the private rented sector ensuring we meet the needs of residents. Responsible for the ensuring the council utilises its powers and duties to achieve adequate standards of health and safety in all residential accommodation in the borough including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in conjunction with the enforcement policy and relevant legislation. To provide guidance, and expert advice to the team in accordance with professional and legislative guidance to regulate conditions within privately rented accommodation across the borough. Responsible for service planning and will carry out regular audits on service provisions ensuring officers are competent with current and relevant legislation, council policy and procedure and be able to implement corrective action and identify and recommend potential improvements. Responsible in ensuring professional standards are achieved through performance reporting, management, training and development of workforce including interpreting legislative or administrative changes that may affect the service and be able to respond proactively to implement changes in accordance with best practice. Take an active role in promoting community development, i.e. attend the landlords forum and other forums as required. You will foster working relationships with other departments within the council and external partners and utilise stakeholder engagement where needed. If you are interested in this role please send your updated CV in the first instance.