Senior Housing Options Review Officer

MMP Consultancy are looking to recruit a Senior Housing Options Reviews Officer to join our client's Housing Options Team on a 3-month temporary basis. Please note that this opportunity can be home based but you must be prepared to travel to site when required.

Duties:

• Assist the Head of Service in the day-to-day allocation of work to the Housing Reviews Team and to provide guidance on the interpretation of complex legislation and the statutory duties of the client on relevant legislation and enactment of law and ensure implementation of any subsequent changes arising from amendments in statute and guidanc
• Assist the Head of Service with coordinating the review function and ensuring that decisions are robust, high quality and transparent, ensuring that reviews are conducted in compliance with the statutory timescales, regulatory framework, and the Code of Guidance
• Responsible for providing guidance and instruction to Housing Options Officer regarding the nature and extent of appropriate enquiries
• You will be expected to carry out regular case management as well as monitoring casework quality to ensure that decisions are defendable on appeal
• Carry out relevant inquiries and maintain accurate, detailed notes in a timely manner
• Work collaboratively with the wider housing service providing feedback and guidance to original decision makers
• Work in conjunction with the Head of Service or other senior officers when assessing requests for the provision of interim accommodation and where refusal is appropriate to draft detailed decisions setting out the client's reason for that refusal
• Participate in team duties such as the recording of review requests, maintaining and accurately updating databases and team mailboxes
• Liaise with each client's legal representatives and attend Court when required
• Possess an analytical, investigative approach towards your work and have the ability to critically appraise information and communicate complex decision making in writing. You will also be expected to use the findings of your review work to identify opportunities for service improvement and good practice

Person Specification:

• Experienced decision maker and have a detailed knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and with regard to the Homelessness Code of Guidance 2017 and the relevant Allocation Schemes.
• Possess a detailed knowledge of parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 as amended, the Homelessness Code of Guidance, as well as a working knowledge of relevant case law which you will apply when undertaking any statutory review.
• Possess excellent writing skills and be able to draft detailed, fully particularised robust decisions of a sufficient standard so as to withstand any further challenge and which address the relevant legislation and objective argument(s) in relation to that review.
• Possess an analytical, investigative approach towards your work and have the ability to critically appraise information and communicate complex decision making in writing. You will also be expected to use the findings of your review work to identify opportunities for service improvement and good practice.