Supported Housing Officer in Stockport

We are recruiting on behalf of Creative Support for a Supported Housing Officer in Stockport. Creative Support is a not-for-profit organisation promoting the independence, inclusion and wellbeing of people with care and support needs. We do this by working with the people we support, their families and partner agencies to deliver innovative, high-quality services to meet individual needs and aspirations.

Summary of the Job:

To work as a member of Creative Support’s Housing Management team, based at our busy Head Office in the centre of Stockport. To contribute to Creative Support’s business success through effective tenancy management, income maximisation and arrears recovery. You will be responsible for a caseload of tenants in accommodation owned and managed by Creative Support.

You will be responsible for providing advice and support to scheme staff on how to promote positive tenancy sustainment and proactively provide good tenancy management in properties owned and managed by Creative Support. You will take responsibility for carrying out formal and complex actions yourself including signing up tenants, supporting tenants with Housing Benefit applications, issuing warning letters, attending tenancy reviews and follow up court proceedings where it is agreed that this is the most appropriate course of action.

You will ensure that all tenants in your caseload are in receipt of Housing Benefit where appropriate, that ineligible rent is being paid and that tenancy action is taken promptly where there are arrears. You will work as a member of a team of Housing Officers and Welfare Rights Officers and should also expect to have regular interaction with our Finance Department and Senior Management including Service Directors.

The role will involve regular regional travel.

• To carry out pre-tenancy checks on allocated referrals before they sign up to our accommodation to ensure that they have all required paperwork including Right to Rent ID. To ensure that if they have been a tenant with Creative
• Support before that former rent accounts are checked and the prospective tenant is asked to clear any arrears or set up a payment plan.
• To sign up all new occupants in accommodation owned or managed by Creative Support. This will involve regional travel, meeting vulnerable adults with varying capacity and other parties including Social Workers, family members and advocates.
• To ensure that no one is allowed to move into our accommodation without a signed occupancy agreement and that this agreement is clearly explained to prospective occupants so that they are clear about their rights and responsibilities.
• Ensure that rent and service charge liability is clearly explained during the sign up process. Provide tenants with accurate and appropriate advice and information in a suitable format about the amounts payable and the range of payment options available.
• Facilitate the submission of a Housing Benefit claim within the first week of the tenancy and where another representative e.g. an appointee is taking responsibility for this, that they also ensure the claim is submitted within the first week and that you monitor this and obtain proof of the claim having been submitted.
• To make sure that the Housing Benefit claim goes into payment from the correct date and at the correct rate and that communication is maintained with the local authority throughout to avoid any arrears accruing due to information not being provided or timescales not being met.
• Visit all new tenants 4-6 weeks after the start of their tenancy to make sure that they have settled into their accommodation, are maintaining the condition of their home and that there are no rent issues.
• To ensure that all accounts on the internal system are set up and maintained with accurate charges and correct start and end dates, making adjustments where necessary.
• Collect information for the completion of CORE monitoring logs for all new starters.
• To support the administration of the charging and collection of rent and other charges, liaising with tenants, housing benefit and support staff to minimise arrears. To implement and monitor action plans to recover arrears
• To maintain accurate records of all empty properties within your caseload. This should include an understanding of why there is a void and what is being done to fill it.
• To support frontline managers to overcome any barriers to filling the empty units. To be assertive and proactive in encouraging prompt sign-ups of suitable referrals and explaining about the process of applying for Housing Benefit on two homes.
• Support staff with the carrying out of void inspections on properties due to become vacant, to highlight any work that might need doing or furniture which might need ordering.
• To liaise with the Property Services team at Head Office with regards to outstanding works or items needed for empty properties in order to make them ready for new tenants. To prevent ongoing void rental loss due to outstanding void works.

• Experience of general administration and record keeping
• Experience of working in social housing, supported housing, client finance or welfare rights
• A working knowledge of welfare rights and the benefits system
• Understanding of data protection & confidentiality issues
• Familiarity with computerised records and accounts
• A relevant vocational qualification
• Good first degree (2:1 or above) or equivalent qualification
• A good standard of written English
• Good numeracy skills
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex written and numerical information
• Excellent IT and data management skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to work on a variety of tasks and multiple projects and to prioritise these effectively on own initiative and using self-motivation
• Ability to deal effectively with challenging situations and/or persons diplomatically but assertively
• Ability to engage effectively, meaningfully and sensitively with service users from a range of client groups and with a range of support needs.
• Ability to build strong working relationships both internally and externally
• Excellent customer care skills and the ability to respond to a wide range of enquiries.
• Willingness to consult colleagues and to work as part of a team
• Courteous, friendly and professional telephone manner and e-mail style both internally and externally
• Ability to work out of hours and attend evening/weekend meetings as and when required
• A commitment to continuous improvement of services, sharing ideas with managers and colleagues
• Willing to accept constructive feedback and adapt actions/behaviour accordingly
• A commitment to equal opportunity policies and practices
• Willing to attend training courses and events
• Willing to travel nationally based upon the needs of the services
• Good work ethic, timekeeping, attendance, professionalism and reliability

• A one-off bonus of £100 upon successful completion of the 4-month probationary period.
• Competitive pay and a pension with company contribution and 25 days annual leave plus 8 statutory bank holidays
• Company paid enhanced DBS for all staff
• Free employee support programme
• All our staff are supported 24/7 by our out-of-hours teams
• Support to complete the nationally recognised Care Certificate and Social Care Diploma