Homelessness Prevention Officer – AR

Location: Rochdale Borough Council – Number One Riverside, Rochdale
Rate: £16.62 PAYE
Contract: Full-Time, 37 Hours per Week
Working Pattern: Predominantly office-based. Potential for 1 day per week working from home once fully embedded within the service.

About the Role

Rochdale Borough Council is looking for an experienced Homelessness Prevention Officer to join its Homelessness & Prevention Service. This is a frontline role supporting residents who are homeless or threatened with homelessness by providing housing advice, carrying out statutory assessments and securing suitable accommodation.

You will manage your own caseload from initial contact through to resolution, ensuring the Council meets its statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced homelessness practitioner who can work independently and make informed decisions from day one.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of homelessness prevention and relief cases from initial assessment through to accommodation outcomes.
• Conduct Housing Needs Assessments and determine statutory homelessness duties.
• Develop and manage Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs) with customers.
• Assess eligibility, homelessness, priority need, intentional homelessness and local connection in accordance with housing legislation.
• Take reasonable steps to prevent and relieve homelessness.
• Arrange interim and temporary accommodation where appropriate.
• Provide comprehensive housing advice on homelessness prevention, private rented accommodation, social housing and housing options.
• Liaise with landlords, Registered Providers and partner agencies to secure sustainable housing solutions.
• Complete referrals to internal and external support services.
• Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings including safeguarding, MARAC, MAPPA and Child Protection meetings where required.
• Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with statutory guidance and council procedures.
• Keep up to date with changes in housing legislation, case law and best practice.

Essential Experience

• Previous experience working as a Homelessness Prevention Officer, Housing Options Officer or Homelessness Officer within a Local Authority.
• Experience managing homelessness cases from assessment through to accommodation placement.
• Experience carrying out statutory homelessness assessments and making legal decisions.
• Strong understanding of homelessness prevention and housing options.
• Experience working with vulnerable customers and complex housing needs.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload with minimal supervision.

Essential Knowledge

• Housing Act 1996 (Part VII).
• Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Homelessness Code of Guidance.
• Housing Needs Assessments.
• Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs).
• Temporary and interim accommodation processes.
• Safeguarding principles and partnership working.

Systems

• Experience using LOCATA is highly desirable.
• Confident using housing management systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Skills

• Excellent customer interviewing and assessment skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Sound decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to interpret and apply housing legislation.
• Excellent case management and organisational skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with internal teams, landlords and external agencies.
• Resilient, adaptable and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be an experienced Local Authority homelessness practitioner with strong knowledge of homelessness legislation and statutory case management. You will be confident managing your own workload, making legally sound decisions and delivering positive outcomes for customers with minimal supervision. Experience using LOCATA will be a significant advantage.