Housing Solutions Office

1 x Full time, permanent positions, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

This is a career grade role with appointments relevant to experience and qualifications.

Colchester Borough Homes (CBH) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colchester City Council. As part of the local business community since 2003, we are an award-winning organisation, providing management and maintenance services to around 7,000 residential, commercial and public buildings throughout the Borough, including the Council’s housing stock, Colchester Castle and Colchester Town Hall.

CBH is a fantastic place to work, delivering vital services and making a real difference to our tenants’ and leaseholders’ lives. We aim to be a trusted choice for local housing, property and community services. We are an ambitious organisation focused on delivering great value services that make a difference.

Our Housing Solutions service is prevention and relief focused in which we look to work with applicants to manage any threats of homelessness and help prevent homelessness or find alternative accommodation.

The service faces a range of challenges, with an increasing demand for accommodation without an adequate supply of housing. We have made significant changes and developments as a service and achieve effective results.

We are looking for a Housing Solutions Officer with an understanding of the Housing Act 1996 Part 7 (as amended) and of the of the Homeless Reduction Act 2017.

You will be customer focussed and be able to manage a wide and varied workload, whilst meeting our business objectives and performance targets

The Housing Solutions Officer will assist in managing demand for the council’s housing services while offering advice and support to members of the public.

An instrumental element of the role will involve managing client expectations and building trusting relationships.

What we are looking for:-

• An ability to demonstrate a high standard of customer service skills
  
  
• Excellent communication, negotiation and persuasion skills to effectively engage with a range of stakeholders on a daily basis, someone who has an eye for detail, someone who can think on the spot and take tough decisions, whilst applying the legislation and also positively contributing to the development of the service.
  
  
• The ability to manage client relationships, building effective rapport
  
  
• A can do attitude towards problem solving will be evident
  
  
• An understanding of Homelessness legislation and a general understanding of Housing policies
  
  
• Competent with IT systems including Microsoft Office amongst others
  
  We offer a range of benefits which include flexible working, staff benefits, pension, and the opportunity to make a real difference to our local community.
  
  Benefits of the role include:
  
  
• Local Government Pension Scheme with a 20.8 % employer contribution
  
  
• Excellent training, development, and progression opportunities
  
  
• Generous annual leave entitlement, 21 days annual leave (increasing to 26 days after 5 years’ service), plus bank and public holidays and two extra company holidays during the Christmas period.
  
  
• The opportunity to buy up to another 5 days holiday, subject to conditions
  
  
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme
  
  
• Provision of a smartphone and laptop
  
  
• Free parking (for when you’re in the office)
  
  
• Discounted gym member – corporate membership rate at Leisure World and the Northern Gateway.
  
  
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
  
  
• Free Flu Jab
  
  
• Exceptional flexible working arrangement
  
  
• Agile Working at Colchester Borough Homes means having some flexibility about when, where and how we work to best meet the needs of our role and service area.
  
  Other employee benefits include payment of a professional subscription, Free yearly eye tests plus a contribution towards glasses for VDU use.
  
  Interview date to be confirmed.
  
  Equality & Diversity Commitment
  
  Colchester Borough Homes are an equal opportunities employer. As part of our continued commitment to Equality and Diversity, and our workforce accurately reflecting the community we represent, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and applicants who have status as an individual with a physical or mental disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer and a Mindful Employer. We also hold accreditations for Working Well, Investors in People Gold status and the Armed Forces Covenant.
  
  How to apply:
  
  Step 1 – Read the advert, Job Accountability Statement and Person Specification
  
  Step 2 – Click ‘Apply online’ below and complete the application form in full, ensuring that you indicate how you meet the criteria contained within the Person Specification
  
  Step 3 – Press ‘submit