Housing Advice Officer FTC

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Housing Advice Officer to join our busy Housing Advice Team on a two-year fixed-term contract, working 37 hours per week on our award winning OneView project.
OneView is a predictive analytics system which uses data from a range of sources to inform the Council of any individual or household who may be at risk of homelessness. This often involves rent arrears, debts and other support needs, so any experience in this area would be beneficial.
We are seeking someone with experience of working with vulnerable people and making decisions based on their best interests. You should have an understanding of the causes of homelessness and issues faced by individuals who are threatened with homelessness, as well as effective interventions to assist them to remain in their home.
As a Housing Advice Officer, you will manage your own case load, work with clients to assess their housing needs and provide exceptional advice and support. You will need the ability to demonstrate skills of empathy in assessing the clients housing circumstances and support needs, to devise personalised housing plans and to provide a broad range of housing options, with the aim of assisting clients to retain their current accommodation, or secure alternative suitable accommodation if their homelessness cannot be prevented., Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect a job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview., Maidstone Borough Council has a sponsor license which enables successful candidates in eligible roles to be sponsored for work Visa purposes.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Michael Collins, Senior Housing Advice Officer, on .

The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, highly motivated and have excellent communication skills. Additionally, you will have excellent interpersonal, organisation and IT skills and will have sufficient experience working with vulnerable people who may require support, advice or assistance. You should be able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
You should be a strong team player who embraces change and is able to work flexibility in order to meet the needs of the service and our clients.
The Council considers this to be a customer focused role and the ability to converse at ease with customers adapting communication style to suit differing audiences and provide advice in accurate spoken English is fundamental to the role.

Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy.

Pulled from the full job description

• Car scheme


• Company pension


• Cycle to work scheme


• Employee discount


• Free flu jabs


• Season ticket loan, We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.

We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.
Our Offer:
A range of benefits including:

• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities.


• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors


• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)


• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)


• Generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy additional leave


• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work


• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing, and road tax


• A wide range of flexible working opportunities


• Annual flu vaccine


• Cycle to work scheme


• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping


• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals


• A professional fee payment, if required for the role