Housing Solutions Officer

Working Hours: 35 Hours per week

Contract Type: Various Full-Time and Temporary positions available

Closing Date: 05 November 2024

Interview Method: In Person (Face to Face)

This role is subject to -

Police Vetting – You will be required to undertake a Greater Manchester Police vetting process.

BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard) clearance - this post is subject to BPSS checks. You will therefore be required to consent to and comply with BPSS checking requirements prior to commencing in this post. This check involves verification of identity; nationality and immigration status; employment history (past 3 years) and basic criminal record check.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.

The roles will be based within the Housing Solutions Service which sits within the Homelessness Department.  Staff have the responsibility for taking homelessness applications and trying to find innovative solutions to peoples housing problems.

We are looking to recruit Housing Solutions Officers who will be responsible for carrying out the statutory duties of the 1996 Housing Act Part VII as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act.  The Housing Solutions Officers will work with families and single households who are already, or whom are at risk of, becoming homeless. 

The focus is very much on the prevention of homelessness, trying to keep people in their existing homes and where this is not an option find suitable move on accommodation.

We are looking for candidates who are passionate about delivering high quality advice and assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Strong negotiation skills and the ability to create robust plans are essential to ensure the individual needs of service users are appropriately considered and homelessness prevention is empathised.

We are looking for candidates who can think creatively and who can communicate advice appropriately, and in a realistic and engaging way. 

We have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy,

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is at the fore front of our agenda within the housing solutions team, this starts with our recruitment process.

As a standard all interview questions will be provided before the interview, for any candidate selected.

If there is anything that you would like to discuss around this, or anything else relating to the role, please feel free to contact [email protected] or [email protected].

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship. 

We’re the local government authority for Manchester, and have teams across the city helping to make this a great place to live for everyone. We’re proud to do local government differently, in a city with an international reputation for diversity, creativity, culture and passion. 

When you join us, you’re joining a team of over 7,000 council staff helping to make our ambition for Manchester a reality. Whatever your role, you’ll be supporting our residents and communities to be the best they can be, and helping to build a Manchester that's fairer for everyone who lives, works, volunteers, studies or plays here. 

To make our ambition a reality, every person we recruit needs to play their its part. It takes a certain type of behaviour, attitude and way of working to get Manchester where it wants to be. Our people and partners have agreed five ‘behaviours’ – the grounding for how we must work together and treat one another:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

A career with us means you can be yourself, thrive, and build the career your talent and ambition deserve.

Creating an inclusive team at Manchester City Council 

At Manchester City Council, we strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve.  We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly encourage applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.   

If you want to find out more about the role, our ways of working, flexible arrangements or any workplace adjustments, please let us know by emailing [email protected]. If you are invited to interview, we will ask you if you require any adjustments for you to best demonstrate your suitability for the role in the interview process.   

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Accessibility 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we provide support for employees with physical or mental-health conditions, a disability or neurodiversity. Our workplaces are accessible by design, and we make workplace adjustments including providing aids, adaptations and equipment. These, combined with our flexible working policies such as disability-related leave, enable our employees to perform their role, thrive and be their authentic selves in work. 

When you join us 

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role. 

Other relevant information 

Why work for us
Who we are - Manchester City Council 
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