Development Officer - Generic Job Description
WORTHING HOMES
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Senior Housing Officer / Date: February 2011Reports to: Neighbourhood Manager / Location: Davison House
Main Purpose
To take responsibility for providing a high quality customer focused management service to a defined area.To manage 2 front line members of staff namely the Neighbourhood Warden and Cambourne Court caretaker and manage the Concierge contract.
List of main tasks
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Estate Management
a) Responsible for the arrears management of rent accounts within the designated area once they have exceeded the ‘low level’ threshold. This will entail being responsible for taking appropriate action against tenants in arrears in accordance with the relevant procedure, including making contact with tenants in arrears by letter and personal visit, through to taking action in the County Court and organising and attending evictions where necessary.
b) To ensure basic welfare benefits advice is given to tenants in arrears or they are referred to a specialist agency dealing with debt counselling; that they are familiar with the company’s policy on arrears and an agreement is made for clearance of the debt.
c) To attend court to present cases or give evidence where required including but not confined to cases involving rent arrears or breaches of tenancy conditions.
d) Undertake end of tenancy inspections and associated work in line with end of tenancy procedures. Assist with the re-letting of empty homes in the absence of the Lettings Adviser and for new lets. This may include assisting with the assessment of applications for the housing register in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
e) Dealing with requests in relation to transfers, mutual exchanges, successions and assignments in accordance with the defined procedure.
f) To undertake new tenant visits in accordance with the defined procedure.
g) Dealing with the efficient letting of garages ensuring minimum relet period with the assistance of the Housing Assistant.
h) To encourage tenants to comply with their Conditions of Tenancy, taking appropriate action where the tenants' obligations are not being met, including referral to the Neighbourhood Manager for advice regarding legal action where necessary, in accordance with current procedures.
i) Carrying out regular inspection of estates, garage sites and other land owned by Worthing Homes, taking appropriate action to ensure there is a pleasant, clean and safe environment for tenants, leaseholders and the public using these areas. This will include dealing with or reporting problems to the appropriate department in respect of rubbish clearances, abandoned vehicles, grounds maintenance, playground inspections, tree works or cleaning.
j) To assist in ensuring that contractors are complying with their obligations in respect of cleaning contracts.
k) To deal with cases of unauthorised parking and/or abandoned vehicles on land owned by Worthing Homes in accordance with the defined procedure.
l) Deal with requests for accessibility aids and adaptations for disabled customers, including liaison with property services as specified in the relevant procedure.
m) Liaise with property services regarding repairs/maintenance of company property and environmental improvements.
n) In liaison with property services, to consult with tenants prior to and during the course of improvements and major repair works. Liaise with the Lettings Adviser where decanting is necessary.
o) Deal with applications from tenants to make alterations/ improvements to tenancy premises, liaising with property services and seeking technical advice where appropriate.
p) To deal with applications from tenants requesting internal decorations, ensuring the relevant database is maintained accurately with only qualifying tenants are allowed entry in accordance with the relevant procedure.
q) Work with other agencies (including Social Services, Community Mental Health Team, police, etc) to seek solutions to problems.
r) Be responsible for updating company records accurately to reflect any work undertaken that requires such an action for example, name changes, changes following succession or assignment.
s) In liaison with the Sales and Leasehold Adviser, ensure that leaseholders comply with the terms of their lease, ensuring that appropriate action is taken for minor breaches and that more serious or ongoing breaches are referred to the Sales and Leasehold Adviser.
t) To be familiar with and comply with all relevant procedures for the post contained in the Housing Services Procedures Manual.
u) Complete documentation relating to housing management information and monitoring statistics.
v) Liaison with tenants’ association representatives concerning estate management matters, including attendance at tenants’ meetings.
2. Managerial responsibilities
a) To manage the Neighbourhood Warden and Cambourne Court caretaker and assist the Neighbourhood Manager to recruit to staff vacancies, carry out inductions and ensure company probationary procedure is complied with.
b) Carry out one to ones, staff appraisals, identify training needs and ensure these are met.
c) Supervise and co-ordinate the work of staff to ensure compliance with practices and procedures.
d) Monitor staff performance (particularly in respect of any performance reward scheme) and discipline. Provide senior management with performance information in respect of line managed staff.
e) Provide managerial assistance to members of Neighbourhood Housing Team, in the absence of the Neighbourhood Manager.
3. Other
a) To adhere to all aspects of the Company’s Equal Opportunity Employment Policy and Equality and Diversity Policy, in so far as it affects you as an employee of Worthing Homes Limited and in the provision of services to both external and internal customers of the Company, in order to comply with the law and to promote and maintain good employee and customer relations.
b)To provide high standards of customer care to both external and internal customers as laid down in the Company’s Customer Care Policy.
c) To comply with Health and Safety legislation and the Company’s Health and Safety Policy, practices and procedures.
d)To comply with all aspects of the Company’s Code of Conduct.
e)To adhere to the Company’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.
f) The postholder may be required to assist in any emergency that may arise relating to Worthing Homes Limited or any contractual obligations Worthing Homes Limited may have with Worthing Borough Council or other organisations. The role will be in line with the current Business Contingency Plan.
g)The postholder will be issued with a name badge and ID which should be worn at all times when dealing with members of the public.
h) Because of the nature of the duties of this post, in the event of an application being successful, a Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will be sought at Enhanced Level.
4. Information not included elsewhere:
a) A mileage allowance is payable. Attendance at evening meetings will be occasionally required.
b) This post is located within the Neighbourhood Services Team, a multidisciplinary team responsible for estate management, arrears management and lettings. The post holder will participate as a team member and provide cover for the other functions, as required
5. Reports
Neighbourhood Warden
Cambourne Court caretaker
Changes:
This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of line managers to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This will be conducted in consultation with you. It is line manager and the employee to aim to reach an agreement on changes, but if agreement is not possible, the company reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description, after consultation with you.Signature______Date
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