Our ref:

Your ref:

Please ask for:

Email:

Direct dial: 01473 433402

Dear Applicant

RE: Resettlement Officer Post Ref:

Thank you for your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed in this application pack the following documents:

·  Job Description

·  Person Specification

·  Structure Chart

·  Service Overview

Application Form:

The application form plays a key part in our selection process. We use the information you provide to shortlist for interview.

You are urged to ensure that all the information contained in your application is relevant and that you demonstrate how you meet the criteria on the person specification. Please use the person specification for guidance when filling in the application form.

References: If successful at interview, Ipswich Borough Council will seek to obtain two employment references. Wherever possible the name of your first referee must be from current employment/education and the second from either current or former employment/education. If you cannot provide an “employment” reference please contact the HR Team at Ipswich Borough Council for further assistance.

For your information, the salary for this post is: £24,322 - £26,124 per annum

The closing date is 5pm on the 19th May 2017.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

The above post has been risk assessed and requires the completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) form. Should you be successful at interview, further details will be given to you regarding the disclosure process and the Council’s relevant policies and procedures.

Ipswich Borough Council complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.

We also fully comply with the DBS Code of Practice regarding the correct handling, use, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information and our obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 and other relevant legislation pertaining to the safe handling, use, storage, retention and disposal of Disclosure information.

Copies of the full Policy Statements regarding the “DBS Code of Practice”, “IBC Recruitment of Ex-Offenders” or the “IBC Secure Storage, Handling, Use, Retention & Disposal of Disclosure” can be obtained by writing to Human Resources, at the above address, by emailing or phoning 01473 433402.

If you have any recruitment queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01473 433402. Please leave your name, number and brief details of your question and a member of the recruitment team will call you back.

Yours faithfully

Recruitment Team

Human Resource


Ipswich Borough Council

Job Description: G76

Resettlement Officer

Main Purpose of Job

Responsibility for helping tenants with support needs to establish a new home whether in temporary accommodation or settled housing by ensuring that appropriate support is provided by other agencies to assist in maintaining the tenancy. Reducing the incidence of repeat homelessness.

Main Duties

1. To identify new residents and tenants who would benefit from the service. Liaising with other officers as appropriate to identify those in temporary housing or ready for move on into settled housing who may benefit from support services.

2. To be responsible for working with other agencies that have a role in care and resettlement to ensure that appropriate support packages are provided to enable residents and tenants to sustain temporary housing and make the move to settled housing.

3. Responsible for providing advice and assistance to residents and tenants in temporary housing and to help manage the transition to a new settled tenancy. To advise new tenants of their obligations and how they can access appropriate support.

4. To liaise with and assist appropriate staff and other landlords to control and recover rent arrears. Liaising with benefit agencies regarding benefit claims and advising tenants so as to prevent the accumulation of arrears.

5. To assist in dealing with disputes arising between residents and tenants in temporary housing and their neighbours, liaising with other officers and agencies as necessary.

6. Such variations as may be required from time to time without changing the general character of the duties shown above or the level of responsibility entailed.

/ Person Specification
Resettlement Officer
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Qualifications / 2 A levels or ONC/OND or an NVQ Level 4 or 3 years qualitative experience. / Housing Related Qualification / Application/interview
Relevant experience / Experience of working in housing or a related field
Experience of partnership working with external organisations
Experience of working directly with vulnerable adults and/or those at risk
Experience of using Microsoft office / Experience of providing welfare advice and support
Experience of working in a similar role
Experience of introducing and setting up new systems
Experience of facilitating case reviews / Application/Interview
Specialist knowledge / Knowledge of housing options and support services available
Working knowledge of welfare benefits
Knowledge of safeguarding / A working knowledge of Homelessness legislation and Housing Register/Allocation Policy
Knowledge of social care legislation / Application/interview
Personal skills / Demonstrate effective communication skills both verbally and in writing
Ability to prioritise own work load and meet deadlines
Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with external organisations
Demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail when maintaining records
Ability to carry out work under pressure and maintain high standards of work
Ability to work using own initiative with minimal supervision
Proven ability to make difficult decisions
Flexible and adaptable in response to change / Ability to write reports and produce statistics / Application/interview
Special working conditions / Full Driving Licence
Enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check required / Application/Interview

Ipswich Borough Council

Housing Advice

Business Support Unit

·  Maintaining ET Review of HRA Business Plan including annual rent setting

·  Financial and performance monitoring Expert user for Housing specific IT systems Processing all Choice Based Lettings applications Maintenance of Housing information systems

·  General administration such as post, scanning, processing orders and invoices and hundreds of other tasks to help the teams function

·  M&C Contracts Business Support

·  M&C Contracts Performance Management

Housing Options

·  Face to face work with customers at the Customer Service Centre for all Housing Options Issues, on an appointment basis

·  Homelessness prevention using a variety of options including Private Rented Sector, Hostels and Other supported accommodation, Mediation with friends/family, Negotiation with landlords/Housing Benefit to address rent arrears, Mortgage Rescue Scheme, Sanctuary Scheme for victims of domestic abuse

·  Homelessness applications and decisions

·  Specialist areas of work - young people, welfare rights and money advice, legal issues domestic violence, housing help and work advice, landlord and tenant issues

Accommodation Team

·  Maintenance of the housing register, assessing housing need and carrying out eligibility tests where applicable

·  Checking adverts for all void social housing properties in the Ipswich boundary before advertising on Choice Based Letting system

·  Allocation of social housing through the Choice Based Letting scheme

·  Ensure access to accommodation for vulnerable groups including those with physical disabilities

·  Rent account management of temporary accommodation, including recovery action where appropriate

West Villa Accommodation

·  Resettlement officer working across both teams (Accommodation Et West Villa) assessing a co-coordinating support for homeless households where appropriate

·  Team of hostel staff responsible for day-to-day operation of the hostel, maintaining 24 hour cover in shifts

·  Enforcing hostel license conditions

·  Crisis intervention with professional agencies

·  Sign posting residents to appropriate agencies for non-related housing assistance

·  Assess out of hours requests for assistance under homelessness legislation and provide accommodation where applicable