Making a difference to our Community

Housing Assistant x 2

Salary Details: EVH Scale 5 (£22,303 - £24,786 from 1st April)

Full-time, Permanent Positions

We are advertising to appoint two new Housing Assistants.

We are a community controlled housing co-operative based in Easterhouse, Glasgow and presently own and manage approximately 750 homes.

The Co-operative has historically defined itself as being more than a housing provider, delivering a wide range of social and welfare activities vital to our local community.

We are also an Investors in People Gold organsiation and the present winner of the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing small social landlord of the year award.

In our last comprehensive residents’ survey, 97% of tenants stated they were satisfied with the quality of our services.

Meanwhile in our recent staff survey, 97.2% of staff felt very motivated to a do a good job.

As a business, we passionately believe excellent performance and the ability to achieve our purpose is predicated on staff growth and development.

Accordingly as an employer we place a high value on continuous professional development.

We feel this is an excellent opportunity to have a positive impact by “making a difference to our community” and working in an environment that is focused on fulfilling career aspirations.

The post holder will have responsibility for a broad range of housing management duties including allocations, void control, arrears control, estate management and neighbor nuisance.

Ideally, we are looking for a candidate with relevant experience in a similar type of role, an understanding of the role and purpose of community controlled housing organisations and an enthusiasm to deliver significant and effective change.

We feel this is a rewarding post that offers an attractive and competitive employment package.

Application forms are can be downloaded from our website at should be returned to by 10 am Monday 17th February 2014.

Interviews will be held on Friday 21st February 2014 at the Co-operative’s office. Meanwhile, applicants will be notified by email on Tuesday 18th February if they are invited to attend an interview.

All applicants are expected to complete the application form and CV’s will not be accepted.

Employers in Voluntary Housing conditions apply. Easthall Park is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Making a Difference to our Community

Background

Easthall Park Housing Co-operative Ltd is a housing co-operative operating in Easthall and Kildermorie in the North East of Glasgow.

Easthall Park was formed in 1992 and has over the years progressively grown in size with a present stock portfolio of 749 units. This consists of 693 rented properties, 3 shared owners and 53 factored owners.

The organisation has historically defined itself as being more than a housing provider, delivering a wide range of community development activities, as well as the traditional landlord services.

Key facts:

  • We are the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing small social landlord of the year.
  • Our recent residents’ survey indicated 97% satisfaction with services.
  • We are an Investors in People gold organisation.
  • Our recent staff survey indicated 97.2% felt very motivated to a do a good job.
  • We have a partnership agreement with Easthall Residents Association to support the delivery of our community development objectives. This involves managing a community centre that attracts over 300 people each week.

Our organisational purpose is “making a difference to our community”.

We believe we achieve this purpose but recognise we need to continually adapt and improve to maintain performance.

For further information on why we exist and what we do, visit

If you want to “make a difference” read our information material and return an application!

Guidance Notes for Applicants on Filling in the Application Form

Please read these notes carefully – they are to help you make the best of your application.

  1. The form should be completed in electronic format, black ink or black ballpoint pen for photocopying purposes.
  2. Please do not send in your Curriculum Vitae.
  3. One of your references should be your present or most recent employer. If you have not been employed or have been out of employment for a long time, you may wish to give the name of someone who knows you sufficiently well to confirm the information you have given and to comment on your ability to do the job. Please note that referees may be contacted prior to interview unless candidates indicate otherwise on the appropriate part of the Application Form.
  4. The enclosed person specification lists the minimum essential requirements for this post. When short listing for interview, the selection panel will only consider the information contained in your application form and assess this against the Person specification.
  5. It is not the responsibility of the Selection panel to make assumptions about the nature of the work you have done from a list of job titles. It is therefore important that you use the space provided to detail your experience and skills. Neither is it enough for you just to state that you meet the requirements, you must demonstrate this to the panel. Work paid or voluntary, is not the only means of showing that you meet the requirements of the post. Life experience and skills are just as valid, so long as you are able to demonstrate this.
  6. If you are short listed for interview, the Selection Panel will wish to discuss the areas covered in the Person Specification in more detail
  1. If you are related to any members of staff, management committee members, consultants, contractors or suppliers to the Co-operative – this should be clearly shown on the relevant part of the form. This will not necessarily be detrimental to your application.
  1. Return completed forms to or Easthall Park Housing Co-operative Ltd, Glenburn Centre, 6 Glenburnie Place, Easthall, Glasgow G34 9AN no later than:

10am Monday 17thFebruary 2014

  1. It is a criminal offence for Easthall Park or any company to knowingly employ a person who does not have the right to work in the UK. You will be asked to produce documentation which evidences your right at the interview stage. Offers of employment will not be made until this is established. For more details refer to the document Information for Applicants, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

10If you do not hear from us by Wednesday 19thFebruary 2014 then your application has not been short listed for interview. Normally, we would endeavour to advise applicants directly even if they have not been invited for interview, however as we anticipate a high interest in this position it might not be practical to contact everyone directly. If you are not invited for an interview and would appreciate feedback as to why this was the case you are welcome to contact us after the above date. If not selected for interview can we thank you for your interest in the post and we wish you well in your future career prospects.

Job Title:Housing Assistant

Grade: 5

Salary:£22,303 - £24,786(from 1st April 2014)

Accountable to:Senior Housing Officer

Main Objectives of Post

To be a key contributor to achieving strategic objectives

Support the Housing Officers manage a designated housing patch to ensure the delivery of a responsive and continuously improving housing management service

To maintain effective partnership working through internal and external communication

Accountability

Directly responsible to Senior Housing Officer on a daily basis

Principal Duties

Rent management

Have responsibility for low level arrears cases

Support Housing Officer including administrating arrears statements and preparing cases for court

Manage and co-ordinate former tenant arrears control

Support Housing Officers implement the welfare reform strategy, supporting our community bank service

Developing productive relationships with external agencies such as money advice and welfare rights agencies, Housing Benefit, Homeless etc.

Estate management

Undertake weekly estate management visits and co-ordinate structured inspections with Resident Panel members

Co-ordinate and administrate the garden maintenance service

Liaise with Glasgow City Council to maintain high environmental standards

ASB and neighbour relations

Ensure implementation of policy and procedural timescales met

Investigate and resolve Category C complaints within locally agreed resolution targets

Support Housing Officers investigate and resolve Category A and B complaints.

Liaise with Strathclyde Police on disclosure and information sharing in accordance with relevant protocols

Allocations

Administer Common Housing Register in accordance with locally agreed procedures

Administer application forms and prioritise in accordance with allocation policy

Monitor and support Housing Assistant administer Common Housing Register and application forms

Administer SCORE logs

Void Management

Undertake pre-termination inspections with Maintenance Assistant

Undertake void inspections with Maintenance staff

Manage new tenant sign-up procedure and carry out new tenant visits

Support Housing Officer liaise with Maintenance staff to ensure void properties re-let quickly and in accordance with letting standards

Tenant Participation and Equal Opportunities

Support the implementation of the tenant participation and equal opportunities policy and strategy.

Tenancy Administration

Support administration of legal responsibilities set out in Housing Scotland Act 2001 and any new relevant legislation as introduced.

For instance, this would include sub-letting, lodgers, assignations, successions, abandonments etc.

General duties

Support delivery of corporate objectives

Support effective collaboration and co-operation between departments

Represent Easthall Park at appropriate housing forums

Requirement to work out with normal business hours as determined by senior staff

To carry out any relevant duties at the request of the Senior Housing Officer

HOUSING ASSISTANT:PERSON SPECIFICATION

The ideal person for the post of HousingAssistant would be compatible with the following criteria:-

EDUCATION
Essential / Desirable
Good, general education / Relevant business or social housing qualification
-
WORK EXPERIENCE
Essential / Desirable
Experience of working for a housing association or co-operative / Experience of working in a housing management role
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES
Essential / Desirable
Proven customer service skills
Ability to deal effectively with complaints
Understanding of the purpose of housing association/co-operatives and environment operate within / Knowledge of housing legislation and regulation
Ability to build relations with key external agencies
Excellent verbal and written skills
Ability to adapt to change and deliver continuous improvement
Proven IT skills / Understanding of SDM
Able to use initiative and work collaboratively as part of a team
Ability to implement procedure and achieve targets
Empathise with customers
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential / Desirable
Flexibility (some evening or weekend work required)

Information for Applicants

Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006

From 29th February 2008, employers must ask prospective employees to provide specific documents to ensure that you are entitled to work in the UK. It is a criminal offence for employers to employ someone without this right. If you are short-listed for interview you will be asked to provide relevant documents from the following lists before any job offer can be made.

LIST A – Establishes an ongoing entitlement to work in the UK.

  1. A passport showing that the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a British citizen or a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies having the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

  1. A passport or national identity card showing that the holder, or a person named in the passport as the child of the holder, is a national of the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

  1. A residence permit, registration certificate or document certifying or indicating permanent residence issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.

  1. A Permanent residence card issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to the family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.

  1. A Biometric Immigration Document issued by the Border and Immigration Agency to the holder which indicates that the person named in it is allowed to stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom, or has no times limit on their stay in the United Kingdom.

  1. A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that the holder is exempt from immigration control, is allowed to stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom, has the right of abode in the United Kingdom, or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom.

  1. An Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the person named in it is allowed to stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom or has no time limit on their stay in the United Kingdom, when produced in the combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

  1. A full birth certificate issued in the United Kingdom which includes the name(s) of at least one of the holders parents, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

  1. A full adoption certificate issued in the United Kingdom which includes the name(s) of at least one of the holder’s adoptive parents, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

  1. A birth certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

  1. An adoption certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

  1. A certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British Citizen, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer

  1. A letter issued by the Home Office or Border and Immigration Agency to the holder which indicates that the person named in it is allowed to stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer

LIST B – indicates restrictions on the entitlement to work in the UK.

  1. A passport or travel document endorsed to show that the holder is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom and is allowed to do the type of work in question, provided that it does not require the issue of a work permit.

  1. A Biometric Immigration Document issued by the Border and Immigration Agency to the holder which indicates that the person named in it can stay in the United Kingdom and is allowed to do the work in the question.

  1. A work permit or other approval to take employment issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency when produced in combination with either a passport or another travel document endorsed to show the holder is allowed to stay in the United Kingdom and is allowed to do the work in question, or a letter issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to the holder or the employer or prospective employer confirming the same.

  1. A certificate of application issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to or for a family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland stating that the holder is permitted to take employment which is less than 6 months old when produced in combination with evidence of verification by the Border and Immigration Agency Employer Checking Service.

  1. A residence card or document issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to a family member of a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.

  1. An Application Registration Card issued by by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency stating that the holder is permitted to take employment, when produced in combination with evidence of verification by the Border and Immigration Agency Employer Checking Service.

  1. An Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the person named in it can stay in the United Kingdom, and is allowed to do the type of work in question, when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employe.

  1. A letter issued by the Home Office or the Border and Immigration Agency to the holder or the employer or prospective employer, which indicates that the person named in it can stay in the United Kingdom and is allowed to do the work in question when produced in combination with an official document giving the person’s permanent National Insurance Number and their name issued by a Government agency or a previous employer.

EASTHALL PARK HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE
APPLICATION FORM
POST APPLIED FOR: HOUSING ASSISTANT /

Note: As this form will be copied please use black ink and BLOCK LETTERS or typescript

PERSONAL DETAILS
Surname: / Initials(s): / National Insurance No:
Address and Postcode / Do you hold a current
driving licence
Telephone (Home)
Telephone (Business)
SCHOOL EDUCATION
List all certificates at their highest level only. Continue on a separate sheet if necessary.
Subject / Level and Result / Subject / Level and Result
1. / 6.
2. / 7.
3. / 8.
4. / 9.
5. / 10.
FURTHER EDUCATION
List all Colleges, Polytechnics or Universities attended (give details of examinations taken and results awarded or awaiting). Non-UK educated applicants please specify country where study took place.
College/
University / Dates / Study Method / Qualifications Obtained, Grades
Major Subjects Studied / Date
Awarded/
Anticipated
From / To / F/T / P/T
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES
Name of Institute / Current Status / Date Awarded
PRESENT EMPLOYMENT
Do we have permission to contact your current employer prior to interview?
Name and Address of Employer: / Date employment commenced:
Present Salary and Benefits
Position Held / Notice Required:
Duties and Responsibilities:
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT (List in order, with most recent employer first)
Continue on separate sheet if necessary.
Dates / Name and Address of Employer / Position Held and Nature of Duties / Reason for leaving
From / To
EXPERIENCE SKILLS AND TRAINING
Please describe your interest in this post and organisation and set out experiences, skills and qualities you
will bring to the post.
(Continue on a separate A4 sheet if necessary)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Do you have any voluntary work or public service commitments or any relevant experience, which you wish
to draw to our attention?
Do you have any private business commitments? If so, please provide a brief description
ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Do you consider that you have a disability / YES / NO
If YES – are there any arrangement, which we can make for you if you are called for interview? Please give details below:
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence, other than a spent conviction under the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?
YES / NO
ADVERTISMENT SOURCE
Where did you see this vacancy advertised?
REFEREES
Name, Address and Occupation of two referees. They should know you in a work capacity, if previously employed
One of the referees should be your current or most recent employer
Please tick the box if you have any objections to a referee being contacted prior to interview.
1. Name and Address of Referee: / 2. Name and Address of Referee:
Phone No: / Phone No:
Occupation: / Occupation:

NOTE TO ALL APPLICANTS