Our ref:

Your ref:

Please ask for:

Email:

Direct dial: 01473 433402

Dear Applicant

RE:Hostel Support 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.

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 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: C25

Hostel Support Officer

Main purpose of job

To assist the Principal Accommodation Officer & Senior Hostel Officer in the day-to-day operation of the Councils hostels for the homeless.

Main duties

  1. Maintain and update records and statistics, both manual and electronic, relating to the buildings, residents and staff.
  1. To support the data collection and preparation activities for the production of all financial and performance records/reports.
  1. To co-ordinate the training of Hostel staff. Maintaining records and providing data as required.
  1. To produce staff rota ensuring 24 hour cover and support the co-ordination of emergency cover required as necessary.
  1. To answer and deal with, as appropriate, telephone calls and enquiries made to the office from residents and third parties.
  1. Carry out Hostel Officer functions during busy periods as directed by Senior staff.
  1. Liaise with other agencies including; health visitors, contractors, workmen, Police and Social Services within the context of the role.
  1. Collect, count and bank monies for residents laundry/phone use. Including collection from outer units as needed and banking off site. Complete paperwork associated with this and maintaining records both manual and electronic.
  1. Administer, maintain and replenish petty cash float as required.
  1. Ensure all building repairs and caretaking tasks are reported and monitored through to completion including all associated clerical duties relating to this.
  1. Carry out all administrative functions as required and defined by the Principal Accommodation Officer/Senior Hostel Officer.
  1. Order and maintain stocks of stationery, consumables and furniture as required.
  1. Input and maintain housing register applications for residents as directed by the Accommodation Team and in accordance with the Council’s Allocation Policy. Provide advice and assistance to residents in this regard and in relation to the Choice Based Lettings Scheme.
  1. 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.

/ Ipswich Borough Council
Person Specification
HOSTEL SUPPORT OFFICER
HOUSING ADVICE
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Qualifications /
  • 1 A level or 5 GCSEs Grade A* - C, including English & Mathematics or an NVQ level 3 qualification or 2 years qualitative experience
/
  • First aid certificate
/
  • Application
  • Certificates

Work Related Experience / Job Related Skills /
  • Experience of working in a customer facing role
  • Ability to maintain and analyse records and preparing statistical information
  • Experience of cash handling and/or banking
  • Experience of keeping detailed & accurate records (computerised & manual)
  • Experience of multi-agency working
/
  • Experience of working in a local authority
  • Experience of working with vulnerable adults and or those at risk
/
  • Application
  • Interview

Specialist Knowledge /
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft; word, excel, outlook (or similar applications)
  • Awareness of the need for confidentiality
/
  • Experience of working with Electronic Document Management systems
  • Knowledge/experience of working with Agresso financial system
/
  • Application
  • interview

Personal skills /
  • demonstrate good communication skills (verbal and written) across all levels of management, staff, customers and external agencies
  • Demonstrate willingness to work with others to help achieve service requirements
  • Ability to work on own initiative, sometimes with minimal supervision
  • Demonstrate a flexible work attitude to meet requirements of the service
  • Ability to carry out work under pressure and maintain standard of work
  • Demonstrate ability to manage own workload in order to meet targets/deadlines
/
  • Ability to undertake research and compile statistics
  • Experience of working in a performance managed environment
/
  • Application
  • Interview

Other Requirements /
  • Able to attend other sites
  • DBS cleared
/
  • Full driving licence

Ipswich Borough Council

Housing Advice

Business Support Unit

  • Maintaining HRA Business Plan including annual rent setting
  • Financial and performance monitoring, expert user for Housing specific IT systems 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 Business Support
  • Environmental Health Business Support

Housing Options

  • Face to face work with customers at the Customer Service Centre for all Housing Options Issues, on an appointment basis
  • Duty phone line giving free housing Advice to all residents of the Borough
  • Homelessness prevention using a variety of options including Private Rented Sector through the Ipswich Lettings Partnership, Hostels and other supported accommodation, mediation with friends/family, negotiation with landlords/Housing Benefit to address rent arrears
  • Homelessness applications and decisions

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/West Villa) assessing and 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

Policy and Strategy Team

  • Production and review of the Council’s Housing Strategy
  • Review of all policies and strategies in Housing and Community Services
  • Research
  • Horizon scanning

Health and Wellbeing

  • Production and review of the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Action Plan
  • Work to ensure that IBC is a Dementia Friendly Organisation
  • Active membership of the Ipswich Dementia Action Alliance