Human Resources Department

Tel: 02890-441416Fax: 02890-441346

Our Ref:JK/PB

Dear Applicant

Re:Post of Temp Housing Officerbased at Maple House, Beechill Business Park, Belfast

To help you with your application, you should read the following before completing your form.

We do not accept Curricula Vitae (CV’s). It is, therefore, important that you fully complete each section of our application form, giving the information requested.

You should complete the application form in black ink or in typescript.

We have an equal opportunity policy and endeavour to ensure that selection for jobs, training and promotion is carried out fairly and based on job related criteria. In order for us to properly assess your application, it is important that you complete the form as fully as possible, demonstrating how your skills/experience relate to those described in the advert and Person Specification. The panel may enhance the criteria in order to facilitate short-listing of the post. The panel will shortlist only on the basis of the information provided on your application form.

We also need to monitor the effectiveness of our policy. I would therefore ask you to complete the enclosed monitoring form. Please do not enter your name on this form. When it is completed, place the form in the envelope provided marked "Monitoring Officer". This envelope should then be sealed and returned to the above address with your application form. The monitoring envelope will be held by the Choice Monitoring Officer and will not form any part of the selection process.

The closing date for receipt of application forms is 12 noon, Friday 20th May 2016 and applications received after this date will not be considered. If you have not been contacted further in writing on or before Monday 13th June 2016, you will not have been short-listed for interview. The panel may enhance the criteria in order to facilitate short-listing of the post.

If you have any disability which prevents you from completing the application process, please contact me to discuss what further assistance you require.

The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of essential qualifications and also provide documentary evidence of their eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. We are also committed to adhering to the Access NI Code of Practice in relation to requesting disclosure checks where appropriate and processing information in accordance with the code.

I would like to thank you for the interest you have shown in this post and I look forward to receiving your application form.

Yours sincerely

Joanne Kane

Interim Director of Human Resources

APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

Position applied for: Housing Officer Ref.No:THO/4950/0416/______

Please complete ALL sections of the application form in BLOCK LETTERS using black ink.

1. PERSONAL DETAILS

Surname: ______Forenames: ______
Address: ______
______Post code:______
Email address: ______
Home tel no. ______Mobile no.______
Name and address of Next of kin: ______Tel No: ______
How many days have you been absent at work due to illness in the past year? (excluding disability or maternity
related absences) ______
Yes No

Do you have a clean, current driving licence?

Do you have access to private transport?
Details of any holidays arrangements: ______
______
______
______

2. Referees

Please give the names and addresses of two persons who have agreed to act as referees. Your 1st referee must be someone from your current or most recent employer who has a management position or line managementresponsibilities. (References may be taken up without further notice).
1st Referee (with knowledge of your career) 2nd Referee
Name ______Name ______
Address ______Address ______
______
Occupation ______Occupation ______
Tel No. ______Tel No. ______
Email Address: ______Email Address: ______

3. EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Type of Establishment
(Name of school
not required) / DATES / Attendance Full-Time Day Release Evening etc / Exams, Degrees & Qualifications
Indicate the year, the type of exam and the subject and grade obtained
FROM / TO
A. Schooling and further education
B. Professional or Technical Training or Qualifications
4. ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY PROFESSIONAL BODIES? If Yes, please give details







5. WORK HISTORY:

Please give details of your full career history over the last ten years. Start with your present/most recent post. (Continue on a separate page if necessary).

EMPLOYER / FROM:
DATE/
MONTH/
YEAR / TO:
DATE/
MONTH/YEAR / POSITION – Include information about your relative position in the organisation, responsibilities exercised and reasons for leaving. / Reason for Leaving
EARNINGS (Per Annum) LAST/PRESENT EMPLOYER ______
Period of Notice Required ______
6. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please give below any other information which may be of interest in considering your application.
(Continue on a separate page if necessary)
7. DATA PROTECTION:
During your period of employment and for as long a period of necessary following your employment, Choice Housing Ireland Limited will hold and process both electronically and manually, the data it collects in relation to you for the purposes of Choice Housing Ireland Limited administration and management of its business.
8. RELATIONSHIP TO COMMITTEE MEMBER OR EMPLOYEE OF CHOICE HOUSING IRELAND LTD
To the best of your knowledge are you related to any Board/ Committee Member or Employee of Choice?

If yes, what is the nature of that relationship? ______
______
9. Declaration
I hereby declare that the information given in this application is, to the best of my knowledge, true and correct. I also agree that any misrepresentation by me will lead to the withdrawal of any offer of employment or my employment being terminated without any obligation or liability to Choice Housing Ireland Limited other than for services rendered.
I understand that I may be required to undergo a medical examination if considered necessary. I understand that failure to complete any part of the application procedure, including all forms, may disqualify me from further consideration for the position.
I consent to personal data being processed as stated above.

Signature: Date:

Please return to:-

Choice Housing Ireland Ltd,HR Dept, Leslie Morrell House, 37- 41 May Street,Belfast, BT1 4DN

Temporary Housing Officer

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Thank you for your expression of interest in the post of Housing Officer with Choice. We hope the additional information below is helpful.

  • Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
  • Location: Maple House, Beechill Business Park, 96 Beechill Road, Belfast BT8 7QN
  • Salary: NJC 22-29 £20,253 - £25,440 (under review)Minimum 6 month contract (subject to review)
  • Public / Customary Holidays: New Year's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, 12th and 13th July, August Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and one other day around Christmas/New Year period as will be specified by the Association.
  • A no smoking policy exists at Choice offices.
  • Choiceis an Investor in People organisation.
  • This post is subject to a 9 month probationary period.
  • All staff are required to maintain and uphold Choice’spolicies and procedures.

NB:Choice Housing Ireland Limited through a structure of subsidiary companies is seeking to develop housing schemes throughout Ireland; therefore travel outside Northern Ireland may be necessary.

Please use these notes to assist you in completing your application.

  1. Use the Job Description and Person Specification to assist you in assessing if you meet the criteria for this post.
  1. Criteria may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.
  1. The panel will shortlist only on the basis of the information provided.
  1. Choice is currently undertaking a review of service provision which may affect the tasks within this job description.
  1. While this is a generic Housing Officer role, Choice reserve the right to place the post holder in a specialised team.

CHOICE

Job Description

Job Title: Housing Officer

Department:Tenant and Client Services

Main Scope of Job: Housing and Tenancy Management

Responsible to: Housing Manager

Reporting to Job Holder: Scheme Co-ordinators, Building Supervisors and Cleaning Staff based at Housing Schemes

Overview of Post: To ensure that an efficient, effective, customer orientated and comprehensive housing management service is provided to applicants, tenants, licensees and other customers in accordance with Choicepolicies, procedures, current law, regulatory guidelines, current best practice and the Housing Association’s service standards.

Duties

  1. Customer

1)To carry out scheme visits and audits of records in accordance Choice’s procedures (6 per annum, sheltered & 2 per annum GN).

2)To respond, record and investigate all cases of Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) in accordance with Choice’s policies and procedures. Endeavouring to resolve ASB using a range of solutions and attending court when necessary.

3)To develop and maintain positive working relationships with local partners, agencies including local councils, police and social services, communities and the general public.

4)To ensure tenants on the transfer lists are visited within agreed time limits and their need and priority is correctly assessed.

5)To allocate all voids, arrange viewing with applicants and sign ups in accordance with the rules of the Common Selection Scheme and the Association’s policy and procedures, includingappropriate record keeping.

6)To visit all new residents within 6 weeks of their tenancy start date and thereafter as required to check that they have no outstanding queries regarding their tenancy or their entitlement to housing or other benefits.

7)To investigate and assist in resolving complaints and disputes between tenants.

8)To encourage and promote tenant involvement and consultation in decisions affecting Choice’s services and accommodation.

9)To arrange and manage Tenants’, Service Charge (annual) and SDT Meetings (quarterly).

10)To attend evictions as necessary.

11)To attend Social Services case conferences as Choice’s representative.

12)To liaise with Development colleagues and attend site meetings as required to prepare for handover

and commencement of new tenancies.

  1. Financial

1)To manage the effective turnaround of all voids in accordance with the Association’s policy and procedures, including; void inspections, liaison with the Property Services team, and promotion of difficult to let stock, in order to minimise rental loss and meet performance targets.

2)To review support plans and ensure compliance with the Supporting People Contracts (QAF2) including contract management liaison with NIHE.

3)To regularly monitor the payment of rent and other debts, taking prompt and appropriate recovery action in accordance with the Association’s policies and procedures.

4)To liaise with NIHE and other agencies administering Housing Benefit and other Welfare Benefits to ensure that residents’ entitlements are assessed as accurately and quickly as possible.

5)To provide assistance and signpost tenants to appropriate Advice Agencies to receive specialist debt/money advice to help sustain the tenancy.

6)To follow policies and procedures in relation to legal action, attending court as required.

7)To manage any delegated Housing Management budgets, contracts and service charge accounts.

  1. Internal Processes

1)To initiate legal action, liaise with Choice’s legal representatives, prepare court paperwork and represent Choice in any tenancy management court proceedings.

2)To assist with drafting Housing Management policies and implementation in schemes.

3)To work closely with the Property Services team to ensure that all maintenance items are dealt with effectively.

4)To comply with the Health and Safety policy and ensure that scheme risk assessments are completed / updated on a continual (not longer than bi-annually) basis for the approval of the Director of Housing.

5)To comply with Choice policies & procedures as appropriate.

6)To take appropriate action to deal with breaches of Tenancy Agreement and Conditions of Tenancy.

7)To review and test scheme emergency contingency plans annually.

8)Initiate and comply with Abandonment Procedure, including inspection and collating the inventory of items remaining in the property, organising storage or disposal of the contents.

  1. Organisational Learning & Growth

1)To provide line management to Scheme Co-ordinators, cleaners, caretakers, building supervisors and night concierges, where applicable, ensuring that their work is carried out to a suitable standard and carry out and record progress and development reviews.

2)To advise and assist managers in any investigation regarding scheme staff.

3)To carry out probationary interviews, performance reviews and when necessary carry out welfare visits to staff.

4)Attendance at conferences, seminars, courses, exhibitions, scheme events and evening meetings as required.

5)To provide feedback on housing management issues for new developments and planned maintenance.

6)To coordinate and participate in the recruitment and selection exercises.

7)To represent Choice at agency forums/meetings, community meetings, etc.

8)To work with the Tenant Involvement Champion and Tenants’ Forum when required.

9)To carry out annual estate walkabouts with the Property Services Officer.

5 Corporate Duties

1)To contribute to and play an active part in the overall work of the Association.

2)To implement positively and ensure compliance with Choice’s policies, procedures, codes of practice and initiatives relating to equality and diversity, customer care and health and safety.

3)To provide the highest quality services incorporating best standards of practice.

4)To work to secure continuous improvement and value for money.

5)To promote Choice to its customers and other stakeholders.

6)To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.

GENERAL

Staff are required to be flexible in their work and to co-operate with their colleagues for the efficient, effective and economic operation of Choice, and carry out any other duties within reason and competence.

Staff may be required to undertake a secondment or placement elsewhere, and Choice reserves the right to make such an arrangement where it believes this will benefit the Group.

Choice is currently undertaking a review of service provision which may affect the tasks within this job description.

While this is a generic Housing Officer role, Choice reserve the right to place the post holder in a specialised team.

Successful candidates will be required to work in one of the three departments, Allocations, Care and Support or Housing.

Employee Specification

Job Title:Housing Officer

Department:Housing

FACTOR / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Attainments
Educational / 5 x GCSEs (Grades A-C to include Mathematics and English language),
or equivalent. / Professional qualification in Housing
Experience
& Training / At least one years’ recent experience in housing / Community engagement & supervision of staff in sheltered housing;
Health & Safety;
Customer Care;
Experience of Tenant Participation;
Experience of Community Development;
Experience in Anti Social Behaviour management/resolution
Specialist Knowledge / Working knowledge of Housing Selection Scheme
Experience in using HMS (or equivalent Housing Waiting lists system) / Knowledge of Benefit System;
Knowledge of Housing Benefits for supporting people;
Knowledge of legislation and policies relating to tenant participation.
An understanding of current and proposed housing legislation in Northern Ireland.
Aptitudes / Computer literate with experience of Microsoft Office programmes including Word and Excel;
Good oral and written communication skills;
Organisational skills;
Problem solving ability / Leadership skills (with responsibility for managing a team)
Disposition / Able to communicate at all levels and relate to colleagues and tenants;
Results driven
Circumstances / Current driving licence;
Access to private transport

MONITORING FORM

Choice Housing Ireland Limited is committed to promoting equality and diversity. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of gender, including gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, having or not having dependants, religious belief or political opinion, race, disability, sexual orientation and age.

In order to demonstrate our commitment to equality of opportunity and meet our obligations under Equal Opportunities, Fair Employment legislation and Section 75, we are required to monitor the religious affiliation, sex, marital status, family status and sexual orientation of all our job applicants.

The information you are asked to supply below will be treated in the strictest confidence and protected from misuse. This information will not be available to anyone making decisions about your application and will be used for monitoring purposes only.

Please answer each of the questions below by ticking the appropriate box.

1. What is your Community Background?

I am a member of the Protestant community

I am a member of the Roman Catholic community

I am a member of neither the Protestant nor

the Roman Catholic community

2. Are you Male or Female?

I am Male

I am Female

3. What is your marital status?

Married

Single

Other

4. What is your family status?

Other

No caring responsibilities

Care for children

Care for other relative

5. Ethnic Origin

Please state your ethnic group

OR tick one or more of the following, as appropriate:

AfricanBangladeshi Chinese

Caribbean Indian Irish Traveller

PakistaniWhite Mixed Ethnic Group

6. Please state your date of birth: ______

7. Disability

In accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

In accordance with the above definition do you have a disability?YesNo

If yes, please provide details. ______

______

8.Sexual Orientation

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2008 make it unlawful for employers and others to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation in the areas of employment, vocational training and further and higher education.

My Sexual Orientation is towards someone:

● Of the same sex

●A different sex

●Both

Thank you for your co-operation.

THIS FORM ONLY SHOULD BE PLACED IN AN ENVELOPE MARKED "MONITORING OFFICER".