Welfare Rights Officer

4 months contract with a local authority

Job Purpose

• To deliver specialist welfare rights housing and homelessness prevention support as part of the Call B4 You Serve service. The postholder will work proactively with tenants and landlords to prevent tenancy breakdown reduce homelessness and promote financial inclusion through advice advocacy training and partnership working.
  

Key Duties/Accountabilities

• Provide early (upstream) intervention to prevent the breakdown of private rented sector (PRS) tenancies using specialist knowledge of housing law welfare benefits and court procedures.
  
• Give accurate timely welfare rights housing and tenancy advice to landlords and tenants via office interviews home visits outreach sessions and telephone contact.
  
• Manage a caseload of referrals delivering casework representation and advocacy to prevent homelessness and improve financial wellbeing.
  
• Support landlords with advice and guidance to sustain tenancies and reduce homelessness.
  
• Deliver training and advice sessions to local authority teams and partner organisations to improve tenancy sustainment outcomes.
  
• Liaise effectively with internal and external partners to promote the Call B4 You Serve service and develop collaborative working arrangements.
  

Essential Experience Required

• Proven knowledge of welfare benefits welfare reform and Universal Credit legislation.
  
• Knowledge of homelessness legislation including the Homelessness Reduction Act.
  
• Knowledge of housing and tenancy law including court processes for preventing possession claims.
  
• Experience providing advice to customers requiring housing and benefits support.
  
• Ability to manage referrals and caseloads effectively within set targets and deadlines.
  
• Strong IT skills including use of Microsoft Office applications (Excel and PowerPoint).
  

Essential Qualifications Required

• GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths.
  

Additional information to note

• Working Hours: 21.72 hours per week.
  
• Work pattern Wed Fri working days.
  
• This is a 3 day working week this is working from home for 2 days and from the Council House 1 day per week.
  
• We work on bi-weekly schedule.
  

The role closes soon apply ASAP.