Allocations officer - Slough

JOB TITLE: Allocation Officer RESPONSIBLE TO: Housing Allocation Manager RESPONSIBLE FOR: As a member of the Housing Allocation team this post provides a generic housing register, needs assessment and allocation function Number of reports: Direct reports: 0 Indirect reports: 0 Total Managed: 0 Financial Responsibilities: Allocating social house involves the transfer of the council's capital assets (average value £150,000) into the hands of new tenants. If allocations are not done diligently and fraudulent applications are not detected this can represent a significant loss to the council. Similarly, diligent maintenance of the Council's Housing Register ensures fraudulent activity is detected and prevented and allocation to households in temporary accommodation can reduce the council's expenditure currently £600,000 pa. ,. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB: To undertake and determine eligibility assessments for potential tenants accessing the housing register to ensure the legality and suitability of every allocation. To be responsible for meeting statutory requirements, performance indicators and targets in the letting of all social housing. . MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES: 1. Deliver a comprehensive, customer focussed and high quality housing allocations service, liaising with other sections, departments and agencies internally and externally in relation to housing needs issues on behalf of home seekers 2. Working proactively using initiative and knowledge to apply appropriate options to tackle housing need ensuring that the council's resources, including accommodation and financial resources, are appropriately used according to the needs of the home seeker, enabling them to achieve sustainable and affordable solutions to their housing needs. 3. Maintain accurate and up to date records of the voids and lettings process as well as entering and maintaining records on the housing register using the integrated housing management IT system. This includes developing and running regular performance related reports and undertaking regular and frequent data reconciliation. 4. Understand and work in accordance with legislation and Slough's current lettings and voids policies, standards and targets, responding to customer enquiries regarding voids and lettings, liaising with other sections and/or contractors as necessary to provide a co-ordinated response. 5. To manage applications for social housing, including those of a complex nature and be responsible for applying the law and policy appropriately, reaching lawful and defensible decisions and ensuring that the Council's Housing Allocations Policy is implemented 6. To ensure that each case receives a correct assessment liaising as necessary with colleagues in housing needs for acute cases and with the investigation team where cases of fraud or benefit abuse are suspected 7. To take a lead on a particular topic and/or liaison with a partner department or agency as directed by the Housing Allocations Manager. Ensure that colleagues are briefed on relevant issues relating to the topic/liaison 8. Provide information for new tenants about the properties and services available and ensure this information is regularly updated while liaising with tenancy management colleagues to ensure that the sign up process is efficient and informative for the client and timely in order 9. Undertake home visit to housing applicants who are shortlisted for vacant properties, verifying their eligibility and circumstances. Where appropriate, ensure that vulnerable applicants have support to ensure that they can manage their tenancy. 10. Identify potential improvements in the service and work with the Housing Allocations Manager to find the best methods to develop the service. 11. Ensure compliance with, and promotion of Slough's Health and Safety management and equality and diversity policies. 12. Undertake project work as directed by the Housing Allocation Manager and carry out any other reasonable duties as are commensurate with the post. Eden Brown Synergy is an equal opportunities employer. Eden Brown Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 3643845. Our registered address is 5th floor 4 Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AR, part of nGAGE Specialist Recruitment Limited T/A nGAGE Talent. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This message is intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to us, and immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. We take reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email but cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage sustained as a result of computer viruses and the recipient must ensure that the email (and attachments) are virus free.