Benefits and Housing Needs Officer – SO2

Job Category :Housing

Location :Hackney Service Centre, Hackney Council

Hours Per Week : 36.00

Start Date : Immediate Start

Start Time : 09:00

End Time : 17:00

Salary: £22.15
Hackney is one of the UK’s highest performing local authorities, serving one of London’s best places to live and work. We have achieved a huge amount: our services, our schools, our public spaces are all amongst the very best. We have changed the reputation, not just of the Council, but of Hackney itself. Bringing jobs and investment into the borough, securing the legacy from the 2012 Games, and making this a place of which we can all be proud.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and the workforce can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Extensive knowledge and substantial experience of at least one of the

following disciplines:

o Homeless assessments and reviews;

o Homeless prevention and housing advice;

o Temporary Accommodation management, maintenance, income

collection and financial monitoring and payments;

o Housing Supply and procurement;

o Lettings, Allocations and the Housing Register;

o Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction schemes;

o Discretionary payments and Local Welfare Support;

And the legislation, regulations, policy, guidance, and practice associated

with these disciplines.

Ability to manage conflicting priorities in a pressurised working

environment that are subject to frequently changing circumstances in order

to achieve targets within challenging timescales.

Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your workload to

deliver to tight deadlines, targets and performance standards.

Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and the

ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences including

partner services and agencies and the ability to explain complex legislative

in simple language. Ability to represent the Council at court.

Experience of effective partnership working with agencies and

stakeholders and the proven ability in engaging, negotiating and consulting

with a wide range of audiences.

Substantial experience and detailed knowledge of the use of IT systems,

including data processing, finance and Microsoft systems.

Ability to mentor staff in relation to all service delivery roles.

Ability to travel around the borough in order to conduct visits to customers

and landlords.

Experience of working flexibly to meet the needs of the service and its

customers.

10. Experience of assisting vulnerable and challenging customers.

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11. Ability to mediate and negotiate effectively.

12. Experience of dealing with and advising customers in a professional

manner.

13. Ability to adapt to new legislative, technological and financial

developments whilst maintaining services outcomes in periods of change

14. Ability to analyse and understand complex information.

15. Experience of building positive relationships with a range of both internal

and external customers and stakeholders.

16. Experience of cross-organisational working, taking into account the views

of others and arriving at solutions of mutual benefit.

17. Be available to work outside normal working hours including at weekends

if required

18. Must demonstrate an understanding and be committed to the Council’s

Equalities policy carrying out all duties with regard to the policy.

19. Must demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the importance of

confidentiality.

20. Must demonstrate an ability to carry out research independently using

electronic communication systems and other sources of relevant

information.

21. Ability to work on projects and contribute to shared outcomes.

22. Officers involved with Benefits and discretionary awards processing will

comply with the required security checks for the Department for Work and

Pensions and Cabinet Office.

23. Officers will be required to complete a declaration of interests’ submission

for this post.

Desirable

1. Membership of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation and/or

Chartered Institute of Housing