Trainee Housing Advisor/Housing Advisor - Hybrid Role
£32,925 - £39,264 per annum (based on experience)

*** Excellent terms and conditions including flexi time and working from home up to 4 days a week after initial 2 week introduction ***

Housing Advisors work on the frontline of the London Housing crisis. Your role will be to work as part of a team taking applications for those in housing need and determining what assistance the Authority is able to give.

Homelessness in London is a big problem with more than 6500 households approaching London Borough of Newham alone last year. Homelessness is as a result of private sector evictions, it’s the result of overcrowded families, it’s the result of domestic abuse.

The role can be challenging but also rewarding. The right candidates have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of hundreds of residents across Newham.

This is an excellent role for starting a career in housing, with clear opportunities for progression.

Interesting, challenging, fulfilling and never boring.

About the job

Newham Homelessness Prevention & Advice Service (HPAS) is undergoing a continued programme of improvement as we seek to meet the high level of demand whilst providing an excellent service to our residents.

As part of this programme, Newham HPAS has recruited a housing advice training manager and we are seeking to recruit and train the next generation of Housing Advisors. Within this team you will be supported by a team leader and two senior officers, to progress from making initial enquiries to becoming a fully trained and experienced housing advisor, opening the door to significant possibilities of progression.

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who have some background either in housing, homelessness or a relevant public sector field. You need to demonstrate that you have taken some time to understand the causes of homelessness, the responsibilities that the Local Authority has and the difficulties for Local Authorities in addressing the problem.

Starting as a trainee, you will undergo a tailored training programme with direct peer support. As a Trainee you will triage homeless applicants, getting to understand the challenges faced by residents through experience whilst being supported by the training team. Progression will be based on your abilities with the possibility of becoming a Housing Advisor starting at £37,443 within a year.

For candidates who are already experienced Housing Advisors you will be able to start at the experienced trainee (SO1) or full officer (SO2) level. Job offers will be made on either a fixed term or permanent basis and will be discussed with you if invited to an interview. 

What Newham can offer

You do not need to have prior PVII homeless experience although it is preferred. If you do not have experience you need to demonstrate an ability to seek out relevant legislation with the ability to explain it to the panel.

We will provide you with relevant training to undertake the role and start your career in housing and homelessness.

We offer flexible working, with the possibility of working from home up to 4 days a week.

Your skills

You should have experience of:

• dealing with a diverse and vulnerable clientele, either face-to-face, on the phone or through email.
• working in a service within a pressurised and high profile environment within a multi-disciplinary team, providing a quality service.
• achieving performance targets and meeting departmental objectives
• providing quality advice and information to members of the public and of handling complaints and enquiries
• producing high quality written communications to a corporate standard

Closing date 13/05/2024

https://www.newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/7278/trainee-housing-adviser-jd-final-mar24-3669

To Apply (Please Read!)

You must submit a supporting statement through our recruitment portal. The supporting statement must demonstrate how you meet the relevant requirements listed in the person specification section of the job description. This should be no more than 2 sides of A4.

If you do not currently understand the homelessness legislation you must demonstrate that you have sought to understand the basics doing research with the large amount of resources available. Applications which demonstrate no attempt to understand the legislation or make no reference to the legislative framework are unlikely to be successful. Applications which do not contain a personal statement, do not reference the legislation or are longer than 2 sides are likely to be dismissed.

For those who wish to learn more about these roles, what the team does, how the training programme works and who will be supporting you, a 1 hour online meeting will be arranged. The team will take FAQs and introduce themselves to you. If you are interested in joining this, please contact us HPAS@newham.gov.ukensuring the subject is HOUSING ADVICE FAQ. The session will take place THURSDAY 2ND MAY 2024 @ 12:30.

Shortlisting decisions will be based on candidates' relevant experience and on candidates' suitability for the role in line with the person specification, as described in your supporting statement. Successful applicants will be made a job offer starting at the grade which best suits their experience.

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east.  It is well connected  by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.

Newham has a large housing regeneration programme that will build over 1,000 new council homes by 2022.