Job Description. New Business Co-ordinator. Responsible For (Direct Reports Post Title): 1. Purpose of the Job

Transcription

1 Job Description Post Title: Post Number: Delivery Unit: Directorate: Responsible To (Line Manager): Responsible For (Direct Reports Post Title): Grade: New Business Co-ordinator HS56147 Housing Management Case Supervisor None Scale 6 (TBC) 1. Purpose of the Job Actively sell the benefits of the landlord incentive scheme to new and existing landlords to maximise engagement in the local and surrounding areas. Promote Stevenage Borough Council and its services in partnership with private sector landlords. Maximise the use of private rented sector to meet Stevenage s Housing Prevent homelessness by helping households secure and maintain private rented accommodation. Provide help to tenants upon commencement of tenancy to ensure awareness of tenant obligations. Responsible for the marketing, development and running of the tenancy deposit scheme and other landlord incentives. Provide a point of contact for both Landlords and Letting Agents. Collaborative working with statutory, voluntary, private sector and other agencies. Investigate allegations of landlord harassment and unlawful eviction.

2 2. Organisational position Head of Housing Management Case Supervisor Officer Officer Business Support Officer and Housing Advice Apprentice Housing Options Officer Private Sector Liaison New Business Co-ordinator 3. Key tasks, duties and accountabilities of the post (Including examples of the types of problems and decisions the post holder will be required to make) 3.1 To use existing contacts with and knowledge of the private rented sector to provide an effective service comparable to that offered by local letting agents 3.2 To develop a competitive tenancy sign-up and incentives packages to encourage private landlords and agents to work with Stevenage. 3.3 To actively market developed incentive packages to private landlords and agents within the Borough to maximise engagement with Stevenage Borough Council 3.4 To actively work with landlords identify accommodation within Local Housing Allowance limits. 3.5 To liaise with the housing advice and homelessness teams to prevent homelessness by arranging for a planned move to a new home through the securing of settled private rented accommodation. 3.6 To assist in the running of the deposit guarantee scheme and other PRS access schemes that may be developed to helping people into private rented accommodation. 3.7 Inspect all private rented properties procured for the rent deposit or other schemes to ensure the suitability of accommodation for various household, its quality and condition by identifying potential issues under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and ensuring that various safety certificates are in place and up-to-date Undertake financial and other assessments for all customer assisted into the private rented sector accommodation provided is affordable, meets their physical needs and that services to meet all support needs have been arranged. 3.9 To devise and participate in marketing activities to maximise the procurement of private rented accommodation for the council s use.

3 3.10 To devise and participate in publicising private renting schemes so that colleagues, partners, prospective tenants, prospective landlords, councillors and the public are aware of the scheme and the criteria for customer access to these schemes 3.11 To assist with the development of a Stevenage Private Sector Landlords Forum and work closely with key agencies in order to identify and demonstrate shared aims and benefits Develop and maintain partnership working with the other providers in the statutory, voluntary and private sector To create, maintain and update casework records and data entry on the housing advice database, ensuring client details, problem details, full-client instructions, case-work actions, and outcomes and equalities data are accurately recorded to enable reporting on local and central government performance indicators and to ensure a thorough and complete audit trail To help cover the Prevention Service where there are staff absences or significant increases in homeless applications taking homeless applications, arranging emergency accommodation, providing for the protection and storage of possessions, arranging support packages and assisting with the completion of housing benefit claims To respond to member enquiries and or complaints as instructed by the Case Supervisor To assist with the drafting private renting information guides, for both tenants and landlords leaflets, training and induction information, web-content, presentations and publicity and promotional information To assist with the delivery of training, presentations, promotional and other housing advice service related events To be an active and willing member of the Service. This includes participation in all duties including out of hours services, and providing cover for colleagues To assist in the development of the service including collecting and collating customer satisfaction data To deputise for the Case Supervisor as is reasonable To identify, appropriately refer and record issues of child welfare and child and adult safeguarding to the appropriate authority 3.22 To undertake any other related duties that may be required by the Housing Advice Team Leader, Case Supervisor and Head of Housing Management. 4. The role s key contacts and level of relationships with individuals, groups of people, agencies and external organisations 1. Provide accurate, authoritative, clear and practical self-help housing options advice to individual clients, their families, representatives, social workers, probation officers and support workers face-to-face and in letters, s and phone-calls: ensuring that communication style and content is easily understood by its target audience some of whom may have literacy problems, visual or hearing impairment, comprehension or language difficulties. 2. Provide accurate, authoritative, clear and practical self-help housing options advice, homeless information and homeless prevention to groups including tenants groups, housing, and support staff through presentations and training.

4 3. To liaise with communications team whenever marketing events are in the pipeline 4. As a private rented sector options specialist to act on behalf of clients in written form and through negotiation and liaison with landlords, letting agents, lenders, solicitors, housing providers, DWP staff, HB staff, and social workers, including to those at a higher level in staffing hierarchy within Stevenage Borough Council, our partners and third party organisations 5. To write and present supporting statements for applications for accommodation, benefits, support services, allocations welfare panel, prevention fund payments 6. Arrange and host events such as landlord s forum, landlord good practice training, etc 7. To assist in delivering training and induction support to peers and colleagues, ensuring information and explanations are accurate and understandable. 8. To undertake considerable partnership work with landlords, managing and lettings agents 9. To arrange and hosts events such as landlord s forum, landlord good practice training, etc 10. Direct contact and advice to/from Environmental Health in respect of HH&SRS breaches 5. Governance and corporate responsibilities 1. Undertake any additional responsibilities as directed by the line manager commensurate with the level and grading for the role. 2. Adhere to the Council s policies, rules and procedures including, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, all other legislative responsibilities, governance, financial and procedural rules. 3. Ensure compliance to the organisation s Code of Conduct in the delivery and provision of services to staff and the community

5 Person Specification Post: New Business Co-ordinator Post Number: HS56147 Service Delivery Unit: Grade: Scale 6 (TBC) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities This covers all technical, specialist, procedural and organisation knowledge and skills required for the post, including numeracy and literacy, language, computer skills including software packages. Use and safekeeping of tools and equipment. Please include within this section any mandatory or desirable educational qualifications. Please note if equivalent knowledge can be obtained through work experience or other qualifications this should be noted. Attributes Educated to degree or similar level or to have undertaken work-based training to a similar level of attainment. CIH diploma/hnc or similar professional housing qualification, including RICs Good knowledge of a homelessness law including legislation, case law, homeless code of guidance and regulations Expert knowledge private rented sector its operation in Stevenage and surrounding areas Essential /N Desirable /N How to be Assessed Test /N Application /N Interview /N Good knowledge of housing related welfare benefits and tax credits. Understanding case management techniques. Understanding of support services role in homeless prevention, and the managing of homeless applications Understanding and commitment to equal opportunities Understanding and commitment to quality customer care

6 Expert interviewing and listening skills Excellent negotiating skills and the ability to develop effective working relationships with customers, internal and external partners Knowledge of marketing practices Ability to organise and manage events Good case management skills including note-taking, data-entry, planning and preparation and timemanagement. Expert communication skills with the ability to deal with customers, colleagues, members and partners in a professional and effective manner A good team player with a track record of developing positive relationships with colleagues, managers and service users. Knowledge of all Microsoft packages and ability to quickly learn how to use specialist software Excellent teamwork skills An organised and imaginative approach to work. Ability to work in a busy pressurised environment to tight deadlines exercising a highly developed degree of personal initiative. Highly literate and numerate and with the ability to budget Able to understand complex information quickly Willingness to attend Court

7 Experience This covers aspects of specific levels of experience required for the post including supervisory, management, demonstrable professional experience on a field required in the post Any other attributes required for the role not mentioned above 2 years experience in private rented sector field, either within a local authority or private organisation 1 years experience of working in/with a local authority, preferably in a housing setting Must have clean driving licence, access to own transport and business related car insurance. Must be able to attend events outside of core work hours Requires relevant DBS check Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision Ability to manage conflict and deal calmly but objectively with people under stress. Willingness to participate in out of hours services