Assessment Officer

Marks Consulting Partners are currently looking for an Assessment Officer to work with one of our Local Authority clients in London.

What the Job Will Be Doing

* Assessing housing applications to determine eligibility, housing need and statutory duties

* Carrying out detailed housing assessments in line with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

* Making decisions on homelessness applications, including eligibility, priority need, intentional homelessness and local connection

* Completing Section 184 decision letters and ensuring all decisions are legally compliant and robust

* Providing housing advice and guidance to applicants on their housing options and statutory rights

* Identifying prevention and relief opportunities to reduce homelessness wherever possible

* Managing a varied caseload, ensuring statutory deadlines and performance targets are achieved

* Liaising with Housing Options, Temporary Accommodation, Allocations and external agencies to deliver effective housing solutions

* Working with vulnerable households, safeguarding concerns and complex cases requiring multi-agency support

* Maintaining accurate records and updating housing management systems

* Responding to enquiries, complaints and requests for reviews in a professional and timely manner

What You Will Need

* Experience working as an Assessment Officer, Housing Needs Officer or Housing Options Officer within a Local Authority

* Strong knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

* Experience assessing homelessness applications and making legally robust decisions

* Experience producing Section 184 decision letters

* Strong understanding of homelessness legislation, Code of Guidance and relevant case law

* Ability to manage a high-volume caseload within a target-driven environment

* Excellent communication and interviewing skills

* Experience working with vulnerable households and safeguarding issues

* Experience using housing management systems such as NEC, Jigsaw, Locata or similar
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed