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Islington Council

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Address: Islington Council; 222 Upper Street; London; N1 1XR
Contact Number: 020 7527 2000

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Ref: HN/1123/035 Vacancy ID: 5791935

Homelessness Prevention Navigator Officer

Closed for applications on: 18-Dec-2023 00:02

Vacancy status: Closed

Closed for applications on: 18-Dec-2023 00:02

Location

Site: 222 Upper Street, London N1 1XR
Address: 222 Upper Street
Town: London
Postcode: N1 1XR
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months
Hours: Full time - 35 hours per week

Salary

Salary: £40,005 - £41,286 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (SO2, scp 27-29)

Specialty

Main area: Homelessness prevention

Our mission

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To develop and maintain relationships, working with a range of key agencies in identifying clients at high risk of homelessness to ensure early intervention and improve the likelihood of successful homeless prevention.

To support the Service Co-ordinator and individual borough leads in identifying those key agencies where this would most add value. Key agencies already identified where specific intervention projects will look to assist include:

Key institutions (prisons; psychiatric wards, hospitals)
Primary Care & Support agencies
Letting Agents/Landlords (preventing the ending of ASTs

To work with each borough lead in building upon existing and set up new referral pathways and outreach within identified key agencies, along with the criteria for a range of housing solutions.

To deliver targeted advice, assistance and support to clients threatened with homelessness, managing a personal caseload of at least 110 clients each year. Types of prevention activity expected to be carried out by the post holder include:

Challenging inappropriate evictions
Landlord negotiations
Signposting to employment support
Helping to expedite/ challenge/ assist with HB claims/ delays
Benefits, Debt and Welfare Advice
Family mediation
Explore housing options via rent deposits and other scheme

To carry out weekly outreach surgeries to provide a holistic housing and support needs assessment, providing housing and welfare advice and signposting to identified pathways, as well as direct homelessness prevention assistance where appropriate.

To provide clients with a written record of the advice and guidance provided, along with actions agreed, so serving to pilot the Personal Housing Plans.

To work with statutory and voluntary partners to maintain effective pathways for all customers.

To provide training and support to enable staff within each of the key agencies to identify early warning signs of homelessness and ways to prevent it.

To be responsible for collating all data related to each intervention project in order to enable outcomes to be evaluated against targets, using an appropriate IT based monitoring system.

To support the Service Co-ordinator in developing plans for individual intervention projects and making any service improvements to ensure best fit within the overall agreed service specification.

To monitor and report on a monthly basis the delivery of individual intervention projects to ensure that targets are being met, along with any performance issues identified.

To immediately report to the Service Coordinator issues that require escalation or where a case is likely to become subject to press or public interest.

To actively participate in monthly performance review meetings which will bring together the Navigator Officer team from across the six boroughs.

To support the Service Co-ordinator in the training and briefing on the North London Early Intervention Service to internal and external customers.

To ensure that the services which are provided are clear, accountable and responsive to customer/client needs.

To maintain the highest professional standards for the service and ensure that policies and procedures comply with relevant legislation. To review and advise on new legislation and other developments in respect of the provision of the service.

To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post.

It is the policy of Islington Council that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against racial discrimination. 

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are also committed to flexible working and will consider requests where possible.

Islington Council also operates random drug or alcohol testing for safety critical roles or for where there may be just cause.

To apply for this position please use the online application process. Please note that the council only accepts online applications, no CVs or alternative forms of applications are accepted. If you are unable to use the online process please contact the Recruitment team on 020 7527 2155 or e-mail [email protected]

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

To degree level or experience and skills equivalent to the requirements of the post.

Experience

Essential criteria

Extensive experience of delivering advice and support to prevent homelessness, considering the full range of housing options available to residents
Displays an awareness, understanding and commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people and or vulnerable adults
Up-to-date detailed knowledge of homelessness legislation, guidance and case law, of the broader housing environment and knowledge of Landlord and Tenant legislation
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, with experience of initiating and building effective working relationships across a range of partners
Experience of delivering a trauma informed approach
Experience of working within a high performing frontline housing service

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITY

Essential criteria

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Able to deliver a tailored service based on the individual needs of the client.
Able to communicate sensitively with stakeholders in a manner appropriate to the circumstances.
Excellent organisation and time management skills. Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
Ability to monitor progress on casework, set priorities and keep comprehensive, accurate records.
Ability to deliver basic debt management, money management and employment/training advice to clients