Housing Options Officer
Location: East Midlands (Hybrid)
Contract: Interim (3–6 months, potential extension)
Pay Rate: Negotiable (Umbrella)
DBS: Standard DBS required
The Role
A Local Authority in the East Midlands is seeking an experienced Housing Options Officer to join their frontline service, delivering high-quality housing advice and homelessness prevention.
This is a fast-paced role where you’ll manage a caseload of applicants, assess housing needs, and work proactively to prevent homelessness in line with current legislation.
Locata experience is essential for this role.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage a caseload of applicants under Part 6 & Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017)
- Conduct assessments, issue decisions, and develop Personalised Housing Plans (PHPs)
- Provide tailored housing advice and homelessness prevention options
- Make legally sound decisions on duty, eligibility, priority need, and intentionality
- Use Locata to manage housing applications, allocations, and customer records
- Work closely with landlords, support services, and internal teams to secure sustainable housing solutions
- Prevent and relieve homelessness through early intervention and casework
- Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with legislation and internal procedures
- Participate in duty rota and respond to urgent homelessness cases
About You
You will be an experienced Housing Options Officer with a strong working knowledge of homelessness legislation and the ability to manage a demanding caseload.
You must be confident using Locata and able to hit the ground running with minimal training.
Essential Experience
- Proven experience in a Housing Options / Homelessness Officer role within a Local Authority
- Strong knowledge of Housing Act 1996 (Part 6 & 7) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
- Hands-on experience using Locata for allocations and case management (essential)
- Experience issuing legally robust decisions and managing complex cases
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Ability to manage a high-volume caseload in a fast-paced environment