Housing Options Officer

We are seeking a knowledgeable Housing Options Officer to join our Housing team. This is a vital role in delivering the Council’s Homelessness Strategy, helping to prevent homelessness and supporting residents in housing need.

You will provide expert advice and guidance on housing options, investigate homelessness applications, and ensure the Council meets its statutory responsibilities under housing legislation. This role requires compassion, resilience, and the ability to deliver excellent customer service to some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

You will be responsible for assessing and resolving homelessness applications in line with statutory duties, by carrying out sensitive interviews and home visits to fully understand applicants’ circumstances, along with:

Developing action plans with clients to address the causes of homelessness
Liaising with landlords, tenants, and partner agencies to sustain tenancies and resolve disputes.
Representing the Council at multi-agency meetings and, where required, in court proceedings
Maintaining accurate case records and ensuring compliance with legislation, policies, and service standards.

To thrive in this role it is essential that you have a strong working knowledge of housing and homelessness legislation (Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, etc. as well as having:

Extensive experience in housing advice, homelessness prevention, or a related field.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt to different audiences.
The ability to work under pressure, manage complex cases, and remain empathetic.
Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
An understanding of safeguarding principles for adults and children.

This is a hybrid role where the working week will be based on 3 days in the office 2 days working from home - you may be asked to come into the office at additional times as required

We are committed to supporting our community and delivering high-quality housing services. Joining our team means that you will be able to making a real difference to people’s lives and be able to work in a supportive, professional environment.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Nancy Fraser, Senior Housing Options Officer, on 01233 330821

Click to view a Job Description

When Applying - Please ensure that you have received confirmation of a submitted application once completed. For any assistance in completing the application form, please email recruitment@ashford.gov.uk

Hybrid Working - We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you to balance your working life and home life and offer flexible ways of working to help structure your life in a positive and productive way; both at home and in the office. This maximises personal development and collaborative working. Competitive remuneration package - We offer an excellent salary linked pension scheme, generous annual leave with flexi time, free life insurance, supportive relocation package and opportunities for training and development.

With devolution news and talks evolving across the country for local authorities, we understand that there may be some uncertainty for those currently serving within the sector. Although Kent and Medway have not been included in the Devolution Priority Programme, discussions continue in this area. Kent, Medway and all District and Borough Councils in the South East will continue to work closely with each other to deliver vital services to our communities. This is an exciting, but stable time to join our organisation.

Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we provide

We welcome applications form the Armed Forces Community