Housing Options Officer - Looked After Children

12-month fixed-term contract or 12-month secondment for internal candidates

We are looking for an experienced Housing Options Officer to join our team to work alongside our colleagues in the Leaving Care and Children Looked After teams. 

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, although this is a hybrid working role, much of your contact with partners and customers will be face-to-face.

About you...

You will be working closely with young people to improve their housing outcomes by providing tailored housing options and pathways, helping to prevent looked after children and care leavers who are at risk from becoming homeless. You will also work collaboratively with children’s social workers, offering advice to support the best outcomes for young people, while also building effective relationships with them. As a main part of your role, you will be expected to carry out full enquiries and make legal decisions under the relevant housing legislation.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about working with young people, able to manage their own caseload effectively and committed to delivering a customer focused approach.

About the team...

You will be joining a dynamic, friendly and solution-based Housing Options team, delivering proactive advice and assistance to households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The work is fast-paced and innovative, sometimes challenging however there is also time for finding creative solutions where every day is different.

We pride ourselves on being person-centred and have formed positive working relationships with agencies within and outside of the council. We have a can-do attitude that enables us to offer the best support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. We will make sure that you have all the training and support you need.

Key responsibilities...

• To provide comprehensive advice to young people who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness to retain their existing accommodation or secure alternative housing
• To provide a customer focussed approach ensuring that a full housing needs assessments has been undertaken, all statutory notifications and Personal Housing Plans are published
• To consider and assess homelessness applications in accordance with the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended by the Homeless Act 2002 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017)
• To work closely with agencies involved with young people.

Our benefits...

• 28 days* annual leave increasing to 33 days* after 3 years’ continuous service.
• The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. 
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility).
• An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks. 
• Local government pension scheme.
• Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. 
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities. 
• A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing. 
• Sports and Social Club.
• Staff dental and health plans. 
• Discounted leisure centre and gym membership. 
• Supermarket discount. 

*(pro rata for part time)

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Our support 

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process

Interview date...

Interviews will be held on 10th and 11th June 2025.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact: 

Name: Michele Keegel

Job Title: Housing Options Team Leader

Phone Number: 01344 351355

At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details.

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment.

Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.