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Why Southwark?

Could you be the person who helps someone find stability when they need it most?

Do you believe everyone deserves the opportunity to have a safe and secure home?

Are you passionate about helping people overcome challenges and want a career where your work can make a genuine difference?

If yes, this could be the opportunity you have been looking for!

Southwark Council is looking for motivated, compassionate and organised individuals to join our Housing Needs and Support service as Assistant Housing Solutions Officers.

About the Role:

This is an opportunity to play a key role in helping residents through some of the most challenging moments in their lives. You will contribute to preventing homelessness, providing practical advice and supporting residents to achieve positive and sustainable housing outcomes.

Southwark is an ambitious and diverse borough with a strong commitment to resident-focused services, early intervention and preventing housing difficulties from escalating. Our approach is centred on understanding each resident’s circumstances, providing effective advice and assistance and working collaboratively to achieve lasting solutions.

As part of our team, you will work within a service built on fairness, respect, openness and accountability. You will be supported to develop your skills, expand your knowledge of housing services and gain valuable experience across areas including housing options, homelessness prevention, applications and accommodation solutions.

Whether you are beginning your career in housing, transferring your customer service or administration experience into a new environment, or looking to develop within local government, this role offers the opportunity to grow professionally while making a meaningful difference to residents and communities.

What You'll Be Doing

As an Assistant Housing Solutions Officer, you will provide high-quality housing advice, assistance and administrative support across Housing Needs and Support services.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting residents and preventing homelessness
• Acting as an initial point of contact for residents seeking housing advice and assistance.
• Listening to residents, gathering relevant information, and helping identify appropriate housing options and solutions.
• Providing clear, sensitive, and professional communication to residents who may be experiencing challenging circumstances.
• Supporting early intervention approaches that help residents sustain accommodation and avoid homelessness.
• Delivering effective housing services
• Assisting with housing applications by processing information, checking documentation, maintaining accurate records, and supporting case progression.
• Supporting accommodation processes, including assisting with offers, liaising with internal teams and providers, and ensuring information is recorded accurately.
• Updating systems and completing administrative tasks to support effective decision-making and high-quality service delivery.
• Working within agreed timescales while ensuring compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and statutory requirements.
• Working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes
• Building effective working relationships with colleagues across Housing Needs and Support and wider council services.
• Working alongside external partners, including health services, children’s services, and voluntary sector organisations, to provide a coordinated approach to resident support.
• Contributing ideas and feedback to improve services and enhance the resident experience.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience across housing services while contributing to a team that places residents at the heart of everything it does.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for individuals who are committed to delivering excellent services and understand the importance of treating every resident with dignity, empathy, and respect.

You will be someone who:

• Has excellent communication skills and can engage confidently with residents, colleagues, and partner organisations.
• Can listen effectively, understand individual circumstances, and provide clear and appropriate information.
• Is organised, detail-focused, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining accuracy.
• Works effectively as part of a team and contributes positively towards shared goals.
• Can follow processes and procedures while using initiative to achieve positive outcomes.
• Is adaptable, willing to learn, and interested in developing knowledge of housing legislation, policy, and local procedures.
• Is committed to continuous improvement and delivering services that make a difference.

Experience in housing, customer service, administration, or a similar environment would be beneficial. However, we are equally interested in your approach, values and commitment to supporting residents.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information:

To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact our dedicating Housing Needs inbox via email at HNASapplications@southwark.gov.uk

Additional Information

• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Location: 25 Bournemouth Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4UJ
• Type of contract: Permanent

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Recruitment Timeline:

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Friday 14th August 2026

Shortlisting date/s: 17th - 19th August 2026

Interview date/s: Week commencing 7th September 2026

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans

Are currently in care, or have previously been in care

If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

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Attachments

• Assistant Housing Solutions Officer