Housing Officer - Coventry

£26,906 per annum

Coventry Based

Full-time role on a 2-week rotating pattern - 2 weeks of day shifts followed by 2 weeks of night shifts, including weekend work.

The Job Opportunity

A key member of the field operations team, this role is responsible for delivering the services required under the AASC contract within their designated portfolio. This includes ensuring compliance with company policies, processes and procedures and meeting all legal and regulatory requirements. The Housing Officer role is an important position within the AASC businesses, providing the primary face-to-face contact for asylum seekers whilst accommodated by Serco. In addition to working with asylum seekers, the Housing Officer will engage with other team members, landlords, external agencies, partners, our customer and the general public. The prime purpose of the role is to ensure that all properties within the allocated portfolio are safe, habitable, fit for purpose and fully equipped in accordance with the AASC standards as well as supporting the service user during defined activities, including service user dispersals, relocations, and discontinuations.

Daily Duties Involve

• With other field operations staff, support compliance with the key performance indicators of the contract
• Work closely and collaboratively with other housing and maintenance staff to deliver a fully compliant contractual service
• Takes responsibility for the delivery of the accommodation elements of the contract within their designated areas of operation

Accommodation and service users

• Work with transportation teams to ensure service users are available for dispersal, relocation and other transport activities
• Work with other AASC teams and individuals to investigate and report on various issues, including complaints, incidents, medical issues, suicide risks, domestic violence situations, anti-social behaviour and safeguarding
• Maintain the relevant Serco documentation at the property, including the property manual and information relating to the local area
• Verify that repair works have been completed to the agreed standard
• Provide access to the property for authorised third-party visits
• Report repairs and maintenance action on the relevant IT system
• Complete all minor property repairs within the scope of the Housing Officer role, as per the local agreements and enabled by training, experience and the tool kit and spares provided
• Report all property faults identified during inspections/visits using the agreed IT system, ensuring that the defects are correctly categorised and described
• Work with the property directorate to support the onboarding and withdrawal of properties
• Carry out inspections of each unit of accommodation as per the contractual requirements and local processes

Health and Safety

• Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and the relevant Serco safety standards when on duty
• Check all relevant property and service user reports before entering properties
• Ensure that there is no hazard to users of the property whilst inspecting or working on site

Out of Hours Working

• In order to provide a fully compliant service, there may be a requirement to be on-call outside of normal working hours, as per an agreed roster and in accordance with local Serco processes

What we are looking for in our candidates

Knowledge, Skills and Experience - Essential

• Ability to handle conflict

• Computer literate

• Excellent organisation skills

• Ability to prioritise varying workloads

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Awareness and understanding of safeguarding principles, with the ability to follow safeguarding procedures appropriately

Qualifications

• Desirable - housing related qualification
• Minimum GCSE education

Knowledge, Skills and Experience - Desirable

• Ability to suggest and implement changes
• Experience of training staff
• Knowledge/experience of working within a property related environment
• Experience of property related documentation, e.g. tenancy agreements
• Experience of dealing with landlords and tenants