Specialist Advisor x2

1 x Full Time, Permanent
1 x Full Time, Fixed Term - 12 months

The Specialist Advisor is an expert in the field of homelessness and rehousing. The role works on both areas of homeless prevention and our MyBristolHousing allocations team. Demand for social housing in Bristol is very high, we live in a vibrant and diverse City, however our Citizens face huge housing and social barriers. As part of the wider Housing Options Team, you will help form our response to these challenges.

In this position you will be responsible for decision-making on statutory reviews under homelessness and rehousing legislation.

You must have excellent communication skills and the ability to analyse complex information, interpret and apply legislation and make changes to policies and procedures as appropriate.

You must have a strong commitment to meeting the needs of households in housing need and have a strong understanding and knowledge of both homelessness and rehousing legislation.

You will be responsible for identifying areas and implementing areas of service improvement across the service to ensure that citizens applying for housing are receiving a high quality and equitable service.

You will need to have strong presentation and training skills as training new staff on case management systems and allocation policy forms part of this role. You will also be responsible for presenting any relevant information to partners and external organisations.

You will need to have strong IT skills as part of this role will involve assisting as we transition to a new case management system.

You will also need to have excellent numerical skills as part of the role will be analysing data and trends.

You must be highly motivated, able to work with limited supervision and be able to recommend and implement change in order to improve service delivery.

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice - mixing both home and office working.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

How do I apply?

If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.

To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.

For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.

For employees who are currently on a fixed term contract with Bristol City Council, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed term period to ensure there is a substantive post to return to.

If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency (currently working with Bristol City Council) this post will be a fixed term contract.

We're a Disability Confident employer which means we value recruiting and retaining disabled people. Any job applicants who consider themselves to be disabled and meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification are guaranteed an interview. We'll make reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and provide continued workplace support throughout your career.

If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact:
Simon Blakemore - simon.blakemore@bristol.gov.uk
Emma Gage - emma.gage@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black and racially minoritised candidates who are currently under-represented within this Service of Bristol City Council. Appointments will be made on merit.

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to make sure that everyone is treated fairly.