Job title: Housing Assistant

Salary: B3 £27,274 - £29,071

Hours: 37 Hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Kirkstall Brewery, Broad Lane – Merrion House

As a Housing Assistant you will provide quality housing management services to meet the needs of customers and communities, making a positive contribution to the social and physical environment of the area.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Housing Assistant, you will bring to the role:

Knowledge of the role of Council Housing Service and responsibilities in managing homes and communities and awareness of current housing issues.
Ability to deal with relevant procedures and maintain standard documentation.
Be able to communicate effectively with customers, colleagues, partner agencies and elected members
Ability to advise customers on relevant procedures.
Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively both face to face in writing and by telephone.
Ability to work within a team.

About the role

As our next Housing Assistant, you will join a team with a variety of experience and knowledge of Homeless Prevention. The role is integral to our temporary accommodation team. You will work alongside the team to look at placements into temporary accommodation and look at all move on options for families currently residing in Temporary accommodation. It is a team that thrives on supporting each other’s wellbeing as well as sharing workload and ideas. You will have a key role in forging the links between customers, housing management and support services.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat please contact Claire Newton Claire.Newton@leeds.gov.ukor Charlotte Monier Charlotte.Monier@leeds@gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

To provide quality housing management services to meet the needs of customers and communities, making a positive contribution to the social and physical environment of the area.

Principal Responsibilities:

In liaison with the manager/senior officer, to be responsible for ensuring delivery of a high quality and efficient services.

To assist in providing a range support services for internal and external customers.
To work as part of a team of housing advisors to provide customer focused services.
To liaise with colleagues in order to prioritise work to meet conflicting deadlines.
To maintain accurate records and track progress of work.
To assist with the induction of new staff including the demonstration of duties.
Ordering and monitoring stock supplies.
Preparing routine correspondence and standard letters and forms.
Managing meeting rooms and dealing with hospitality and signing-in of visitors.
Assist with the arrangements for conferences, forums and other events.
Act as the first point of contact for visitors and customers – both in person and on the telephone.
Provide an excellent customer service to customers, colleagues and visitors.
To use IT applications and databases effectively to deliver tasks. Operate relevant equipment/ICT packages e.g. word, excel, databases, spreadsheets, Internet.
To input and retrieve data using computerised systems.
To collate and prepare information from a variety of sources.
Operate relevant equipment/ICT packages e.g. word, excel, databases, spreadsheets, Internet.
Undertake general financial and administration duties.
Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required and to take notes at meetings.
Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Understand and abide by the Council’s equal opportunities policy in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council.
Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.
To gather information from service users to assess the service required.
Make appropriate referrals for housing support as and when required.
Contact with tenants using various forms of communication, including visits to tenants in their own homes.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method Of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.

Skills required

Ability to deal with the general public in a responsive manner.
Ability to deal with high volumes of enquiries both at the public counter and over the telephone.
Ability to demonstrate patience and understanding with service users.
Ability to deal with relevant procedures and maintain standard documentation.
Ability to advise service users on relevant procedures.
Ability to work within a team.
Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively both face to face in writing and by telephone.
Ability to demonstrate customer care.
To adhere to LCC Financial Rules and Regulations and Standing Orders.
To handle cash accurately.
Ability to use computerised systems.
Ability to record and maintain information received from all sources accurately.
To provide a welcoming environment to service users.
To assist other members of staff with duties when required.
A good level of numeracy and literacy skills.

Knowledge required

An awareness of customer care.

Experience

Of working in a customer facing environment.
Of working as part of a team.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills required

Of working in an office environment.

Knowledge required

Knowledge of the role of the Council Housing Service and its responsibilities in managing homes and communities.
Knowledge of current housing issues.
Awareness of customer engagement.
An understanding of equality issues.