Homeless Person OfficerLondon Borough of SuttonSutton, London£38,256 - £44,685Closes: 28 Apr 2026 23:55 BST Return to search results Homeless Person Officer Employer Sutton Council Location(s) Sutton Workplace Type Hybrid Working Contract Type Permanent Working Hours Full Time Grade 7 Hours Per Week 36 Salary Range £38,256 - £44,685 (£46,968 unconsolidated maximum) Salary Basis Per annum Leave Entitlement 28 days Application Deadline 28/04/2026, 23:55 About the Borough The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Found in zone 5 with good transport links in and out of London, Sutton boasts award winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing and great schools. As well as high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, providing quality services and success in addressing our financial challenges, whilst involving residents in key issues and high street changes.Sutton is continuously investing in the health, wellbeing and education of our residents and the future generation, as set out in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan. We are home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research. Together with the development of the London Cancer Hub, Sutton will be the world’s leading life-science district, specialising in cancer research and treatment. Our vision will create around 13,000 jobs while contributing £1.2bn to the UK economy each year, a vibrant community of scientists, doctors and innovative companies intended to deliver real benefits for cancer patients and drive economic growth. With the regeneration of the local areas with new homes and schools, Sutton is passionate about working closely with our residents and vulnerable groups to help them maintain their independence and create a balance between support and independent living.The Council is seen as a driving force within the South London Partnership of five outer south west London boroughs focused on strategic growth, regeneration and investment. As we strive to improve our services and spaces for our residents as set out in the ‘Ambitious for Sutton’ corporate plan, Sutton aims to shape the future of the borough and adapt to the needs of its residents to make our Borough a great place to live, work and raise a family. About the Role and our Ideal Candidate A Homeless Persons Officer, is a technical specialist focused on detailed rigorous investigations and robust decision-making. This role will deliver an effective statutory homelessness service, ensuring the delivery of timely decisions to our customers.This role manages a caseload to determine eligibility for assistance and make complex and sometimes contentious decisions on whether a statutory homelessness duty arises. Working strictly within the framework of Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, robust decision letters will need to stand up to legal scrutiny. It is crucial to correctly interpret relevant legislation,new case law, as well as having a clear understanding of tenure and housing rights.This role needs to be able to identify risks and take appropriate action to mitigate them, forging effective working relationships with internal and external partners to support vulnerable adults and young people.In this job role you will:This role requires an in-depth working knowledge of making complex homelessness decisions and apply this specifically VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended 2002), Homeless Reduction Act 2017, Regulation of Investigatory Power Act 2000 (RIPA) and Investigatory Powers Act 2016, Homeless Code of Guidance, Renters Right Act 2025, Localism Act 2011, Deregulation Act 2015, Housing Act 2004, Protection from Eviction Act 1977, security of tenure, welfare and Housing Benefits. It is essential that the candidate has experience in providing support, advice, and guidance in a complex environment. We are looking for 3 years experience in a similar role having a high level of competence.About YouYou will have significant experience making complex homelessness decisions and possess an in-depth working knowledge of housing legislation, specifically Part VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended 2002) and Homeless Reduction Act 2017 as well as housing options, security of tenure, welfare benefits, and immigration legislation. Strong investigative skills are required, with the ability to identify gaps in evidence and request relevant documentation from third parties. We are looking for a practitioner who combines process expertise with the ability to analyze complex information. You will also be capable of collecting and evaluating information to draw conclusions supported by reasoned argument. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are essential, as is the ability to maintain accurate case records using IT systems.We are looking for someone with a customer-focused attitude who can show empathy while resolving complex issues, being resilient and capable of managing difficult conversations and "negative decisions" and finding opportunities to offer support. You must be able to manage expectations through negotiation and influence to effect positive changes in customer behaviour to achieve the best outcomes.You will need to be highly organised, able to manage a caseload and tasks to meet deadlines. You must be able to collect and evaluate data to draw conclusions supported by reasoned argument. About Us Sutton is a borough defined by ambition, community and change. We are proud of our strong local identity, vibrant neighbourhoods and commitment to delivering services that make a real difference. We are determined to ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure and affordable home.Housing is central to our mission. As a Homeless Persons Officer, you will be part of a team dedicated to delivering an effective and efficient Statutory Homelessness assessment service. Our Offer To You As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work life balance, some of which include:A generous annual leave entitlement of 26-32 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade Enhanced Maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leaveTwo volunteering days per yearFlexible Working - Smarter Working Scheme (dependent on the role) Adjustable and agile working arrangements using Google ChromebooksLearning and development portal offering a range of coursesDiscounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centresInterest free season ticket loansLocal Government Pension SchemeBicycle loan facilities and cycle to work schemeElectric vehicle leasing schemeConfidential health & wellbeing and counselling support Application Process Apply online outlining what skills, abilities and experience you can bring which makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Please refer to the requirements outlined in the job profile when completing your application and check your CV details have been uploaded correctly in the relevant sections.We understand and recognise the benefits of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace and are embracing AI where appropriate, to boost our productivity and streamline how we deliver our Council services efficiently; to provide the best possible outcomes for our residents and communities. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where it is apparent that AI-generated content has been used in isolation and without personalised responses. At Sutton we value authenticity and are looking for individuals who can clearly demonstrate their own skills, experience and motivation for the role that they are applying for and embrace and demonstrate our PRIDE values. Here at Sutton we have core values of Transparency and this is to be demonstrated during the application process and completion of the supporting statement and will be further tested at interview and selection stage for those who progress forward.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, it is strongly advised that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. As part of our award winning Diversity Programme we anonymise all applications received to reduce conscious and unconscious bias enabling every application to be reviewed on the knowledge, skills and experience shown in your application. We encourage our interview panels to be as diverse as possible (age, cultural, neurodiverse etc.) to reduce bias where possible. We are fully committed to removing barriers and enhancing the diversity of our workforce. Additional Information We are proud to be a diverse and welcoming Borough and we strive to create a workforce which reflects the community we serve, and instil a sense of belonging in our staff. We celebrate and respect differences and appreciate the value of having a diverse workforce, therefore we welcome applications from under represented groups.To support our workers and their families we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums and inclusive staff networks who help drive our diversity agenda.We are also proud to be a disability confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria for a role. As an accredited London Living Wage Employer all our employees are guaranteed the London Living Wage regardless of their length or type of contract.The UK has a points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance. 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. Important Information - Criminal Records This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory result to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). Job Profile Homeless Person Officer .pdf – 103KB Opens in a new window Apply on employer site