Access Compliance Officer

Access Compliance Officer

Job description

Posts Available | Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity (12-18 Months) | Full Time

Ready to help shape a brand-new service and make a real difference to residents?

We're looking for two highly motivated and solution-focused Access Compliance Officers to join Bristol City Council's newly established Access Management Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new service that has been created to improve resident safety, support vulnerable households and ensure the Council can effectively meet its statutory landlord responsibilities. The team has been developed following a service review which identified the need for a dedicated, resident-focused approach to managing access challenges across a range of housing and compliance workstreams.

Working across areas including gas safety, electrical safety, Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) interventions, disrepair, stock condition activity and other landlord obligations, you'll be responsible for progressing complex access cases while balancing compliance requirements with the needs of residents.

This role combines resident engagement, investigation, evidence gathering, legal case management and problem-solving. You'll work with residents, operational teams and the legal function to secure access, reduce barriers and ensure the Council can maintain safe homes for tenants across Bristol.

If you're looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference while helping to shape a developing service, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

• Managing and progressing complex no-access and compliance cases across a wide range of statutory workstreams.
• Working closely with residents, operational teams, contractors and the legal function to secure access and achieve positive outcomes.
• Identifying barriers to access and working proactively with residents to resolve issues before legal action becomes necessary.
• Gathering, reviewing and managing evidence to support legal action where required.
• Preparing legal documentation, evidence packs and witness statements to support court proceedings and access-related legal remedies.
• Supporting the legal function by providing robust evidence and case information to progress injunction applications and other enforcement activities.
• Attending court proceedings where required, providing evidence and supporting Bristol City Council's position in access-related cases.
• Working alongside support agencies and internal services to identify vulnerabilities, implement reasonable adjustments and improve resident outcomes.
• Assessing risk, managing competing priorities and ensuring cases are progressed within required timescales.
• Contributing to the development of consistent access management processes and helping embed the Council's Gain Access Policy across Housing and Landlord Services.

What we're looking for

We're seeking individuals with experience of working within legal, regulatory, housing or compliance environments who can confidently manage complex cases and make sound decisions.

Most importantly, we're looking for people who can balance compliance requirements with a resident-focused approach, using strong communication and problem-solving skills to achieve positive outcomes.

You'll bring:

• Working knowledge of litigation processes relating to tenancy breaches, evidence gathering, case progression and court proceedings.
• Experience of preparing accurate and robust legal documentation, evidence packs and witness statements.
• Knowledge of housing law and legal processes relating to tenancy breaches and access enforcement.
• Experience presenting cases or supporting legal proceedings.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal and procedural information clearly and confidently.
• The ability to manage a complex caseload, prioritise competing demands and meet statutory and court deadlines.
• A proactive, organised and solution-focused approach to work.
• Experience of working with members of the public with tact, sensitivity and professionalism.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and other digital systems.

Experience in housing, tenancy enforcement, legal services, compliance, environmental health, landlord services or local government would be advantageous.

Why work with us?

At Bristol City Council, we're committed to keeping residents safe and delivering excellent landlord services.

We offer:

• The opportunity to help establish and shape a brand-new Access Management Team.
• A varied and rewarding role combining investigation, resident engagement, compliance and legal case management.
• The chance to influence how access management is delivered across one of the largest housing providers in the city.
• Supportive leadership and professional development opportunities.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where operationally possible.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of Bristol residents.

Join us

This team has been created to transform how Bristol City Council manages access challenges by moving from a reactive approach to one that is proactive, consistent and resident-focused. The successful candidates will play a key role in supporting residents, reducing no-access cases and ensuring the Council can meet its statutory and regulatory obligations.

If you're passionate about problem-solving, working with people and helping deliver safer homes for residents across Bristol, we'd love to hear from you.

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. On occasion we may receive a high number of applications and may shortlist against desirable criteria as well as the essential criteria, so please demonstrate these where applicable in your application.

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 any more information after reading the job advert, Job Description and Person Specification, please contact Tom Nipper tom.nipper@bristol.gov.uk

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