Temporary Accommodation Housing Solutions Officer
About the job
Salary: £36,363 - £39,152 a year plus £963 essential car user allowance (subject to criteria)
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives? Do you have the expertise to help prevent homelessness and provide sustainable housing solutions for those in need? Luton Council is seeking a highly skilled Temporary Accommodation Housing Solutions Officer to join our dynamic Housing Solutions team.
As a Housing Solutions Officer, you will manage a complex caseload of households owed a statutory homelessness duty under s193 of the Housing Act 1996. Your role will involve timely, legally compliant interventions to prevent homelessness, secure suitable accommodation, and discharge statutory duties through tailored solutions such as:
- Social housing
- Private rented sector (PRS) offers
- Homelessness prevention pathways
You will conduct thorough investigations into clients’ circumstances and make legally sound decisions in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996 Part VII, and related legislation, case law, and statutory guidance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage a varied and challenging caseload of clients, including those with complex needs.
- Deliver housing solutions through negotiation and partnership with landlords, external agencies, and partners.
- Assess and address support needs and vulnerabilities, ensuring compliance with safeguarding duties.
- Prepare clear, accurate decision letters, reports, and case notes.
- Interpret and apply housing legislation, statutory guidance, and council policies.
- Maintain accurate records and statistical data, ensuring performance targets are met.
- Participate in the Council’s homelessness emergency out-of-hours rota as required.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will have:
- In-depth knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, Housing Act 1996 Part VII, and associated legislation (e.g., Localism Act 2011, Deregulation Act 2015).
- Proven experience in homelessness prevention, decision-making under homelessness legislation, and working in a high-pressure environment.
- Excellent communication skills – able to engage with vulnerable clients, handle challenging behaviour calmly, and build strong partnerships.
- Strong planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities effectively.
- Ability to use IT systems confidently and maintain accurate records, including manipulating Excel data.
- A relevant qualification (e.g., CIH, NVQ Housing) or equivalent experience.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact by preventing homelessness and supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community. You will join a committed team that values professionalism, empathy, and innovation in delivering housing solutions.
Apply now and help us shape a better future for Luton residents.
About us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
Application Process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
How to apply
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply
Available documents
Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.Salary range
- £36,363 - £39,152 per year