Triage & Prevention Officer

Are you someone who can stay calm under pressure, have difficult conversations and remain focused on finding solutions for residents facing housing problems?

We're looking for a Triage & Prevention Officer to join our Housing Service. This is a demanding role. You'll be working with people who may be homeless, at risk of homelessness or facing other significant challenges in their lives. You'll need to manage a varied caseload, balance competing priorities and make decisions that can have a real impact on residents and their families.

Whilst the role is demanding, it also provides the opportunity to make a real difference to residents facing housing difficulties. You'll have the opportunity to help people through a crisis, prevent homelessness and support residents to achieve sustainable housing outcomes. Empathy is essential in this role, but so is honesty.

We can't always provide people with the outcome they want, and there will be times when legislation, housing availability or the facts of a case limit the options available. We're looking for people who can have open and honest conversations, explain decisions clearly, manage expectations professionally and support residents through difficult circumstances without making promises that cannot be delivered.

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to work from the office in line with the council's hybrid working arrangements.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Darren Chetram, Housing Service Manager, Darren.Chetram@bexley.gov.uk

Candidate Profile

We're not just looking for direct homelessness experience. Whilst experience within Housing Options or homelessness services is welcome, we're equally interested in people with transferable skills and experience. You may come from housing, social care, welfare benefits, supported housing, customer services, mental health services, probation, the voluntary sector or any role where you've worked with vulnerable people, managed complex situations and found practical solutions.

We recognise that the skills needed to succeed in this role can be gained in a variety of settings and would encourage applications from candidates with relevant transferable experience.

We're looking for people who:

• Can communicate effectively and build positive working relationships.
• Demonstrate empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
• Can manage difficult conversations with confidence and professionalism.
• Are resilient and able to work effectively under pressure.
• Can make sound decisions based on the information available.
• Are organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Have strong problem solving skills and a focus on achieving positive outcomes.
• Work well as part of a team and support colleagues when needed.
• Have a positive, can do attitude and a willingness to learn and develop.

For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.

Please upload your personal statement under the Relevant Experience and Skills section and ensure this fully aligns to the role criteria. This should not be more than two sides of A4.

Interviews are scheduled to take place during the week commencing 12 October 2026.

Benefits

Bexley is a vibrant and diverse outer London Borough nestled in the Thames Gateway between London and Kent which means it combines the perfect blend of city vibe and the tranquillity of Kent. It's got award-winning parks, open spaces, and heritage sites. The borough has excellent transport connections, including the Elizabeth Line and proximity to the M25. Bexley offers fantastic amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, and shopping areas. Our borough is also home to numerous primary and secondary schools, as well as further education institutions.

Our Offer to you

We will offer you in return a package that includes a competitive salary, coaching and mentoring programmes, an excellent pension scheme and generous annual leave plus bank holidays. For more information on the benefits package on offer please refer to the Candidate Information document attached.

Recruitment Information

As a disability confident employer Bexley welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on recruitment@bexley.gov.uk

This role may be available as a development opportunity through secondment for the Council’s existing employees. The Council’s Secondment Scheme can be found here. If this option is of interest, please contact the recruiting manager.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.