UASC and Care Leaver Housing Officer - Canterbury & Herne Bay (Ref:CRH116)

Job title: UASC and Care Leaver Housing Officer

Department: KCC Contract, Operations, Ready Homes

Reporting to: UASC and Care Leaver Team manager

Location: Canterbury and Herne Bay

Contract Type: Perm

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week (Mon - Fri, 8:30am - 5pm)

Salary: £27,000.00 - £35,000.00 per annum

You will assist in the delivery of a comprehensive, professional and dynamic accommodation service to the KCC contract. Individually complete internal audits of your property portfolio and report findings to UASC and Care Team Manager. The audit and compliance piece will assess business processes and risks, recommending and driving through improvements.

Responsible but not limited to:

Procedures

• Planning and prioritising your diary to ensure effective management of your property portfolio, to ensure completion of monthly and planned property inspections and audits. Results to be fed back to the UASC and Care Leaver Team Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Report and raise all property related defects in line with contractual requirements set out in the contract specification to ensure properties are maintained to the expected standard.
• Ensure property standards are maintained in line with health and safety guidelines/standards and company procedures.
• Ensure all inventory items within the property portfolio are replaced/repaired as required in line with the contract specification and company processes.
• Prepare properties for re-occupation after young people have moved on within contractually agreed timescales.
• Follow through the move on process in line with company procedures.
• Effect minor property repairs if necessary.
• Ensure terminated properties are effectively prepared for hand back to landlords.
• Ensure stores are maintained in line with company procedures.
• Managing your time to meet business demands with a portfolio of properties located and operating across the Kent and/or London.
• Meeting both your own Key Performance Objectives and actively supporting your team to meet their objectives and meet the requirements of the KCC contract(s).
• Provide cover for staff absences within the field.
• To liaise with social services and other professionals in terms of specific and general service delivery, support, accommodation etc, and to respond to any complaints/issues they have in a timely manner.
• Planning and managing personal business objectives in line with the contract specification and standards set out in the KCC contract.
• Ensure your training developed to support the requirements of the contract and to support the successful completion of their role.
• Planning and managing personal business objectives in line with the contract specification set out in the KCC contract(s).
• Pursuing personal development of skills and knowledge necessary for the effective performance of the role.
• Attending meetings with internal and external stakeholders to validate audit findings that will mitigate any identified risks.
• Communicating the findings from internal audits confidently and articulately to the business
• Providing support and information to the Property Services department in relation to compliance matters.
• Dealing with data processing and communicating service contract administration with appropriate departments.
• Assist in the planning and scheduling fire risk assessments and arranging access to properties.
• Scheduling post-inspections of fire risk assessment actions on completion; liaising with contractors to provide essential updates; identifying and escalating obstructions to progress; archiving records and updating systems.
• Manage a caseload of young people across your property portfolio.
• Attend dispersals and conduct young people inductions into properties using translations services as and when required.
• Ensuring all young people have a full understanding of their expectations, house rules and all property related reporting functions as part of their induction process.
• Ensuring all property signage is up to date and present across the property portfolio.
• Signpost as necessary to support agencies, workers, social workers, safeguarding etc.
• Report any incidents, accidents and /or near misses, safeguarding issues and/or concerns, and absconder’s or missing young people.

Connect and Collaborate

• Work closely with your line manager and team members.
• Collaborate with others, attending meetings as required.
• Supporting team members and provide on-the-job training.
• Provide cover for other staff as agreed by line manager.

 Responsive

• Keep up to date with all written and verbal communications (i.e., emails/messages/calls)
• Ensure all records are maintained and kept up to date according to company policies and procedures.

Talented

• Previous housing experience/knowledge
• Strong communication skills, in particular the ability to influence, persuade and negotiate at all levels.
• Excellent relationship building skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Must be able to travel across a large geographical portfolio on a daily/weekly basis.
• Flexible/Adaptable.
• High degree of initiative.
• Comfortable with adherence to the rules of operation.
• Smart professional appearance.
• Ability to carry out basic maintenance.
• A full UK driving licence and use of own vehicle. The role involves working from home with daily travel involved to provide direct support to the K.C.C. Team.
• Monitor own work levels, progress and development in the role.
• Undertake all core learning and development programmes as required.
• Undertake relevant learning according to agreed Personal Development Plan.

 Trusted

• All employees are responsible for ensuring any personal data which Clearsprings Group holds and for which they are responsible, is kept securely and is not under any conditions disclosed to any third party unless that third party has been specifically authorised by Clearsprings Group to receive that information and has entered into a confidentiality agreement.

Agile and Diverse

• Any other duties within the scope of responsibility and ability, as required, inclusive of providing similar support to any other local company project.

  Professional

• Maintain a good understanding of the legislation of the contract.
• You will be required to make sure the service is in line with OFSTED Government guidance, to ensure compliance with the Supported Accommodation Regulations 2023 and that the necessary changes are made to achieve the minimum standards required.

• 25 days annual leave plus national bank holidays
• Westfield Health Membership (offering cashback on health services plus discounts for retailers and gym memberships)
• Life Cover (2 x basic salary)
• 6-month probation period
• Employer pension contribution (4% employer, 4% employee)
• Laptop/Phone/other equipment if required as part of job role
• Referral Scheme

Diversity Statement

Clearsprings Group is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Modern Slavery Statement

Clearsprings Groups conduct robust checks on any new employee including eligibility to work in the UK to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.

Safeguarding Statement

Clearsprings Group is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expect all employees to share this commitment.

All successful applicants will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check in line with their job role.

This role is not open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer withdrawn.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if there is a higher level of interest that expected.