Hostel Support Officer

Job Title: Hostel Support Officer

Hours: 37 hours per week – Monday to Friday

Salary: £25,927.00 – £28,226.00

Gosport Property & Housing Services are looking for someone to join our generic team within the housing needs & advice section who can provide tenancy support and has building management experience of working in a hostel environment.

You will need to have experience of working with people with complex needs. Have knowledge of homelessness issues as well as the welfare benefit system.  You will need to demonstrate a commitment to excellent customer service coupled with a positive attitude to resolve problems.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

If you are interested, please download the attached Job profile for more information regarding ‘what is the role’ and ‘who is the person’ we are looking for to join our service.

How to apply

To make sure your application is above the rest, please review the “job profile” and “how to apply” to ensure your application matches the requirements of the role. Please ensure you refer to the “how to apply” document when you complete your application as there is information in there that you need to include and evidence in your application for this role.  This is really important or you are likely not to be short listed.  Please ensure you fully read and follow the guidance so you can demonstrate how you meet the criteria under “who is the person” on the “job profile”.  PLEASE DO NOT JUST SUBMIT A CV.  Email your submission to [email protected]

Closing date for receipt of completed submission 7th October 2022

Interviews will take place on the Monday 17th October 2022

JOB PROFILE

37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, on a rota covering hours between 9.00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Set times will apply in line with a rota when you work at the hostels.  Non-hostel workdays will afford flexibility to start and finish times in accordance with the Councils flexible working hours’ scheme. The post holder may be required to work outside normal office hours from time to time.

Gosport Borough Council (GBC) Property and Housing Services 

Gosport borough is on the beautiful south coast, boasting a magnificent heritage thanks to centuries of links with the Royal Navy. Its unique waterfront attractions and history give it a special character, and it benefits from 25 miles of coastline, including the sailing hub of Portsmouth Harbour and beaches at Stokes Bay and Lee-on-the-Solent.

It is also a borough with unique economic opportunities. Its military heritage means it is strongly represented in the advanced manufacturing, aerospace and marine sectors. As military needs have changed, the borough has gained development sites with huge potential.

Gosport has convenient links to the motorway network and the main south coast trunk road, and a short ferry hop provides a link to the main rail line to London.

GBC Property and Housing services has a bright future and we hope you will play a part in supporting the service to meet the needs of our customers.

Gosport Borough Council is responsible for managing over 3000 council houses and flats, some of which are dedicated to older persons and some as temporary accommodation. The service manages a varied Commercial property portfolio dealing with licences, concessions and a mobile home park.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone to join our generic team within the housing needs & advice section who can provide tenancy support and has experience of building management of working in a busy hostel environment.

You will need to have experience of working with people with complex needs. Have knowledge of homelessness issues as well as the welfare benefit system.  You will need to demonstrate a commitment to excellent customer service coupled with a positive attitude to resolve problems.  Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

What is the role?

This role will intensively manage and support residents within the Councils hostels.

You will be responsible for maximising income & minimising debt for your residents.

You will be responsible for ensuring the efficient management and oversight of the hostel.

You will be responsible for a caseload to which you will deliver a short-term tenancy support service, manage residents rent accounts and provide solutions to enable the resident to move into settled accommodation.

This role will be responsible for monitoring & maintaining set standards of repair for the building and council owned furnishings, fittings and white goods.

You will assist hostel residents in their use of the premises and its facilities.

You will monitor hostel residents and take action to address resident contract breaches.

You will be responsible for monitoring customers risk assessments and to ensure that those risks are managed appropriately.

Who is the person?

We are looking for somebody who:

Has knowledge of homelessness issues
Has knowledge of the welfare benefit system.
Has experience of providing tenancy management support.
Has experience of dealing with people with complex needs in difficult situations.
Has experience of carrying our risk assessments and managing risks.
Has a general understanding of rental income collection & debt management.
Has knowledge of health & social care act.
Is confident and who is a strong verbal and written communicator & can use knowledge gained to fully understand customers circumstances.
Has a good level of IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office applications
Has a good standard of numeracy and literacy skills.
Is proactive & highly motivated with the ability to work quickly, accurately and consistently when under pressure.
Has good interpersonal and team working skills and has experience of working in a front line service.
Is a creative thinker, able to suggest innovate solutions to problems.
Is committed to equal opportunities
Is happy to question current procedures and suggest improvements
Special Conditions:

The post holder will be required to hold a full current driving licence and have access to a vehicle for which a casual car user allowance will be paid.