Housing Reviewing Officer

Placed: 29/11/17
Region: Berkshire
Location: Slough
Category: Jobs


Content of the advertisement:

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:
To develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 Parts VI and VII, the Code of Guidance, all associated case law, council policy and local working procedures applicable to housing applications, allocations and homelessness assessments and to apply this knowledge in the conduct of statutory reviews and appeals.

To conduct statutory homelessness reviews under s.202 of the Housing Act 1996 of decisions relating to the acceptance of duties and the suitability of temporary and permanent accommodation including interviewing applicants (including oral hearings) and carrying out further enquiries as necessary; assessing the reasonableness of decisions in the light of legislation, case law, the Code of Guidance, and all relevant matters of fact and law.

To develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of other legislation relevant to homelessness assessments, including landlord and tenant, family, welfare benefits, child care, legislation relevant to asylum seekers and other persons from abroad and other related law as may be relevant to the post.

To overturn the decision of other officers certifying what housing duty is owed, and how that duty is to be discharged, to individual applicants in accordance with homelessness law, local policy and working procedure.

To respond to statutory reviews on the suitability of accommodation under s.202 of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the 2002 Homelessness Act and the discharge or cessation of interim duty under s.188 for applicants refusing suitable offers of accommodation and suitability reviews of discharging duty into the private rented sector.

To make and notify all statutory decisions arising from the review process, including the decision whether to provide temporary accommodation pending the completion of reviews and appeals, and the Councils final decision on review.

To contribute to service planning and policy development in light of legislative changes, identifying and recommending areas for improvement.

To conduct statutory reviews requested under s.167 of the Housing Act 1996 and to respond to any legal challenge regarding the lawfulness of the councils scheme of allocations.

To act as the Councils expert advisor and main point of contact with clients and legal representatives to quickly and accurately evaluate the councils legal position and to agree a course of action which is in the best interests of the council in limiting its liabilities.

As the Councils expert advisor instruct and advise the Legal Services Department in cases where applicants are seeking judicial review of the councils decisions or exercising their right of appeal to the County Court: to prepare defence cases, attend Court as necessary; to consult with Counsel and give evidence as the councils expert witness in support of the councils decision.

To respond to and initiate correspondence and provide expert advice to Councillors, Members of Parliament, solicitors, senior staff in other sections of the authority, other Councils and other statutory and non statutory agencies, in relation to the conduct of reviews.

To identify training needs arising from legal developments and to deliver training to officers and managers in respect of all relevant legal issues; to be responsible for compiling and updating training materials for staff and internal and external customers and stakeholders; to attend relevant seminars and forums as the services representative on legal issues.

To prepare reports on the volume of reviews, the outcome of individual cases, and the councils compliance with statutory timescales, and to make recommendations regarding future practice and procedures in this area.

Any other reasonable duties commensurate with the post

Level : 8

Price / Salary: £18.36 - £22.97/hour