Housing Options Officer

Ely, Cambridgeshire, England

£38510 - £44253/annum

Are you ready to make a real difference in people's lives? East Cambridgeshire District Council has an exciting Housing Options Officer opportunity!

Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EE

Salary: £38,510 to £44,253 per annum

Job Type: Full time, permanent

Closing Date: Thursday 15 October 2026

About Us:

East Cambridgeshire District Council is committed to preventing homelessness and supporting those who are homeless or at risk of losing their home. We serve the East Cambridgeshire district and have recently achieved silver accreditation under the Investors in the Environment scheme, ranking 43rd out of 164 councils on the national climate scorecard. Our Housing Advice team continues to grow as we expand our support services.

Housing Options Officer - The Role:

In this rewarding role, you will work closely with statutory and voluntary agencies to provide high-quality homelessness prevention services and housing advice. You will manage a caseload of housing cases, assess and investigate complex circumstances, and help people access and maintain suitable, sustainable housing. Your day-to-day work will involve conducting advice interviews, mediating with landlords and families, liaising with private and public sector organisations, and ensuring customers understand all available housing options. You will also investigate homelessness applications to ensure the council meets its legal responsibilities, working independently on complex cases that require knowledge of housing and homelessness legislation.

Housing Options Officer - Key Responsibilities:

Manage a caseload of housing advice cases with the aim of preventing homelessness and securing alternative options
Assess and investigate homeless applications in accordance with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homeless Reduction Act 2017
Conduct detailed advice and assistance interviews with homeless applicants at drop-in sessions, booked appointments and by telephone
Liaise with other statutory and voluntary agencies including social care, probation and police to develop holistic solutions
Work with families in housing need to help them access suitable properties through the Choice Based Lettings scheme
Assist in the provision of emergency advice outside office hours and arrange temporary accommodation as needed
Collect statistical data, undertake research tasks and maintain good practice standards across the housing advice service

Housing Options Officer - You:

Previous Housing Options casework experience essential
Knowledge and understanding of the Housing and Homeless Reduction Act legislation
Experience working with people with complex needs including mental health, substance abuse and offending behaviour
Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills to interact with clients, managers and external parties
Excellent organisational skills with high attention to detail and ability to work under pressure
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and willingness to be trained on council IT systems
Positive, supportive and empathetic approach with strong team working skills
CIH Level 4 qualification desirable, or willingness to work towards this qualification with council funding
Four GCSEs (grade C or above) or equivalent, including English and Maths

Benefits: