Assessment Officer

Marks Consulting Partners are currently looking for an Assessment Officer to work with one of our Local Authority clients in London.

What the Job Will Be Doing

• Assessing housing applications to determine eligibility, housing need and statutory duties
• Carrying out detailed housing assessments in line with the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• Making decisions on homelessness applications, including eligibility, priority need, intentional homelessness and local connection
• Completing Section 184 decision letters and ensuring all decisions are legally compliant and robust
• Providing housing advice and guidance to applicants on their housing options and statutory rights
• Identifying prevention and relief opportunities to reduce homelessness wherever possible
• Managing a varied caseload, ensuring statutory deadlines and performance targets are achieved
• Liaising with Housing Options, Temporary Accommodation, Allocations and external agencies to deliver effective housing solutions
• Working with vulnerable households, safeguarding concerns and complex cases requiring multi-agency support
• Maintaining accurate records and updating housing management systems
• Responding to enquiries, complaints and requests for reviews in a professional and timely manner

What You Will Need

• Experience working as an Assessment Officer, Housing Needs Officer or Housing Options Officer within a Local Authority
• Strong knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• Experience assessing homelessness applications and making legally robust decisions
• Experience producing Section 184 decision letters
• Strong understanding of homelessness legislation, Code of Guidance and relevant case law
• Ability to manage a high-volume caseload within a target-driven environment
• Excellent communication and interviewing skills
• Experience working with vulnerable households and safeguarding issues
• Experience using housing management systems such as NEC, Jigsaw, Locata or similar