Housing Needs Officer, London

Housing Needs Officer   Akton Recruitment currently has an exciting opportunity for a Housing Needs Officer with Mediation experience to join the team with the local authority in London. This request supports an application to recruit an interim mediation worker to sit within Housing (people) Services. This worker will support those young people under the age of 18 who present as homeless either to Social services or to Housing Services. The council/social services have a legal duty to provide emergency accommodation, which should not be bed and breakfast and assess the housing needs of the young person. The young person must be referred to Social services who must undertake a child in need assessment, as per the Joint Protocol. This role will include mediation with families to try to address any family breakdown. The worker will liaise with Social services to ensure that such young people are appropriately supported. The worker will also liaise with Social services to support Care Leavers under 25 who are at risk of eviction.. There is a need to ensure that the transition between services is smooth and that when working together any gaps are closed up. Additional focused work in this area will ensure that a more effective service is delivered to this cohort, which will prevent some of these young people entering the housing and social services systems, in the worst possible way by becoming homeless. Project outputs/outcomes: 1. A reduction in the number of young people housed in temporary accommodation or housed in more appropriate accommodation 2. Improved understanding of the council’s duties towards young people presenting as homeless 3. Improved joint working between SCST and SBC on this issue If you require further information please call (phone number