Temporary Accommodation Officer

​Liaises with the Senior Housing Options Officer/Housing Options Officers to identify suitable
placements for homeless households across the full range of temporary accommodation available,
often without advance notice, in order to comply with statutory duties and to minimise the use of Bed
and Breakfast accommodation. Manages the Council’s own temporary accommodation, void
properties from vacation, clearance, gas and electrical safety checks, repairs and lettings, to ensure
vacancy periods and income loss are minimised. Ensures that all relevant paperwork is completed
at sign up, fully explaining the conditions of occupancy to the resident.
1.1 Liaises with the Senior Housing Options Officer/Housing Options Officers to ensure the effective
management of the full range of temporary accommodation available, including the coordination of
risk assessments and housing related support plans for residents in temporary accommodation.
Ensures completion of all relevant paperwork in accordance with the Supporting People contract.
1.2 Ensures the effective administration of all records relating to charge payments for residents in
temporary accommodation, including monitoring of both current and former arrears cases, liaising
with residents in respect of arrears and making arrangements for repayment, giving welfare benefit
advice and referring to relevant debt advice counselling services. Makes recommendations for
possession action to the Housing Options Team Leader where appropriate, assisting in the
preparation of Court documentation.
1.3 Responsible for the collection of temporary accommodation charges from residents in the council’s
own temporary accommodation, the security of cash whilst on the premises and the safe
transformation to the council’s cash collection/bank in accordance with the council’s Cash Control
Code of Conduct. Responsible for the petty cash and float money kept on the premises in
accordance with the Council’s cash Control Code of Conduct.
1.4 Ensures breaches of licence within temporary accommodation are resolved promptly and
satisfactorily in accordance with the council’s approved policies and procedures, recommending
Possession action to the Housing Options Team Leader where appropriate.
1.5 Responsible for the safety and security of the council’s own temporary accommodation, ensuring
compliance with the council’s health & safety policies and procedures, liaising with relevant
members of staff and/or representatives from both voluntary and statutory agencies where
appropriate.
Responsible for ensuring the maintenance and upkeep of the council’s own temporary
accommodation to a satisfactory standard, including council owned fixtures and fittings. Ensures all
repair work is reported expeditiously, liaising with Property & Facilities Management staff and/or
other staff and contractors where appropriate. Makes recommendations on expenditure over £500
to the Housing Options Team Leader. Carries out regular inspections to ensure that satisfactory
standards are maintained.
1.6 Liaises with staff from Property & Facilities Management to ensure that all communal areas within
the council’s own temporary accommodation are maintained to a satisfactory level of cleanliness
and that vacant units are ready for letting without delay, thereby minimising void periods.
1.7 Assists the Housing Options Team Leader in monitoring the performance of the council’s external
temporary accommodation providers to ensure compliance with the contract, carrying out regular
inspections of the accommodation provided, to ensure that satisfactory standards are maintained.
2.0 Participates in an out of hours standby rota responding to homelessness emergencies throughout
the district and will be required to make decisions on the most appropriate course of action across a
range of issues from emergency admissions, anti-social behaviour incidents and building
management, without recourse to a senior officer.
2.1 Liaises with the council’s out of hours Emergency Team Service/Security Company/CCTV Control
Room/Wellbeing Call Centre/North Yorkshire Police to ensure that any incidents of anti-social
behaviour within temporary accommodation are dealt with as a matter of urgency and that nuisance
and disruption for other households and members of the public is minimised.
2.2 Responds to referrals from the Council’s Out of Hours Emergency Team Service, making an initial
assessment of the Council’s duty to homeless households, providing advice and assistance and
where appropriate, carrying out emergency admissions to temporary accommodation.
2.3 May be required to attend the Council’s Homeless Persons’ Hostels to deal with building
management issues, such as re-setting fire alarms or central heating boilers and/or determining
whether a contractor is required to resolve a repairs and maintenance issue. May be required to
liaise with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in relation to fire alarm call outs.