Housing Support Officer

BACKGROUND

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) operates a shared service, on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities, which co-ordinates and funds the provision of a response to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness across the region.

The DRHE works to prevent people from entering homelessness, protects people through the provision of emergency accommodation, with a range of health and social supports, and identifies the pathways to long term housing solutions and sustained exits from homelessness.

The DRHE is looking to recruit a panel of Housing Support Officers in order to further enhance its direct advice and accommodation support services for homeless families and individuals. This is an opportunity for people who want to experience working in a busy, but at times challenging role, seeing the people they work with succeed.

THE ROLE

The Housing Support Officer will report to the Deputy Director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, or such other designated officer. The holder of the post will be working directly with people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

They will work as part of the Central Placement Service of the DRHE with a focus on prevention, place-finding and generally moving families on from emergency facilities, to more suitable accommodation. The role will involve intensive and direct interaction with households, out in their place of temporary residence, and the provision of clear advice and support to families to enable them to exit homelessness.

The holder of the post will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of housing legislation and social housing options, as well as of the policies and procedures of local authorities and of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive. Ongoing training will be provided in all aspects of the DRHE’s services.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHALL

• Have excellent interpersonal communication skills, and be capable of representing the DRHE/City Council in a professional and credible manner with all stakeholders;

• Be capable of conducting assessments of need in a sensitive and professional manner;

• Have the capacity to support people experiencing homelessness to make informed decisions;

• Possess an understanding of homelessness and how to respond effectively;

• Demonstrate a strong knowledge and competency regarding social housing options and an understanding of how to prevent, divert or progress from homelessness;

• Have the ability to identify and liaise with other service providers to prevent homelessness or minimise time spent in emergency accommodation;

• Be able to ensure policies, procedures and quality standards are adhered to and maintained, in particular those that support safe services;

• Demonstrate relevant experience of working effectively with customers;

• Possess an understanding of equality practices and public sector duty;

• Be able to work under pressure to tight deadlines in the delivery of key operational objectives;

• Have an understanding of the representational role of elected members and of local government structure as well as the important roles of charities and voluntary groups involved in the area of homelessness;

• Be self-motivated, with the ability to work on own initiative;

• Be willing to work flexibly, some evening work may be required;

• Have proven management report writing, numeric and IT skills;

• Have very good time management and organisational skills;

• Have an awareness of Health and Safety legislation and regulations, their implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace.

QUALIFICATIONS

CHARACTER:

Each candidate shall be of good character.

HEALTH:

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ETC.:

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications: -

(a) Have a good general standard of education;

(b) Have proven and relevant experience in administrative procedures, including practical experience in work of an administrative nature, office organisation and control of staff;

(c) Possess a satisfactory knowledge of the functions and duties of local authorities.

DESIRABLE:

• A relevant qualification or background in Social Care and/or Housing.

• Experience working in a similar field.

DUTIES

The duties of the post include, but are not limited to, the following: -

• Providing comprehensive and case-management type advice, on all housing options and housing supports, to households residing in various forms of emergency accommodation in particular those in commercial facilities;

• Supporting households to source private rented accommodation, with the assistance of Housing Assistance Payment;

• Developing a housing plan for each homeless household in emergency accommodation, with realistic options aimed at reducing the length of time spent in emergency accommodation;

• Liaising with and referring Homeless families to appropriate Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and to other relevant statutory agencies and their support services;

• Responsibility for the coordination of services going into emergency accommodation properties in their assigned accommodation areas/facilities;

• Working directly with households who present at risk of homelessness from the private rented sector. These Officers will be required to have knowledge of all protections available to tenants under the Residential Tenancies Acts;

• Working directly with households who present at risk of homelessness from a family home. These Officers will liaise with the family and with relevant local authority Housing Departments to prevent homelessness;

• Writing reports and managing correspondence relating to households in emergency accommodation;

• Responding to service user complaints, queries or concerns and correspondence from Public Representatives;

• Housing Support Officers may be assigned to specific roles, for example Dublin Placefinder;

• Duties may change to reflect the priorities of Homeless Services at any given time and other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the delegated manager in the DRHE.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the City Council.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority and to

(a) The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive is Chief Executive, and

(b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to them by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Posts of Housing Support Officer will be filled from this publicly advertised competition. Selection shall be by means of a competition conducted by or on behalf of Dublin City Council.

• Candidates should note that the information provided by them in their application form and assessment questions will form the basis on which eligibility and short listing is conducted.

• Dublin City Council reserves the right to undertake eligibility and / or shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate.

• A panel may be formed on the basis of interviews. A candidate whose name is on a panel and who satisfies the Council that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, subject to the appropriate Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sanction, be appointed as an appropriate vacancy arises.

• The life of the panel shall be for a period of one year from the date of its formation.

• Dublin City Council shall require any person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up appointment within such period, or such longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, the Council shall not appoint them.

INTERVIEW

The interview will be competency based and marks will be awarded under the following competencies;

• Delivering Results

• Performance through People

• Communicating Effectively

• Personal Effectiveness

• Understanding Purpose & Change

Please see page 8 of the Candidate Information Booklet for more details.

SALARY:

The salary scale for the position of Housing Support Officer is;

€51,722; €53,266; €54,844; €56,454; €58,076 (Maximum); €59,967 (1st LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the Maximum); €61,865 (2nd LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the 1st LSI).

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving public service employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 35 hours per week.