Housing Welfare Officer

The ideal candidate for the position shall:

• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Engaging with a wide range of people and maintaining good working relationships
• Working collaboratively with service users, work colleagues and other professionals
• Problem solving & Decision making
• Project management
• Stakeholder networking and engagement
• Administration and report writing
• Dealing effectively with conflicting demands
• Working under pressure to tight deadlines
• Leading and co-ordinating (external) agencies
• Engaging and networking with stakeholders 
• Acting on own initiative
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Operation of ICT systems and standard office software packages
• Health & Safety Management

 It is desirable that candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

• Possess excellent professional experience, knowledge and skills
• Experience of social care work within a housing context
• Knowledge and experience of crisis intervention
• Knowledge and experience of a range of social work /care models/interventions
• Experience of working with vulnerable adults
• Experience in relation to child protection
• Experience in engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders and maintaining good working relationships
• Dealing effectively with conflicting demands
• Working under pressure to tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently or within multi-disciplined teams
• Problem solving and decision making skills
• Planning and organisational skills
• Possess strong ICT and presentation skills

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require.

The duties will include but will not be limited to the following:

• The provision of Social Supports and Housing Welfare supports to housing applicants and tenants as deemed necessary. This will occur with colleagues as part of the Housing Assessments, Allocations and Homeless Teams.
• Visits as required and as necessary to housing applicants and tenants residing in local authority accommodation, and to other housing applicants as assigned by the line manager.
• The completion of an accommodation needs assessment for housing applicants / tenants, and other housing applicants as required.
• Make recommendations regarding tenants and applicants for accommodation provided by the voluntary and local authority.
• The completion of written reports in relation to clients and other projects as required.
• Ensure that tenancy agreements are being observed and report issues arising, to relevant personnel or appropriate agencies.
• Ensure other support needs are provided if identified.
• Liaise with other agencies, both state and NGOs and attend inter agency meetings and case conferences as required.
• Refer child protection concerns to the appropriate agency in accordance with the Children First Guidelines and Council policy.
• Attend and present at meetings of the Housing Strategic Policy Committees and any other meetings, as requested by the line manager.
• Assist tenants to engage with other sections of the local authority or government departments from which they may need assistance or advice.
• Review policies and assist in their implementation for special needs list in areas such as disabled persons.
• Manage all statistics for Housing Welfare referrals.

Assist in the implementation of new and existing initiatives on all housing related matters.

• Keep clear and concise reports of referrals and supported tenancies.
• Have excellent knowledge of Excel, Microsoft and PowerPoint.
• Deputise for other employees of the Council when required.
• To undertake any other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive

1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

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

3. Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) hold a recognised professional Social Work and/or Social Care qualification, the National Qualification in Social Work or Certificate of Qualification in Social Work or a recognised qualification in Social/Community Care (Level 8);

AND

(b) have satisfactory experience in social work/social care that will, in the opinion of the local authority, enable him or her to discharge the duties of the office. 

AND

(c) Candidates must also hold a current valid and unendorsed driving licence in respect of category B vehicles 

Failure to input and upload proof of essential educational qualifications in your application form will deem you ineligible for this competition.

*Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Starting pay for new entrants to the sector will be at the minimum of the scale.

The current salary scale applicable to the post (June 2026): €56,319, €58,971, €61,646, €64,344, €67,028, €69,715, €72,406, €73,812 (LSI1)