Housing Welfare Officer

General Information:

County Leitrim, located in the North West of Ireland, has a growing economy, picturesque landscape, vibrant communities and a strong arts and cultural sector. Leitrim County Council’s vision is to build an economically strong, creative, inclusive county, making Leitrim the best place to live, work, invest and visit. Key to the achievement of our priorities and objectives is a skilled and committed workforce, supported by enabling technologies, efficient work processes and learning and development opportunities. We are committed to the training, support and encouragement of our staff and we offer benefits across family friendly initiatives, personal development and wellbeing of staff.

The Role

The Housing Welfare Officer role is based within the Housing Section of Leitrim County Council and will provide additional support to assist the Social Housing Team in the management of social housing and homelessness. The holder of the post will be working directly with people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

Tackling homelessness is a key priority and focus for Leitrim County Council. The Housing Welfare Officer will proactively work to address homelessness by providing support, prevention and sustainable housing solutions. The Council has made progress in relation to both preventative measures to prevent individuals and families entering homelessness, and to support those individuals and families experiencing homelessness to exit from emergency accommodation into secure and sustained tenancies in a timely manner.

The Housing Welfare Officer will work with a focus on prevention, place-finding and generally moving clients and families on from emergency facilities to more suitable accommodation. The role will involve intensive and direct interaction with families and clients, and the provision of clear advice and support to enable them to exit homelessness.

The Qualifications:

Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

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.

Citizenship:

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

i. A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

ii. A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

iii. A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

iv. A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

v. A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

vi. A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

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 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.

Notes:

• Candidates must submit a copy of educational qualifications meeting the requirements of 4(a) above with their application.

• Applications received without the necessary documentation will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

• 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. Foreign Language qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Candidates must also hold a current valid and unendorsed driving licence in respect of category B vehicles or equivalent in the EU Model Driving Licence and must advise if this is not the case. A copy of licence must be submitted with your application.

The Ideal Candidate Shall Have:

• An understanding of the role of a Housing Welfare Officer.

• Excellent professional / technical knowledge and skills.

• At least 2 years’ experience working in the area of homeless service provision or similar type service.

• A good working knowledge of the background to and policies which govern the provision of social housing in Ireland, including social and welfare rights and entitlements.

• An understanding of homelessness and how to respond effectively.

• An understanding of the representational role of elected members and of local government structures, as well as the important roles of government and non-government agencies and organisations, charities and voluntary groups involved in the area of homelessness and tenancy sustainment, and the need to work with them to deliver quality services and implement policy decisions.

• Ability to conduct assessments of need in a sensitive and professional manner.

• Capacity to support people experiencing homelessness to make informed decisions.

• Ability to work in direct contact with a diverse range of external agencies and organisations.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, organisational and negotiating skills and ability to represent the Council in a professional and credible manner.

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

• The ability to identify and liaise with other service providers to prevent homelessness, or minimise time spent in emergency accommodation.

• Ability to ensure policies, procedures and quality standards are adhered to and maintained, in particular those that support safe services.

• Ability to develop and deliver programmes and projects and to work to strict deadlines.

• Self-motivation with the ability to work on their own initiative as well as an integral part of a team.

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults.

• Experience in relation to child protection.

• Experience of managing challenging circumstances and behaviours.

• Solutions focused approach.

• Effective financial and resource management skills.

• Flexibility and availability to work outside normal office hours as required.

• Strong ICT and presentation skills.

• A good understanding of safety management in the workplace including Health & Safety legislation and regulations.

The Principal Terms & Conditions:

The office is wholetime, permanent and pensionable. A panel will be formed from which Housing Welfare Officer vacancies arising during the lifetime of the panel (12 months) may be filled.

Duties

The duties of the office are to give to the local authority:

(a) such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts, 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 mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph,

under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an administrative, supervisory and advisory nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, duties and functions as may be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority.

Reporting to the Administrative Officer or other appropriate supervisor/line manager in the Housing Department, the main duties and responsibilities of the post of Housing Welfare Officer may include but are not limited to the following:

• Assessment of persons presenting as homeless, including maintaining links with other local authorities, Gardaí, Health Services Executive, Tusla, any other relevant bodies, and with internal staff within the Housing Department.

• Placement of persons deemed as homeless, taking account of housing legislation, financial constraints, child protection issues, sex offenders legislation and other relevant legislation.

• Organising and arranging temporary emergency accommodation within the existing services available, should it be required.

• Liaising with other relevant statutory and voluntary bodies in relation to the provision of homeless services.

• Operation of PASS (Homeless IT system).

• Case managing families and individuals in emergency accommodation, or those in certain other types of emergency accommodation that require support, to identify their individual support needs and care plans and supporting them to engage with appropriate community and health services and developing and implementing an exit strategy from homelessness in each case.

• Working with service providers in identifying suitable alternative temporary private emergency accommodation, B&B, hotel, self-catering apartments etc.

• Managing Housing First, Housing Led and other homeless initiatives for families and individuals who require emergency accommodation.

• Working with Approved Housing Bodies in homeless area and organising additional services required in County Leitrim.

• Assisting persons in settling into accommodation and ensuring that clients are fully briefed on services available to them from external agencies.

• Working with Social Housing Tenants in respect of issues identified that are putting their social housing tenancy at risk.

• Assisting the Tenant Liaison Officer with Pre-Tenancy Training and other issues that may affect a social housing tenancy.

• Providing support to the Assessments, Allocations and Tenant Liaison Teams within the Housing Department.

• Developing and maintaining positive and productive working relationships across a range of internal and external stakeholders.

• Working on an inter-agency basis and with external bodies and groups as appropriate in relation to the development and delivery of initiatives, programmes and projects.

• Identifying and developing collaborative partnerships and programmes in response to identified needs.

• Advising and making recommendations to the Council on policy formulation in relation to homeless services, tenant welfare services and social housing supports.

• Representing the Housing Department and/or the Council on relevant committees and/or at a range of meetings and events as and when required.

• Attending meetings, participating on relevant Working Groups, Committees etc as appropriate and as requested.

• Compiling, preparing and presenting reports, claims and returns, including site visits, record checking, presentations and correspondence as necessary.

• Keeping necessary records and compiling relevant statistics for reporting to management, elected members, government departments etc.

• Engaging with housing applicants and tenants where required.

• Provision of a tenant welfare service where appropriate and liaison with other appropriate persons and agencies as required, including the Tenant Liaison Officer.

• Provision of advice and assistance to individual tenants with difficulties such as financial, family and personal problems.

• Attendance at Case Conferences, CPC’s and other meetings as required including SPC, Council and Municipal District meetings, Community Safety Partnership and Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee etc.

• Referring child safeguarding concerns to the Designated Child Protection Liaison Officer and, where required, engaging with TUSLA and An Garda Síochána.

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

• Attending Court proceedings as witness on behalf of Leitrim County Council as appropriate.

• Undergoing training as required, including CPD training as appropriate.

• Identifying opportunities for improvements in service delivery within their work area and wider Housing Department.

• Supporting and implementing change management initiatives within their work area and wider Housing Department.

• Participating in corporate activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade.

• Working in compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work.

• Deputising for the line manager or equivalent as required.

• Undertaking any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required or assigned from time to time.

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 Local Authority.

The role requires flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties may involve working outside of normal office hours.

Salary:

The salary scale for the position of Housing Welfare Officer (effective 1st August 2025) will be within the range:

€44,255, €47,166, €48,547, €50,671, €52,928, €55,237, €57,580, €59,965, €62,366, €64,156, €65,971, €67,244 LSI1.

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with relevant Departmental Circulars. Offers of appointment to persons who are not serving local authority employees will be based on the minimum of this scale. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the post shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his or her inclusive salary) payable to or received by him or her by virtue of the post or in respect of any services which he or she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

Residence:

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his or her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof and will be required to serve in the Local Authority’s offices, or wherever assigned by the Local Authority.

Leitrim County Council reserves the right to, at any time, re-assign an employee to any department or premises now or in the future.