Tenant Engagement Officer

The Role

The Tenant Engagement Officer will support delivery of housing objectives through tenant engagement, participation, tenancy sustainment, estate management initiatives and implementation of the Council Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy.

The Tenant Engagement Officer shall report to the Administrative Officer or such other officer as appropriate in the Housing Department.

The candidates shall demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they have:

• Understanding of the role of a Tenant Engagement Officer;

• Possess excellent professional/technical knowledge and skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work independently and within multi-disciplined teams

• Problem solving and decision-making skills

• Experience in managing conflict

• Planning and organisational skills

• Experience of working within a social housing delivery and management context

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults

• 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

• Possess strong ICT and presentation skills

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

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of a Tenant Engagement Officer will include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and implement tenant engagement initiatives.

• Support tenant and resident associations and organise forums and consultations.

• Support implementation of the Council Strategy for the avoidance, prevention and abatement of anti-social behaviour in social housing provided and managed by Longford County Council.

• Work with Housing staff, An Garda Siochana and partner agencies to address anti-social behaviour.

• Support tenants affected by anti-social behaviour and promote tenant rights and responsibilities.

• Coordinate tenant surveys, newsletters and communication campaigns.

• Monitoring complaints, investigation of such complaints of anti-social behaviour or other breaches of tenancy of Council dwellings, including leased properties. Responding to complainant when appropriate.

• Interviewing tenants, and others, in relation to complaints of breaches of tenancy including antisocial behaviour

• Preparing and serving warning letters, notices, etc., when required.

• Keeping records and liaising with Longford County Council legal representatives and attending court as and when required.

• Investigating housing applicants where necessary.

• Assessment of housing applicants

• Liaising with tenants’/residents’ groups and estate management, as required.

• Developing and maintaining a good working relationship with internal departments in LCC such as Community, Environment etc.

• Operating from varied sites if necessary.

• Report to the appropriate Line Manager and attending Team meetings as required.

• Keeping necessary records and compiling relevant statistics, etc.

• Prepare research, reports, briefing notes and recommendations for management and elected members.

• Undertake duties appropriate to the grade as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

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. Citizenship

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

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

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) 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

(e) 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

(f) 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

4. Education, Training and Experience etc.

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

(i) (a) have obtained at least a grade D (or a pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or 4 subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Departments of Educations established Leaving Cert Examination or Leaving Cert Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics, and

(b) have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in Higher Level (or Honours) papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics)

or

(ii) have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, or

(iii) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard.

Desirable Criteria

(a) A qualification in community development, social housing, estate management or other relevant discipline is desirable, but not essential.

(b) Have satisfactory knowledge and experience of working with resident’s associations, community groups, estate management issues, social housing and related areas.

(c) Have a good knowledge of relevant legislation and its application in a social Housing Context.