Housing Officer

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

Assess the housing needs of patients admitted to the mental health acute hospital.

Work as part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to contribute to discharge planning, ensuring appropriate and safe housing arrangements are identified and secured.

Liaise with local authorities, housing associations, supported accommodation providers, and private landlords to explore housing options.

Work proactively to prevent homelessness and advocate on behalf of patients who are at risk of losing their tenancy or who are homeless upon admission.

Attend housing forums, training, and inter-agency meetings as required.
Contribute to risk assessments relating to housing and financial stability.

Person specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Good literacy and numeric skills
• Computer literacy

Desirable criteria

• IT qualifications

Experience

Essential criteria

• Familiarity with electronic ordering systems
• Attending meetings and escalating concerns

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults who are at risk of homelessness or in unstable housing situations
• Experience of liaising with local authorities, housing providers and voluntary sector agencies

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential criteria

• General knowledge of the welfare benefits system, including Housing Benefit and Universal Credit, and their impact on patients' discharge planning
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality, data protection (e.g. GDPR), and accurate record keeping in a healthcare setting

Desirable criteria

• Previous knowledge of mental health care provision
• Awareness of key housing legislation relevant to supporting vulnerable adults, such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

• Able to work without direct supervision
• Effective problem-solving skills

Desirable criteria

• Ability to prioritise work

Here at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) we are dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion. We deliver many of the NHS services that are provided outside of hospital and in the community such as physical, mental health and specialist services.

We are a health and social care organisation, offering a wide range of services, including:

• Integrated physical and mental health services for adults and older people;
• Specialist mental health and learning disability services;
• Children and young people's mental health services;
• Children's community services in Peterborough;
• Social care;
• Ground-breaking research

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people and members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities. For further information about our positive equality, diversity and Inclusion work, please visit https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/equalityanddiversity.

CPFT is looking to build upon its pool of temporary workers with Temporary Staffing Services (TSS). You will be asked at interview if you would be willing to register with TSS. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to take on additional hours that are flexible around your personal circumstances.

Please be advised that in line with the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, 2020 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust currently are unable to accept applications from overseas candidates whose country of residence is classed as a 'Red List' country.

Applicants who require entry into the UK will be required to provide a valid police certificate from the relevant authority from each country (except the UK) where the applicant has been present for 12 months or more, 10 years before the date of visa application, while aged 18 or over.

If you are successful at interview you will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a DBS (if appropriate), references and Occupational Health. To ensure a smooth process please bring all identity documents to your interview. A list of required identity documents will be attached to your interview invitation.

All communications will be sent to you via TRAC Systems. By applying for this post you are agreeing to CPFT transferring the information contained in this application to TRAC. If you are made an offer, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Housing Officer (PDF, 368.4KB)
• CPFT Values (PDF, 114.7KB)
• CPFT Mindful Employers (PDF, 51.3KB)
• CPFT Accommodation (PDF, 296.6KB)