Senior Homeless Reduction Officer - Housing Solutions Team

Job Posted: 27 May 2025

• Contract Term: Permanent
• Location: Newport, Isle of Wight
• Contract Type: Full time
• Salary: Grade 9, £33,367 to £36,325 per annum
• Industries: Health & Social Care

Hours: 37 per week

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Senior Homelessness Reduction Officer to join a dynamic Housing Solutions team. In this role you will provide expert housing advice, lead on complex homelessness cases, and contribute to the delivery of homelessness services.

You will take a lead role on case specific decision-making and managing complex casework, with the  focus on statutory duties under Part 7 Housing Act 1996.

You will be a visible and effective senior figure within the team and work collaboratively with colleagues across departments including social care, allocations, and external partners. From attending safeguarding meetings to supporting out-of-hours emergency responses, you will be at the forefront of helping those at risk of homelessness access the support and housing they need.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice and support to case officers on housing legislation and undertake complex homelessness prevention casework
• Ensure that officer casework is compliant with legislation and statutory duties through supervisions, audits and other monitoring processes
• To oversee interim accommodation placements for the Housing Solutions team and respond to initial identification of risks
• Monitor systems to ensure that information collected is accurately recorded for the H-CLIC reports to Government
• Be a lead on Gypsy and Traveller liaison for the council. 

About You

• Significant experience working in housing, homelessness prevention, or similar frontline roles
• A strong working knowledge of Housing Act 1996, relevant case law, and current housing policy
• Proven ability to manage complex casework
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Experience managing and coordinating a team
• A flexible, collaborative, and customer-focused approach

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Jem Seaward at 01983 821000 ext. 6929 or email [email protected]   

Join #TeamIWC and you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:

• Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
• Local Government pension scheme
• Discounted Solent ferry travel
• Island bus network discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff parking permit scheme
• Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
• National and local discounts & benefits schemes
• Relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available for some roles (subject to criteria)
• Travel allowance may be available if commuting from the mainland (subject to criteria)

Find out more about working for the Isle of Wight Council and living on the Island.

The Isle of Wight Council currently does not have a license to sponsor overseas workers.

The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination and this is supported by the unacceptable behaviour policy, employee code of conduct and our values, culture and inclusivity. We actively promote the diversity of our workforce, and we provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees.

The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request. Please contact our recruitment team via [email protected] if you would like to receive a copy.

The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer. We are proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community. We are also a Disability Confident employer. Along with a number of commitments, this means, providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.

The Isle of Wight Council reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than stated, if required. To ensure your application is considered, it is recommended to submit your application promptly.

Out of Hours Standby and Call Out. You may be asked to provide support in exceptional circumstances, outside of usual business hours. Unless stated otherwise in the job summary for the role this is not part of the department’s usual standby arrangements.

If you have difficulty completing your online application or need further information about how to apply, phone 01983 823134 or email [email protected]  Only applications submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.

We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. Please revisit our job page for alternate posts that may be suitable.