Lettings and Sales Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

To co-ordinate the advertising and letting of Wiltshire Councils own homes and make effective, timely and lawful allocations decisions under the councils Allocation Policy, liaising as necessary with voids, tenancy services, housing solutions, income, tenancy sustainment, social care, health, police, probation and other colleagues

To advise and support sellers of shared ownership, discount market sale, First Homes and any other low-cost home ownership products in lawfully disposing of their homes, ensuring that the relevant planning agreements and the councils policies are followed, performing liaison with the councils development management and legal services as necessary

To carry out, where necessary, interviews with customers identified in the lettings process as being potentially vulnerable to identify their level of vulnerability and ensure the most vulnerable are sensitively re-housed

Where the post holder identifies a customer with inadequate care and/or support in place, to make the necessary referrals to ensure that measures are in place to ensure that tenancies can be sustained

To work across teams to ensure the most sustainable possible lettings, taking part in case conferences where appropriate to facilitate the above

Where Extra Care Housing units are advertised, to facilitate panels to ensure that customers in the greatest need are offered the relevant homes

To work closely with occupational therapists, social workers, health workers, surveyors and other professionals to make effective use of adapted or adaptable accommodation

To co-ordinate advertising of homes, approving new build and sensitive lettings plans, liaising effectively with advertisers (providers, charities and other landlords) to achieve the maximum numbers of successful nominations to other landlords homes of customers from the councils Housing Register and the most sustainable tenancies and communities

To be responsive to the needs of the advertisers to ensure that homes are effectively advertised and let, minimising shortlists and ensuring minimal re-advertising

To continually promote the councils allocation scheme, ensuring the widest understanding of its operation

To perform housekeeping in the councils Housing Register system to ensure that customers have the correct bedroom need at significant birthdays and during pregnancies

To perform annual renewals of housing needs assessments, liaising as necessary with customers and with the Housing Solutions service to ensure that housing needs assessments are up to date

To create and to circulate to all relevant parties the regular advertising newsletter, checking its accuracy and highlighting any homes which will effectively meet adapted and special needs

At the councils office at County Hall, or at any other offices from time to time, to scan and attach incoming documents, ensuring that documents where relevant are attached to files and other documents are circulated to the relevant staff

To ensure timely and accurate maintenance of spreadsheets and databases and other record keeping processes to allow accurate analysis and statistical reporting

To support the team leader and service manager at regular meetings with members of the allocations scheme forums e.g., minute-taking

To adopt and implement motivational, trauma-informed and strengths-based practises with customers

To support, as necessary, the work of the private rented access officer in engaging the private rented sector in meeting housing need

To support, as necessary, and as appropriate to the grade, the work of the system support officers

General

To take part in induction and training of other members of staff commensurate with the level of the post

To consider wider corporate responsibilities to share information that prevents fraud and eliminates overpayments

To promote Wiltshire Councils safeguarding agenda

To undertake regular training, e-learning and professional personal development in line with Service needs and ensure own knowledge and information is cascaded to the team where appropriate

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and role

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• High level of relevant and practical experience acquired on the job.
• An advanced understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
• Advanced knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
• Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good customer service skills with experience of resolving customer enquires in the relation to
• the service area.
• Experience of working with the public in a customer facing / contract role.
• Relevant practical experience working as part of team to meet service standards, targets and
• deadlines
• Proven ability to organise and prioritise workloads and achieve deadlines.
• Good planning and organisational skills, with proven ability to use initiative, prioritise workloads
• and achieve deadlines
• Good Literacy and numeracy skills
• Proven experience in the competent and safe use of complex equipment relevant to the role.

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified to HNC level or above
• A thorough knowledge of housing allocation, choice-based lettings and the provision of
• social housing
• Up-to-date thorough knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working
• with, and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults.
• Thorough knowledge of the public sector services, welfare benefits and local housing
• services in order to provide information and guidance to those requesting a service.
• An understanding of equality of opportunity and the diverse needs of our customers.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in a housing role.
• Emotional maturity and ability to emphasize whilst maintaining a professional attitude.
• Ability to deal sensitively with people in a calm and friendly approach when faced with
• difficult situations
• Ability to deal with a wide range of people and to deal sensitively and firmly with people
• where the outcome is not routine or straightforward

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)