Lead Professional Officer (H)

Tower Hamlets Housing Option Service are looking to recruit Lead Professional Officers, previously known as Housing Options Officers. Tower Hamlets is a diverse borough that has a high demand for housing and a limited supply.  As a Lead Professional Officer, you will work on the frontline to offer support and advice to people who are potentially homeless. You will help in preventing homelessness and look to offer viable options and solutions; these will include but are not limited to, planned ways of leaving home for singles and families, mediation support, private rented sector accommodation, measures to help support victims of domestic abuse. You will also provide emergency accommodation where necessary and help relieve homelessness.

You will need to be able to work well under pressure and use your own initiative – you will be expected to participate in a busy duty rota and deal with members of the public.  An empathetic and an active listener will be key in building trust with clients and managing expectations when interviewing homeless singles and families. Being an effective communicator and strong partnership working will also be essential to this role as will effectively signposting to relevant agencies and organisations for support. The role will involve you managing a caseload and applications; you will need to be able to write legally binding letters to a high standard, complete personalised housing plans and agree steps and carry out reviews with customers. You will need to also be proficient in the use of IT. To be considered for this role, ideally, we would want you to have experience of working with vulnerable people and working knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.  However, what’s more important is how you demonstrate your transferable skills for this role. Your passion and reasons for why you want to work within homelessness services as well as a can-do attitude will be of utmost importance too; because we believe that having the right calibre of people in post to conduct these roles is essential in providing vulnerable homeless people with the services they require.

In return for the above, we can offer ongoing relevant training, support and continuous mentoring for the right candidates to help support you along in your career within Homelessness Services. About the role Tower Hamlets Housing Options Service is seeking a dedicated and passionate Lead Professional Officer for the Lead Professional team. Our borough, known for its diversity, faces high housing demand with limited supply. Your role as Lead Professional Officer will be crucial in managing and leading a team of seven Lead Professional Officers, who will support and advise people facing homelessness. You will supervise the Lead Professional team, providing direction and support to all staff and developing partnerships to enable a holistic approach, ensuring an efficient housing options service. Overseeing daily work activities related to housing options, homelessness prevention, signposting, and referrals to key stakeholders is essential. Developing and implementing improvement actions to ensure consistent service enhancement will also be part of your duties. Engaging and developing team members, ensuring they understand available options to enhance customers' life and skills opportunities, is crucial. Staying updated on relevant legislation, Code of Guidance, case law, and best practices is expected to ensure quality decisions are made and communicated effectively. The Person We are looking for a candidate with in-depth housing knowledge, including understanding of duties under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, the Homelessness Act 2002, Landlord and Tenant Legislation, Housing Act 1985, and Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Excellent organisational and leadership skills demonstrating self-management, motivation, and flexibility in a fast-paced environment, as well as proven leadership abilities to guide and support effectively. You should possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex matters objectively and persuasively in various formats. Experience working in a busy customer-oriented environment, delivering excellent customer service, and managing team performance. You will have good leadership skills and experience in managing a team in a public sector organisation. A confident, experienced, and adaptable self-starter, you will be able to work proactively and on your own initiative. For a confidential discussion, please contact the Housing Options Manager at towerhamlets.gov.uk. For any questions about the application process, please contact Sunday.makinde@towerhamlets.gov.uk Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion We are proud of our diversity and our distinct and vibrant communities. Our borough has a history of welcoming migrants, reflected in our values. You will share the values of fairness and equality that are shared across all of our services. Our Offices We offer brand new state-of-the-art offices in the heart of the East End with great transport connections. We are right next to Whitechapel Station, putting all of London within easy reach of the town hall. Join us and make a significant impact on preventing homelessness in Tower Hamlets!