Housing Options Officer (Displaced People)

Somerset County Council

  • Taunton, Somerset
  • £27,711-31,067 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 3 days ago
Some key information
  • Full time, 37 hours per week. We offer flexible working arrangements and can offer compressed hours and flexibility.
  • 28 days annual leave.
  • You will join a dynamic and compassionate team supporting refugees and people seeking asylum. You will have the chance to shape how the Refugee Housing Team works to support these vulnerable clients.
  • Relevant training will be provided to ensure you have the right qualifications and progression opportunities.
  • This post is currently fixed term until March 2026 - we will be looking to extend this contract as soon as possible.
What will I be doing?We're working to improve the lives of people in Somerset - and you'll be a key part of that. Your day-to-day work will involve:Providing advice, information and assistance to refugees who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.Helping applicants explore their housing options and find suitable accommodation that meets their needs.Working with a range of partners and agencies to prevent and reduce homelessness in the community.Working with a dynamic and compassionate team who support refugees and people seeking asylum in Somerset.What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:Have experience of working within a Housing Options team or transferable experience relevant to the role/client group.Experience of working in a housing association, local authority housing department or similar organisation.Effective written and verbal communication.Ability to deal inventively and sensitively with a wide range and spectrum of people in greatly varying circumstances.We're proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there's anything you want to talk about before you apply.What's in it for me?We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:
  • We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
  • Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
  • Staff discounts in gyms.
  • Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
  • Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
  • A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
  • My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more...
Anything else I should know?For an informal chat about the role, please contact Eileen D'Souza on 01823 355326 orWhen completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can't wait to hear from you.DBS informationThis roles requires an enhanced DBS via the online disclosures procedure.

Somerset County Council