Job details
Salary: £38,650 to £40,464 (including allowances)
Location: Civic Centre, Gravesend
Working Pattern: Full time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Closing Date: 6 July 2025
About the role
This is an exciting time to join Gravesham Borough Council. We are committed to ensuring our services are delivered to the highest possible standard and we put the customer at the forefront of everything we do. By working for us you will become part of the team and will play your part in serving our community.
We are currently recruiting for a Senior Housing Options Practitioner, to carry out statutory reviews of homelessness cases with due regard to the relevant legislation. The postholder will also lead on providing training and support to case officers, using evidence from Reviews to identify training need and service improvement.
About you
The successful candidate will:
- Experience of working within a high-quality housing service in a related area for a large local authority or comparable organisation.
- Experience of writing high quality and complex statutory decision letters in relation to homelessness applications
- Extensive experience of investigation and assessment, and making decisions within the current homelessness legislation
- Understanding the principles of a prevention and options approach in tackling the issue of homelessness and of coaching and helping staff to use negotiation tools in an advice or advocacy setting.
- Experience of working within a large, complex, customer-focused organisation with a significant emphasis on performance management.
- Experience of dealing with complaints and/or Member Enquiries, with demonstrable evidence of using these to enhance service delivery.
- Experience of writing and presenting clear and concise reports
- A comprehensive knowledge of the relevant legislation relating to housing and homelessness, Codes of Guidance and case law as well as related areas such as family law, Immigration/Asylum and eligibility
- A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the housing and support needs of homeless and housing applicants and tenants.
- A full understanding of the housing issues facing a high demand local authority.
- A good knowledge of welfare rights law and practice and specific knowledge of welfare reforms
Working for Gravesham
We are committed to delivering to the community and working with us means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves. A range of services have been provided to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses.
The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the north west corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in south east England. Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.
Read more information about working for us.
Benefits
- A minimum of 26 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
- Membership to Local Government Pension Scheme - Local Government Pension Scheme
- Access to over 1000+ instant discounts from favourite retailers, restaurants, food delivery services and attractions via our benefits portal VivUp.
- Career development, training opportunities and access to e-learning
- Access to eye care vouchers and VDU Glasses
- External Occupational Health service
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Access to an employee assistance programme 24/7
- Hybrid Working (minimum two days in the office per week)
- Free parking
- Octopus Electric Vehicles Salary Sacrifice Scheme
Important Information
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile.
Interviews will be held between Wednesday 9th and Friday 11th July 2025.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager (Head of Housing Solutions), please email Kenan Dogan kenan.dogan@gravesham.gov.uk
How to apply
Please send your CV and supporting statement (max 2 pages of A4) which clearly outlines how you meet the person specification for this role to recruitment@gravesham.gov.uk by Sunday 6 July 2025.
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Human Resources Team on 01474 337374.
Gravesham Borough Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.