Job details
- Salary: £37,028 to £38,957 per annum (inclusive of allowances)
- Location: Civic Centre, Gravesend
- Status: 24 months fixed-term contract
- Hours: 37 hours per week
- Closing date: 15 April 2026
Proposed interview date 23 April 2026.
The role
As a Temporary Accommodation Inspection Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring households placed in emergency and temporary accommodation receive safe, suitable, and well‑managed housing. You will arrange placements, carry out inspections, support households to sustain their accommodation, and work closely with Housing Options Officers to ensure people can move on to settled housing as quickly as possible. The role combines property inspection, customer support, and effective case management to ensure the Council meets its housing duties.
Key responsibilities
- Arrange emergency accommodation placements for eligible homeless households and manage ongoing contact during their stay.
- Carry out inspections of temporary accommodation using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), identifying issues and ensuring improvements are made.
- Undertake routine visits to households in temporary accommodation, providing advice on housing options and managing expectations.
- Support residents to comply with tenancy or licence conditions and assist with issues such as arrears, breaches, or anti‑social behaviour.
- Work with Homelessness Officers to monitor bidding activity and help vulnerable households engage with the housing process.
- Review lengths of stay, support effective move‑on, and promote cost‑effective use of temporary and emergency accommodation.
- Maintain accurate records and contribute to reports, FOI responses, enquiries, and project work as required.
- Respond to complaints about housing conditions and assess any reported disrepair.
- Administer Discretionary Housing Payments in line with Council policy as part of homelessness prevention and relief duties.
- Ensure all safeguarding responsibilities are upheld when working with children and vulnerable adults.
About you
You will be an organised and proactive person who can confidently manage a varied caseload and regular property visits. You’ll have strong customer service skills, the ability to work with vulnerable households, and the confidence to inspect accommodation and identify issues. You’ll be comfortable balancing practical housing knowledge with effective communication and problem‑solving.
We’re looking for someone who is organised, confident working independently, and able to communicate effectively with a wide range of customers and professionals.
You’ll need strong IT skills, good attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a busy environment.
Experience in a housing or property‑related role is important, along with the ability to assess housing conditions and support vulnerable households.
A full driving licence is required as the role involves regular property visits.
For the full person specification, including detailed skills, knowledge, qualifications, and experience requirements, please refer to the job description.
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 25 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
- Hybrid working
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
- Free parking
Important Information
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job description.
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.
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, please call Georgia Williamson on 01474 337711.
How to apply
Please send your CV and covering letter setting out why you are suitable to recruitment@gravesham.gov.uk by 15 April 2026.
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.