Division: / Strategic and Private Sector Housing
Job Title: / Housing Standards and Renewal Officer
Grade: / S01 + Essential Car User Allowance
Post Number: / M210
Base/Location: / Southfields Offices
Responsible To: / Private Sector Housing Manager
Responsible For: / N/A
Key Relationships/
Liaison with:
Job Purpose
·  To support the Group Manager – Private Sector Housing in the day-to-day activities of the team and to carry out housing inspections for the issue and payments of grants and enforcement of housing standards in line with the Council’s adopted policies.
·  Delivery of an effective and appropriate service to all service users, fairly and without discrimination.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. / Under the general guidance of the Group Manager – Private Sector Housing - provide advice to service users on the full range of grants available and respond to requests for further information or assistance by telephone, correspondence or site visit.
2. / Undertake inspections of dwellings for the preparation of detailed reports and work schedules as required. Carry out detailed checks on other Grant Technicians cases, sign file and enter on Grants data base prior to release for approval.
3. / Process the full range of grants including complex financial calculations to establish proper use of public funds. Carry out interim and final inspections to establish values and standards of works carried out to authorize release of interim and final payments. Attend site meetings and negotiate variations of agreed schemes and costing due to unforeseen circumstances and agree amended schemes/costing for re-approvals as necessary. All in accordance with the Council’s adopted policies.
4. / Provide appropriate support and assistance to the Group Manager – Private Sector Housing.
5. / Provide support and assistance to members of the public either in the Office or their homes to help those most in need to access grant assistance where appropriate in accordance with the council’s policies.
6. / Arrange for repairs and appropriate safety checks to PSL properties where appropriate, in accordance with the lease, management, and legislative requirements.
7. / Assist in the management of empty homes in the Borough with the objective of bringing homes back into use where possible, in accordance with the Council’s Empty Homes Strategy and appropriate legislative or grant aided interventions.
8. / Carry out housing inspections and investigations (including houses in multiple occupation) and undertake any necessary enforcement action, in accordance with the service’s objectives and procedures.
9. / Carry out inspections of potential Tenant Finder properties, ensuring that they are suitable for occupation in line with the service’s objectives and procedures.
10 / Delivery of an effective and appropriate service to service users, fairly and without discrimination.
11 / As a term of your employment you can be required to undertake such other duties commensurate with your grade, and/or hours of work, as may reasonably be required of you at your initial place of work or at any other of the Authority’s establishments.
Special Factors
·  The nature of the work may involve the jobholder carrying out work outside of normal working hours.
This job description sets out the duties and responsibilities of the job at the time when it was drawn up. Such duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot in themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the job.
Charnwood Borough Council is seeking to promote the employment of disabled people and will make any adjustments considered reasonable to the above duties under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 to accommodate a suitable disabled candidate.
Date Prepared/Revised: 27th October 2014


Division: / Strategic and Private Sector Housing
Job Title: / Housing Standards and Renewal Officer
Grade: / S01 + Essential Car User Allowance
Post Number: / M210
/ Essential / Desirable / How assessed

Qualifications

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Building Studies/ Construction.

Certificate of competency under HHSRS / ü
ü / App/Doc
App/Doc
Or

Demonstrable experience identified within the section below.

/ ü / App/Int
Experience
Proven experience in carrying out detailed inspections of domestic property.
Experience of drawing up schedules of work, including full costing.
Experience in a Local Authority of Disabled Facilities Grants and Home Repairs Grants and Housing Standards inspections
/ ü
ü / ü / App/Int
App/Int
App/Int
An understanding of and the ability to provide, best practice in customer care / ü / App/Int
Skills/Knowledge
Numeracy skills.
Computer literacy including experience in the use of Microsoft Office.
Attention to detail.
Knowledge of grant regulations.
Knowledge of legislation relating to private sector housing and houses in multiple occupation. / ü
ü
ü
/ ü
ü / App/Int/Test
App/Int/ Test
App/Int
App/Int
Interpersonal Skills
Ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing).
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy, including the ability to negotiate and mediate between various parties.
Ability to work and contribute as a team member.
Highly motivated, committed and able to work on own initiative.
Ability to balance client needs with service provision. / ü
ü
ü
ü
ü / App/Int
App/Int
Int
Int
Int
Other requirements
Must be able to carry out site visits/inspections and use ladders and scaffolding.
Must hold a current full UK driving licence and have access to a suitably insured vehicle available for work purposes / ü
ü / Int
App/Int
An understanding of, and commitment to equal opportunities, and the ability to apply this to all situations.
Flexibility to work varied hours on occasions. / ü / ü / App/Int
App/Int
Must be able to perform all the duties and tasks of the job with reasonable adjustments, where appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. / ü / App/Int
Key:
App = Application form
Test = Test
Int = Interview / Pre = Presentation
Med = Medical questionnaire
Doc = Documentary evidence (e.g. certificates)
Prepared by: Rebecca Short Date: 27th October 2014