Job summary
The Housing Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the housing needs of patients within an acute mental health hospital, focusing on ensuring safe, stable accommodation for individuals during their recovery.
The primary purpose of this role is to provide specialist housing advice, support, and intervention, addressing housing needs, preventing homelessness, and facilitating timely discharge planning.
Working within a multidisciplinary team, the Housing Officer helps ensure that patients are supported in accessing appropriate accommodation and welfare benefits, contributing to improved patient outcomes and social inclusion. This role requires close collaboration with local authorities, housing providers, and various external agencies to support individuals in their transition from hospital back to the community.
Main duties of the job
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Conduct housing assessments and support discharge planning in collaboration with the MDT.
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Provide welfare benefits guidance and liaise with relevant agencies to ensure continuity of support.
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Prevent homelessness by advocating for patients at risk and assisting with housing applications.
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Maintain accurate documentation and case management in line with NHS policies.
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Build and maintain strong partnerships with external agencies and provide training to NHS colleagues.
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Ensure safeguarding concerns are identified and managed effectively.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting andempowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
To deliver timely individualised person-centred housing assessment, advice, support, and liaison for patients who cannot return home or who are at risk of homelessness.
To work with Cavell Centre MDT to identify current or potential problems which may provide a barrier to returning to current accommodation or that may increase risk of homelessness.
Where alternative housing is required, to work with CPFT staff and community agencies to source safe, appropriate housing in an efficient manner.
To develop and maintain a central signposting service and point of contact for housing, debt, or benefits advice.
To provide information to patients, carers, families, and staff on the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017), Duty to Refer, benefits entitlements and accommodation processes.
To manage a case load of referrals, from the adult wards at the Cavell Centre,autonomously, and efficiently.
To use high level of communication skills to compassionately convey sensitive ordisappointing information effectively to patients, families, carers, and staff.
To highlight and report issues with the housing process for patients promptly to thepatient, responsible clinicians, community teams and line manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
To deliver timely individualised person-centred housing assessment, advice, support, and liaison for patients who cannot return home or who are at risk of homelessness.
To work with Cavell Centre MDT to identify current or potential problems which may provide a barrier to returning to current accommodation or that may increase risk of homelessness.
Where alternative housing is required, to work with CPFT staff and community agencies to source safe, appropriate housing in an efficient manner.
To develop and maintain a central signposting service and point of contact for housing, debt, or benefits advice.
To provide information to patients, carers, families, and staff on the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017), Duty to Refer, benefits entitlements and accommodation processes.
To manage a case load of referrals, from the adult wards at the Cavell Centre,autonomously, and efficiently.
To use high level of communication skills to compassionately convey sensitive ordisappointing information effectively to patients, families, carers, and staff.
To highlight and report issues with the housing process for patients promptly to thepatient, responsible clinicians, community teams and line manager.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting those with severe and enduring mental health conditions.
- Work within the current housing and benefits systems
Desirable
- Experience of local systems specific to those under care of CPFT services.
- Lived experience of mental health condition.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- A clear communicator, supporting patients to express their wishes and needs
- Build positive working relationships with a wider range of internal and external agencies
- Understanding of current housing and benefits system
- Understanding of Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
- Understanding of principles of safeguarding
- Knowledge of private and public sector housing options
- Proven IT skills and good time management skills
- Knowledge of local and national policies and procedures impacting housing provision.
Desirable
- Previous knowledge of mental health care provision
- Awareness of key housing legislation relevant to supporting vulnerable adults, such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Manage working in a highspeed, emotive environment
- Hold patients in consistent positive regard and advocate for their needs where appropriate
- Manage and prioritise a caseload autonomously, seeking support where appropriate
- Use supervision appropriately to support continuing professional and service development
- Ability to maintain a professional, empathetic, and pragmatic attitude
Other
Essential
- Occasionally the ability to work flexibly may be required.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting those with severe and enduring mental health conditions.
- Work within the current housing and benefits systems
Desirable
- Experience of local systems specific to those under care of CPFT services.
- Lived experience of mental health condition.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- A clear communicator, supporting patients to express their wishes and needs
- Build positive working relationships with a wider range of internal and external agencies
- Understanding of current housing and benefits system
- Understanding of Mental Capacity Act (MCA)
- Understanding of principles of safeguarding
- Knowledge of private and public sector housing options
- Proven IT skills and good time management skills
- Knowledge of local and national policies and procedures impacting housing provision.
Desirable
- Previous knowledge of mental health care provision
- Awareness of key housing legislation relevant to supporting vulnerable adults, such as the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Manage working in a highspeed, emotive environment
- Hold patients in consistent positive regard and advocate for their needs where appropriate
- Manage and prioritise a caseload autonomously, seeking support where appropriate
- Use supervision appropriately to support continuing professional and service development
- Ability to maintain a professional, empathetic, and pragmatic attitude
Other
Essential
- Occasionally the ability to work flexibly may be required.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
