Westmeath County Council employs over 570 staff across eight service divisions. Housing & Building; Road, Transport & Safety; Rural Water; Development Management; Environmental Protection; Recreation & Amenity; Climate Action, Agriculture & Education and Miscellaneous Services.  It consists of 20 democratically elected members.   The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of economic development, community development, provision of physical and social infrastructure, recreation and amenity services, and the enforcement of the planning and environmental regulatory framework. The Council now invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and fixed term contract posts for the position of Tenancy Sustainment Officer will be drawn.  It is envisaged that the Tenancy Sustainment Officer will form an integral part of the Housing Department including Homeless Services.
 

The duties of the Office may involve activities outside normal working hours if and when required. The duties of this position include the facilitation, implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of the Council’s Housing policy. This will also include liaison with other Housing Sections in matters relating to housing stock, welfare of the Council’s tenants, and encouraging full participation by residents in the care and maintenance of the estates.

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the Tenancy Sustainment Officer and will include the following: -
 

• Assist clients in settling into accommodation, arrange home visits, and provide ongoing post-settlement support, and ensure that clients are fully briefed on services available to them from external agencies and provide support and advice on finances, benefit entitlements, health and education
• Assist clients to access community supports and social activity
• Ensure all clients are supported to develop skills such as budgeting, housekeeping, home maintenance, bill paying, being a good tenant, being a good neighbour and self-care
• Consult and liaise with relevant parties to assess the client’s needs and the level of support needed
• Maintain and review needs assessments, action plans and support plans with the client and other agencies as needed or agreed or as requested by the line manager

• Interview and assess clients seeking a homeless service by appointment or unscheduled presentations at the public counter
• Provide assessment and advice to people who are homeless
• Undertake a risk assessment for all cases
• Lead and represent the Housing Department and Westmeath County Council at meetings and on relevant interagency forums
• Provide information and assistance to the client in preparing and submitting an application for social housing
• Work with clients placed in emergency facilities with a view to securing long term accommodation and where possible avoid continued placement in emergency facilities
• Support the housing staff in enabling and assist clients to source suitable private rented accommodation and develop a support plan in conjunction with the client which will enable them to sustain their tenancies for the long term in an appropriate home
• Promote positive, person centered responses for persons who are homeless and at risk of homelessness, in partnership with existing service providers.  Communicate clearly, report any concerns and deliver hand-over reports as appropriate to colleagues and line management
• Provide statistical reports and returns to the relevant Department
• Compile and complete Departmental claims and recoupments
• Engage with other Agencies and NGO’s regarding homelessness
• Deputise for the Administrative Officer as required
• Keep factual, up to date records on all clients engaged with by recording on internal databases
• Record and report on monthly KPIs and annual reports as requested
• Respond to queries on the Customer Contact Management System (CCMS) and to elected representatives as required
• Develop positive and good working relationships and liaise closely with other agencies for the benefit of the client
• Undertake additional tasks as reasonably assigned
• To participate in relevant training and development courses as agreed with Westmeath County Council

Westmeath County Council