Housing Options & Assessment Officer

Grade:  Scale 6-PO1 £36,693 - to £45,123 Full-time/Permanent Closing Date: 11/11/2026 Directorate: Place/ Housing Organisation : London Borough of Waltham Forest Salary: Scale 6-PO1 £36,693 - to £45,123 Contract Type: Full-time/Permanent Retention Bonus: £2K per annum Working hours per week: 36 Application Deadline: 11/11/2026 Proposed Interview Date(s): TBC (In person at Waltham Forest Town Hall) Reference: 2121 About Us: We are a Home Office–licensed sponsor; however, for this specific role we are not able to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. To be considered, you must already hold a form of UK work authorisation that does not require sponsorship. Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents. London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment. The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method. Waltham Forest is proud of its diversity, and we want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We are committed to: Promoting equality of opportunity Challenging discrimination Creating an inclusive and supportive workplace For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/find-jobs-and-other-opportunities/working-us . About the role: Every day in Waltham Forest, people face the risk of losing their home. In this role, you won’t just process cases; you’ll change outcomes. We’re looking for experienced, resilient Housing Options & Assessment Officers who can think on their feet, make sound decisions, and work compassionately with residents in crisis. If you thrive in a fast paced environment and want your work to have visible impact, this could be the role for you. This is not a desk job; it’s frontline, high impact work. As a Housing Options & Assessment Officer, you’ll manage a varied caseload of residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. You’ll be responsible for assessing needs, making legally robust decisions and, crucially, identifying realistic solutions that prevent homelessness wherever possible. You’ll be working with residents who may be vulnerable, in crisis, or facing complex challenges. Success in this role requires confidence, sound judgement, emotional resilience, and the ability to stay focused under pressure. The ideal candidate for this role would be someone who has a extensive understanding of the realities of frontline housing work This role offers a Career Development salary range, however it is important to note that candidates with substantial and directly relevant experience may be considered for the  higher starting salary within the advertised grade, subject to assessment and the Council's pay policies >> Click here to download the Role Profile << Key Responsibilities: Assess housing needs and determine statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018 Conduct detailed interviews (face-to-face and telephone) with residents in housing need Produce clear, compliant statutory decision letters and Personal Housing Plans Take proactive action to prevent homelessness, including engaging with landlords and agents Promote a full range of housing optio