Total 22 job vacancies by Nations Recruitment

Job Category : Planning
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week :37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £36.25

Role Purpose
To be responsible for the processing and determination of a varied and complex caseload of planning applications (including major development - economic, inward investment, change of use and residential schemes) across Somerset, through negotiation with developers and their agents, considering third party comments, liaising with members and drafting reports to Planning Committee and for delegated decisions.

To provide support and guidance to planning officers and consultees dealing with the processing of planning applications, undertaking monitoring and compliance functions and other planning functions to meet agreed timescales, make robust decisions, and deliver appropriate development. To prepare appeal statements and attend hearings and public enquiries as expert witness in connection with planning and enforcement appeals, to represent the Local Planning Authority and defend its decision.

Accountability

Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, organisational policy, and professional codes of conduct to uphold standards of best practice reflecting these for the team
Deliver the aims of the council’s equality, diversity and inclusion policies; health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and Organisational values in everything you do, ensuring team members are also aware of their responsibilities and maintaining their understanding that Equality and Diversity practice covers both interaction with staff, service users and communities. This includes challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all.

To work as part of the Council’s wider planning service, to process applications for a wide range of development schemes including major planning applications and those of a more complex nature, undertaking negotiations with developers and their agents, whilst balancing material considerations, site constraints, planning policy and third party comments.

Drafting reports to Planning Committee and for delegated decisions taking account of relevant legislation, case law, appeal decisions, policies, and the procedures of the Council.


Qualification/ Knowledge / skills / experience


Qualifications:
• Degree in Town Planning or related subject and equivalent experience. The postholder will require membership of (or be eligible to join) the RTPI (Essential)

Knowledge:
• Ability to provide detailed advice across a range of planning issues in a development management/planning environment, including process and procedural matters (Essential)
• Good knowledge of planning, enforcement, planning policy, case law and relevant legislation (Essential)
• Interpretation of legislation - interpretation of relevant planning legislation and case law in respect of issues arising from pre-application enquiries, applications, appeals and planning enforcement (Essential)

Skills:
• Good negotiation skills and the ability to contribute positively to the resolution of issues (Essential)
• Working under pressure and to strict deadlines, prioritising, organising, and planning own and others fluctuating workloads (Essential)
• Ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders clearly and proactively (Essential)
• Adaptation and responding to change (Essential)
• Ability to use influence and persuasion to achieve objectives (Essential)
• Ability to use thoughtful judgement to manage complex service delivery (Essential)
• Flexible approach to the working day (Essential)
• Shares knowledge and expertise with others (Essential)

Experience:
• Should have experience of working at a Senior level in Development Management and demonstrate the ability to manage a caseload and competing workloads to maintain performance targets (Essential)
• Should have experience of defending the Council at appeal (Hearing/Inquiry) (Desirable)
• Should have experience of working within a team to support team development and CPD (Essential)

Job Category : Housing
Location : Somerset County Council, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £16.50

Role overview:
Assist in lettings service, involving managing the empty homes and lettings processes to minimise income loss and protect relet times, whilst ensuring each home is let in accordance with the Council’s Choiced Based Lettings Scheme, Lettings Policy and associated lettings procedures.

Responsibilities:
Advertising, shortlisting, verifying, offering and viewing our empty homes through Somerset Council’s housing allocations register and local lettings policy.
Develop effective relationships with the service’s in-house property services teams and other external voids contractors, ensuring all void works are completed efficiently and meet the Lettable Standard.
Work in partnership with the Tenancy Management Officers and Supported Housing Officers to ensure a collaborative approach in the allocation process aimed at improving tenancy sustainment.
Work collaboratively with the Rent Recovery Team and Tenancy Management Team, including a small team of benefit advisors, ensuring applicants are making advance rent payments with a full understanding of their affordability with any risks identified.

Qualifications

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A to C (including English and Maths) Essential
NVQ Level 4 or equivalent, or significant relevant experience within housing; local authority or registered provider Desirable
Evidence of continuing development of professional skills e.g., through training qualification or experience Essential.

Knowledge and Experience – Essential

At least 2 years housing management experience in a similar setting with a registered provider.
Good understanding of the social housing; with a strong emphasis in housing management
Knowledge of working within Housing management, tenancy, and estates
Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters with a wide range and spectrum of people in varying circumstances.
Experience of dealing with the general public and in particular vulnerable customers Experience of delivery of frontline customer services
Experience of working in an administrative role
Experience of recording and maintaining accurate statistical information


Knowledge and Experience – Desirable

Numerate
Ability to prioritise, manage own workload, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, use own initiative and work with limited supervision.
An awareness of the Data Protection Act
An awareness of Health and safety in a social housing setting.
An awareness of welfare benefits and welfare reform
Experience of effectively triaging enquiries and signposting clients where appropriate


Skills
Excellent customer care and people skills and an ability to communicate well both face to face, by email and by telephone.
Accuracy and attention to detail
Good organisational and administrative skills
Good keyboarding / word processing skills
Good IT skills including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as case management systems.

Job Category : Planning
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 18.50
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £30.34

We are an ambitious and dynamic Council with a major programme of residential development and a significant amount of open space and green infrastructure projects to deliver, including country parks, play spaces and allotments.

We require an experienced professional to provide a specialist development management service for landscape and green infrastructure including pre-application discussions, evaluating applications, scrutinising detailed schemes and overseeing delivery of new facilities.

This role is situated in the Placemaking Team within the Climate & Place Directorate and is the lead landscape specialist for the Council. It will provide a specialist development management service for landscape and green infrastructure including pre-application discussions, evaluating applications, scrutinising detailed schemes, providing expert witness advice in appeals and enforcement.

You will play a key role in the delivery of well-designed high quality open space for the benefit of local communities and the environment. We are looking for enthusiasm as well as a commitment to good design and the highest standards of landscape architecture detailing.

Accountability
Corporate
Responsibilities
Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, organisational policy,
and professional codes of conduct to uphold standards of best
practise.
Deliver the aims of the council’s equality, diversity and inclusion
policies; health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and

ROLE DESCRIPTION
Organisational values in everything you do, ensuring team members
are also aware of their responsibilities and maintaining their
understanding that Equality and Diversity practice covers both
interaction with staff, service users and communities and includes
challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for
all.

Qualifications
• Educated to postgraduate level in Landscape Architecture or equivalent – Essential
• Membership of the Landscape Institute - Desirable
•
Knowledge
• Able to prepare and review planning policy and guidance, including the Local Plan and
related Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents
(SPDs) Neighbourhood Plans and Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans
making recommendations and presenting to the relevant Council and public meetings as
necessary – Essential
• Knowledge of the democratic process - Desirable.
• Knowledge of changes in techniques, legislation and guidance including up to date CPD -
Desirable.
• Understanding and experience of project management methodology, processes, and
tools - Desirable.
• Working knowledge of the County of Somerset - Desirable.
Experience
• Proven track record in providing specialist knowledge in landscape planning - Essential
Experience of providing specialist landscape design advice on planning applications for
all major development and new green spaces - Essential ROLE DESCRIPTION
• Experience of involvement with Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - Essential
• Proven track record within a similar role within local government or complex organisation
with understanding of the local government sector and its current challenges – Essential
Previous experience of planning workloads, establishing priorities and meeting deadlines
- Desirable.
• Experience of Appeals Process including informal hearings and Inquiries - Desirable..
• Proven track record in providing specialist landscape design advice on planning –
Desirable
• Dealing with Members, including reporting to committee/boards - Desirable.
• Experience of preparing and reviewing planning policy and guidance, including the Local
Plan and related Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning
Documents (SPDs) Neighbourhood Plans and Conservation Area Appraisals and
Management Plans including making recommendations and presenting to the relevant
Council and public meetings as necessary - Desirable.
• Extensive customer care experience and dealing with difficult customers/complainants -
Desirable.
Skills
• Excellent written, report writing and presentation skills - Essential
• Strong interpersonal skills when dealing with team members and colleagues, developers,
specialist consultants, as well as with the public and elected members - Essential
• Able to make applications for all major development and new green spaces - Desirable

Job Title :Environmental Health Practitioner
Job Category : Facilities & Environmental Services
Location : Bridgwater House, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 08:00
End Time : 18:00
Salary:£34.13

· The role requires working over the usual range of Environmental Protection functions, primarily Statutory Nuisance investigations, but also ideally planning and licensing consultations, public health cases and environmental permitting inspections

· This role offers hybrid working allowing work from home or a Council Office. They should expect to carry out field work and be office based for on average 2 days per week. The North office is in Bridgwater. The nature of EP work is that it is mainly reactive and some flexibility on this might be needed/possible.

· Typical hours Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm

Day to day work would involve:

· Investigating Statutory Nuisance complaints by way of standard procedures, using record forms, the Noise App and installing noise equipment where appropriate
· Responding to Planning and Licensing consultations
· Carrying out Environmental Permit inspections
· Enforcement -collecting evidence under PACE rules.
· Utilising Civica APP data management system
· Liaising with other colleagues in the Environmental Protection Team -Somerset North and other Somerset colleagues on policy/procedural matters.

Qualification
Essential
BSc (Hons) Environmental Health or MSc Environmental Health or equivalent, or qualified by strong, relevant professional experience.
Driving License and vehicle or ability to travel easily across the Council.
Compliant as Authorised Officer as defined by FSA Code of Practice Competency Framework - essential. – (May be applicable depending on discipline)

Desirable
EHORB Registration
Member of CIEH

Knowledge
Essential
Up to date comprehensive knowledge of legal, technical, and professional matters in relation to Environmental Health (Environmental Protection) areas of responsibility, legislation, and codes of practice.
Understanding of PACE and RIPA.
Knowledge and understanding of Health & Safety legislation and requirements.
Understand the principles of data protection.
Understand the implications of health inequality and issues around vulnerable persons
Desirable
Project and/or change management
Understanding of Council services and governance
Experience
Essential
Able to demonstrate understanding, and knowledge of policy and activities across Environmental Health functions.

Desirable

Professional competence / expertise and proven experience in the relevant specialism(s)
Experience of working for a local authority
Assisting in planning and delivering projects/ programmes
Preparation and presentation of reports to a variety of audiences
Experience of taking enforcement actions including legal cases, evidence preparation and presentation.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
The ability to communicate both orally and in writing, particularly in relation to report writing, presentations, meetings and negotiations.
Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues, partners, members and business representatives.
The post holder will be required to make frequent decisions and act without ready access to a senior officer.
Effective organisational skills.
Self-motivated and works well within a team.
Flexible, able to cope with a variety of tasks and an ability to prioritise competing demands.

Job Title : Social Worker (MOU)
Job Category : Social Care & Health Qualified
Location : Mendip Hub, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date :Immediate start
Start Time : 08:30
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £28.19

*Successful candidate will be expected on site daily

Social Worker to work in Bath Royal United Hospital to support discharge planning

Job Title : Admin Support & Data Entry (Grade 15)
Job Category : Admin & Clerical
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £11.79

To enter and administer Insurance claims on internal Insurance system for staff to process claims, and provide general business support and data entry assistance.

This role is hybrid based, there will be occasions where the team are needed in the office notably on the first few days of any successful appointment, but otherwise the majority of them work from home.

Job Title : Case Manager – Tenancy and Estates
Job Category : Housing
Location : The Deane House, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £21.15

Tenancy and Estates Case Manager needs to be accessible to our customers and deal with all housing related enquiries from giving initial tenancy advice to managing complex cases, which involve providing comprehensive support to our vulnerable customers to ensure that they sustain their tenancies. All contact with our customers must be recorded accurately on the Open Housing System. The role involves dealing with vulnerable people on a regular basis and you must be experienced.

To oversee the administration and management of social housing properties. With an overall responsibility of between 550 and 750 tenancies.

You will need to ensure that housing policies and procedures are adhered to. This position requires strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of housing laws and regulations and the ability to manage a diverse range of responsibilities.
Knowledge and Experience – Essential

At least 2 years housing management experience in a similar setting with a registered provider.
Good understanding of the social housing; with a strong emphasis in housing management
Knowledge of working within Housing management, tenancy, and estates
Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters with a wide range and spectrum of people in varying circumstances.
Experience of dealing with the general public and in particular vulnerable customers Experience of delivery of frontline customer services
Experience of working in an administrative role
Experience of recording and maintaining accurate statistical information


Knowledge and Experience – Desirable

Numerate
Ability to prioritise, manage own workload, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, use own initiative and work with limited supervision.
An awareness of the Data Protection Act
An awareness of Health and safety in a social housing setting.
An awareness of welfare benefits and welfare reform
Experience of effectively triaging enquiries and signposting clients where appropriate

Skills
Excellent customer care and people skills and an ability to communicate well both face to face, by email and by telephone.
Accuracy and attention to detail
Good organisational and administrative skills
Good keyboarding / word processing skills
Good IT skills including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as case management systems.

Job Title : Social Worker (MOU)
Job Category : Social Care & Health Qualified
Location : Mendip Hub, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 08:30
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £28.19

*Successful candidate will be expected on site daily

Social Worker to work in Bath Royal United Hospital to support discharge planning

Job Title : Case Manager – Tenancy and Estates
Job Category : Housing
Location : The Deane House, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £21.15

Tenancy and Estates Case Manager needs to be accessible to our customers and deal with all housing related enquiries from giving initial tenancy advice to managing complex cases, which involve providing comprehensive support to our vulnerable customers to ensure that they sustain their tenancies. All contact with our customers must be recorded accurately on the Open Housing System. The role involves dealing with vulnerable people on a regular basis and you must be experienced.
To oversee the administration and management of social housing properties. With an overall responsibility of between 550 and 750 tenancies.
You will need to ensure that housing policies and procedures are adhered to. This position requires strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of housing laws and regulations and the ability to manage a diverse range of responsibilities.
Knowledge and Experience – Essential

At least 2 years housing management experience in a similar setting with a registered provider.
Good understanding of the social housing; with a strong emphasis in housing management
Knowledge of working within Housing management, tenancy, and estates
Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters with a wide range and spectrum of people in varying circumstances.
Experience of dealing with the general public and in particular vulnerable customers Experience of delivery of frontline customer services
Experience of working in an administrative role
Experience of recording and maintaining accurate statistical information


Knowledge and Experience – Desirable

Numerate
Ability to prioritise, manage own workload, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, use own initiative and work with limited supervision.
An awareness of the Data Protection Act
An awareness of Health and safety in a social housing setting.
An awareness of welfare benefits and welfare reform
Experience of effectively triaging enquiries and signposting clients where appropriate

Skills
Excellent customer care and people skills and an ability to communicate well both face to face, by email and by telephone.
Accuracy and attention to detail
Good organisational and administrative skills
Good keyboarding / word processing skills
Good IT skills including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook as well as case management systems.

Job Title : Advanced Practitioner Social Worker (MOU)
Job Category : Social Care & Health Qualified
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £32.64

Working as part of a small, supportive Learning Disability and Autism service in the East of Somerset, supporting a team of up to four Social Workers and two Adult Social Care Practitioners. You will have a close working relationship with the Service Manager, who will provide regular supervision and guidance in your role and expectations and plans for the Service and Department.
We work closely with other specialist teams in the Authority such as Preparing for Adulthood, Commissioning, Occupational Therapy, the DOLS team, Mental Health, Safeguarding, and CHC as well as having close links and partnership working with our LD Health colleagues in Somerset Foundation Trust.
We advocate working in a strength based and personalised way, operating under the three conversations model to enable people to live more independent and fulfilling lives with positive outcomes.
We work on a hybrid model of working, currently 1 day in the office and 2 days working from home but this will soon change to working 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home. We work 37 hours over a 5 day working week staring at 08:30am Monday to Thursday then 08:30am to 4:30 pm on Fridays.

Work Experience Knowledge & Skills
Essential
Extensive knowledge of social work practice, with an emphasis on risk management, with adults of any age who have physical, sensory, learning disability, dementia, or other longterm conditions
Extensive experience in supporting staff with complex case casework, including chairing relevant meetings, following agreed procedures, and resulting in robust action plans with defined timescales.
Extensive working knowledge of SCC ‘s policies in relation to supervision and performance review and proven experience in their application.
Good understanding of the practical application of all relevant Social Care legislation and proven track record of supporting staff with statutory requirements.
Understanding of system thinking, used to reduce demand and costs.
Experience of operating within a budgetary framework and an understanding of the
relationship between this and managing demand.
Model and promote confident and critical application of professional ethics to decisionmaking, using a legal and human rights framework, and support others to do soModel and promote a culture which encourages reflection on the influence and impact of own values on professional practice
Demonstrate confident leadership, management and arbitration of ethical dilemmas, providing guidance and opportunities for the professional development of othersPromote people’s rights to autonomy and self-determination, supporting, challenging and guiding others as appropriate
Provide critical reflection, challenge and evidence-informed decision-making in complex situations

Qualifications
Essential
Social Work qualification alongside current and valid registration with Social Work England.Evidence of Continued Professional Development.
Holding or working towards Post Qualifying Professional Standard

Job Title : Head of Strategic Finance (Grade 5)
Job Category : Financial - Senior Posts
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:30
Salary: £39.53

The Head of Strategic Finance is responsible for providing high-quality financial, strategic accounting advice to major services within the Council. They are responsible for the financial health of Somerset Council, working closely with the Service Director Finance & Procurement to ensure the development of the financial strategy, assessing investments, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

Leads and co-ordinates the Council’s key financial processes of Budget Setting, and Budget Monitoring for both revenue and capital funding and spend. Lead the Council’s Tax Setting and managing the Collection Fund.

Undertake strategic and tactical financial analysis, modelling, and evaluation to support leaders with data-driven decision making. Ensuring the Council meets its saving targets and other financial aims and objectives.

Leads and co-ordinates the Council’s key financial processes of Budget Setting, and Budget Monitoring for both revenue and capital funding and spend. Lead the Council’s Tax Setting and managing the Collection Fund.

Responsible for Somerset Pension fund and the Council’s Treasury Management activities around investments and debt management. The fund’s investment will be managed to achieve a return that will ensure solvency of the fund and provide long term cost efficiency and effectively manages risk

Responsible for the Council’s capital programme, including the Council’s investment portfolio and Council owned or part owned investment companies. Work closely with the capital team to lead the improvement of the budget setting process, and monitoring of the programme. Make authoritative recommendations that have a significant impact on the business over the short and long term. Recommendations could be technical or professional in nature.

Lead the development and implementation of strategy for an important area of responsibility within a function, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities, whilst ensuring integration with wider functional strategy.

This position is to cover 3 months long term absence.

Qualifications
Be a fully qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent) and with significant post qualification experience of working in complex organisations. Essential
Evidence of work related continuing professional development. Essential

Skills
Applies expertise to act as the Council’s ambassador for developing appropriate plans or performing necessary actions based on recommendations and requirements.
Uses expertise to act as the lead on planning, organising, prioritising, and overseeing activities to efficiently meet business objectives.
As part of the Finance Management Team leads on analysing data trends for use in reports to guide decision making.
As part of the Finance Management Team leads on developing, monitoring, interpreting, and understanding policies and procedures, making sure they match council strategies and objectives.
As part of the Finance Management Team leads on interpreting and applying knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies.
Has extensive knowledge of local government finance including detailed knowledge of local government funding and pensions.
A proven track record of making significant positive impact through system and process improvements.
Evidence of dealing with governance.
Evidence of working with and influencing stakeholders and partners.

Experience
Experience level enables post holder to provide leadership to others regarding work related systems, processes, and challenges.
Experienced in strategic management and leadership across company functions directing substantial resources over long-time frames.

Job Title : Senior Business Support Assistant - CSC (Grade 14)
Job Category : Admin & Clerical
Location : Yeovil Hub, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 30.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 08:30
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £11.98

30hrs Senior Business Support Assistant (Grade 14), based in Brympton Way (Yeovil)
Fixed term to 31 March 2025

What will I be doing?
You don’t have to be a Social Worker to make a difference. We’re working to improve the lives of children in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Our Business Support teams perform a vital role, carrying out a range of administrative tasks to support our social care colleagues. This, in turn, helps our Social Workers, Leaving Care Workers and Senior Social Work Assistants to focus on their vital role in supporting our Children and Families in South Somerset.

This Business Support role is within South Somerset Business Support Team 1 and we provide support directly to the South Somerset Children Looked After and Leaving Care teams.
This is a fast paced, reactive role and you will be expected to manage a number of varied tasks at any one time. The workload can be busy and attention to detail is essential to ensure information is correct. You will need to be familiar with all Microsoft applications and experience of minute taking is desirable. You will be working as part of a strong and kind team and you will be warmly welcomed.

The nature of the work is sensitive and highly confidential; the tasks are varied, and you will be given full training and support to undertake them. A typical day might include:

• Answering calls into the teams; taking messages and signposting callers as appropriate.
• Booking and altering transport for children and young people to get to school/college and to see their families.
• Booking of interpreting and translation services.
• Organising and taking notes for various meetings
• Uploading documents onto children’s electronic records.
• Assisting Social Workers with diary management.
• Attending and contributing to team meetings.
• Providing basic ICT and systems support to social work colleagues.

We currently operate a hybrid working model; a mix of home and office working on a rota basis. It is planned that you will spend more time in the office during your induction process.
There are lots of opportunities for development and career progression within our Business Support teams. Many of our current Children’s Social Care Business Support Officers and our Business Support Managers joined us as Administrators. We have many former Business Support colleagues who have been inspired to follow a career path into social care to work directly with children and young people, and they have been supported by us to do this.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?
Experience of working in an administrative role is desirable, although not essential as we recognise that lots of skills are transferable.

It is important that you are passionate about helping to improve the lives of vulnerable children and young people. You will have a warm, friendly and non-judgemental manner. You will need to be calm and kind in difficult situations and conversations. Good organisational skills, willingness to learn, the ability to be a good team player, multitasking and the ability to work using your own initiative are all key to success within this role.

It is essential that you are educated to GCSE level including English and Maths or hold an NVQ Level 2 standard or equivalent.

What will I be offered in return?
We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:
• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

Anything else I should know?
The salary for this role is £23,114 to £23,893 (pro rata) per annum.

Job Title : Admin Support & Data Entry (Grade 15)
Job Category : Admin & Clerical
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £11.79

To enter and administer Insurance claims on internal Insurance system for staff to process claims, and provide general business support and data entry assistance.

Job Category : Housing
Location : The Deane House, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 09:00
End Time : 17:00
Salary: £15.70

Provide advice, information and assistance to applicants who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Help applicants to explore their housing options and find suitable accommodation that meets their needs. To work with a range of partners and agencies to prevent and reduce homelessness in the community.

Advice & Guidance
Offer advice and information on topics such as homelessness prevention, housing options, tenure rights and security of tenure. Communicate with applicants or their authorised representatives through phone, email or letter. Make advice accessible to all applicants and help them avoid or resolve homelessness and secure long-term housing solutions.
Progress Applications Make enquiries and collect all relevant information from the applicant including financial statements or health information and carry out other verification checks as necessary, including authorised communication with statutory and voluntary agencies to support decision making.
Progress all homeless applications (Part 7 application) under current legislation, ensuring compliance to the Homelessness Code of Guidance.
Progress all housing applications (Part 6 applications) in line with the Homefinder Somerset Choice Based Lettings scheme and ensure these are completed in a timely manner.
Assessment & Plan Carry out an assessment of circumstances and needs to identify what has caused the homelessness or threat of homelessness and the housing needs of the applicant and any support needs to be able to secure and retain accommodation. Following the assessment, create a personalised housing plan with the applicant to help them retain or find accommodation.
Decision Making Decide on what duties are owed to the applicant (e.g., interim duty, prevention duty, relief duty), progressing all homeless applications, notifying applicants within target times whilst ensuring all decisions comply with current legislation. Make appropriate referrals to partner agencies and organisations to help with issues such as access to private rented accommodation, benefits, relationship breakdown, debt, budgeting, warrant, substance misuse, domestic abuse, rough sleeping, mental health, health, support, complex needs and learning difficulties.

Qualification
Education qualification to at least A level standard or acquired knowledge to NVQ level 4 and ongoing commitment to continuous professional development and where required will acquire specialist accreditation and skills. Essential
Knowledge
• Homelessness legislation. (Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2002, Suitability Order 2012, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017) Desirable
• Landlord and tenant law. Desirable
• Options available to somebody that is homeless or at risk of homelessness. Desirable
• Data Protection. Desirable
• Equality and diversity issues and an understanding of the relevance to a housing advice service. Desirable
Skills
• Effective written and verbal communication Essential
• Ability to build and maintain good working relationships. Essential
• Negotiating skills Desirable
• Ability to deal inventively and sensitively with a wide range and spectrum of people in greatly varying circumstances. Essential
• Ability to establish and manage realistic applicant expectations. Essential
• Resourceful, solution focused, persuasive and skilled in overcoming barriers. Essential
• Ability to prioritise workload, manage time effectively and meet deadlines. Essential
• Ability to manage a diverse caseload effectively where detailed and complex investigations are required, working with precision and attention to detail. Essential
• Ability to maintain accurate detailed and timely case notes and other evidence-based records. Essential
• Ability to work as part of a team, be flexible, use initiative and work with limited supervision. Essential
• Good organisational and administrative skills. Essential
Experience
• Experience of working within a Housing Options team Desirable
• Experience of working in a housing association, local authority housing department or similar organisation. Desirable
• Experience of dealing with the public and in particular vulnerable applicants Desirable
• Experience of effective partnership working which has led to positive solutions. Desirable

Job Category : Housing
Location : County Hall, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 08:00
End Time : 16:30
Salary: £15.70

To lead the housing lettings service within the council. The role supports the delivery of timely relets of void council homes, reletting properties in line with the Homefinder Somerset Policy and the council's Lettings Policy. The post holder will be responsible for the relet of around 400 council properties a year, ensuring compliant advertising, short listing, verification, offers, and reletting within agreed timescales to minimise rent loss.
To ensure the service lets properties in line with CORE requirements (and evidenced through CORE returns to DLUCH) as well as meeting the Regulator of Housing's consumer standards on lettings and voids.


Manage a team of letting officers and provide technical advice and guidance.
Responsible for Lettings performance including regular reporting on long-term voids and progressing them to resolution.
Jointly responsible with the Voids manager for lettings and void performance and meeting the HRA Business Plan targets on Voids.
Provide advice on lettings queries and support delivery of the lettings process.
Responsible for co-ordinating the voids and letting process for the Council’s Housing Stock.
Provide specialist advice to new tenants from first point of enquiry through to completion of their tenancy, ensuring agreed targets are met.
Create and promote property criteria for potential tenants and verify shortlisted candidates to ensure the criteria and affordability is met.
Create and apply Local Lettings Plans to address issues in a defined area or as part of a development project in line with Section 106 agreements e.g., local connections or to address serious anti-social behaviour.
Manage transfers between council properties (e.g. inability to continue in current home due to fire risks; or move to adapted property to forgo need to adapt existing property; or serious threats of harm to staying in current home).
Authorise lettings of properties outside of the Homefinder Somerset scheme in exceptional circumstances.
Liaise with the Sheltered Housing and Extra Care Specialist over letting of Extra Care Housing in line with agreed policies and referrals from Adults Social Care.
Advise on internal transfers and mutual exchanges.

Qualifications
Essential: Housing Management qualification regulated by Ofqual equivalent to a Level 4 or 5 Certificate or Diploma in Housing, or a foundation degree from the Chartered Institute of Housing – As required in the Social Housing Regulations Bill.

Knowledge
Essential: Substantial in-depth knowledge and understanding of Lettings Management.

Experience
Essential: Experience of holding a similar role at a senior level in a Lettings Service, ideally within social housing.
Experience of leading, managing and motivating staff, within a customer focussed environment. Experience of implementing policies and procedures.
Experience of monitoring, achieving, and exceeding individual targets.
Experience of contributing to service improvements that takes account of the needs of diverse stakeholder groups.

Desirable: Detailed knowledge of Housing Act 1996 Part VI and VII as amended by the Localism Act 2011 and Housing Act 1988 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002, Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and the relevant codes of guidance.
Three years’ experience within the social housing or similar community focussed environment. Experience of working with vulnerable customers and customers presenting challenging behaviour

Skills
Essential:
Positive, outcome focussed approach.
Ability to develop effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to write clearly, accurately and appropriately to the needs of a diverse audience.

Desirable: Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and form relationships.