Housing Support Officer

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

The Housing and Homelessness Service is a very busy environment  and faces several challenges to meet the housing needs of citizens of Coventry.  The team have grown significantly during the last 12 months and this reflects the fact that Housing & Homelessness are now a key council priority.  

The team are responsible for the delivery of the following service functions: 

• Provision of the statutory homeless service 

• Provision of temporary accommodation 

• Management of the housing register 

• Co-ordination of support to citizens rough sleeping 

• Commissioning of homeless services, and  

• Responsibility for housing strategy  

The Council has a strategic vision that is clearly set out in both the Housing & Homelessness and the Rough Sleeping Strategies. 

What is the job role?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as a Housing Support Officer within Coventry City Councils Housing & Homelessness Department.

This role is for a 12 month full time fixed term post.

You'll be the initial point of contact for many new customers, providing advice and information to people that are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

 The main duties of this role include:

• Dealing with enquiries from the public, third parties and stakeholders.
• Work as part of a team to ensure at the Housing & Homelessness function delivers the
  organisational vision for service delivery
• Respond to a range of administration tasks
• Providing advice, guidance and signposting
• Work as part of a team to achieve performance objectives

Who are we looking for?

The role is perfect for someone with a background in administration and customer service. Previous experience of working in a Homelessness background would be an advantage, however, this is not essential as training will be provided.

For more information, please read the job description attached.

We are looking for someone who 

• Has strong organisational skills and the initiative to prioritise their own workload
• Has a flexible approach
• Has sufficient IT skills to access and interpret information
• Has experience of dealing with a wide range of people to handle and resolve enquiries
• Cares about delivering an excellent service to every internal and external customer

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Caroline Darwin - caroline.darwin@coventry.gov.uk

Interviews will be held on 28 April 2025 

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

We are working to a hybrid model with a balance of both office and home working. 

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies