Housing Solutions Officer

Salary

Grade 6 £34,237 - £37,563 (bar at £36,581) per annum pro rata

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week (Rota covering 9am-7pm, including 11am-7pm shifts)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Closing Date: 10 November 2026
Closing time: 11:59 pm
Working style: Hybrid
Interview Method: Face to Face Assessment Centre followed by an Interview
Additional Information: Please refer to the Personal Statement Guidance document in Additional Information under the Role Profile. This guidance is essential and will form a key part of the application process

You must already have a valid right to work in the UK documentation, as we cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role.

As a Housing Solutions Officer, you'll deliver Manchester City Council's statutory homelessness duties by carrying out assessments, enquiries and casework under homelessness legislation, helping residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

You'll help the Housing Solutions Service prevent and relieve homelessness, ensuring residents receive timely, lawful and clearly explained decisions about their housing options. Your work will contribute to securing sustainable housing outcomes and supporting some of Manchester's most vulnerable residents.

In this role you will:

• Carry out homelessness enquiries by gathering, verifying and assessing information from applicants and partner agencies to determine the duties owed.
• Develop and review Personal Housing Plans, identifying practical and realistic steps to help prevent or relieve homelessness.
• Manage a varied caseload, making evidence-based decisions and maintaining accurate records, correspondence and case notes within required timescales.
• Work with colleagues, landlords, housing providers, statutory agencies, health partners and voluntary organisations to secure positive housing outcomes.
• Support homelessness prevention and relief casework, helping residents access and sustain appropriate accommodation solutions.

For queries about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Thomas Crabb, at [email protected] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role. This route is for vacancy-related enquiries only and should not be used to submit applications.

Pre-employment checks

If you are successful, your appointment will be subject to completing the relevant pre-employment checks. These checks will be carried out as part of our recruitment process and includes:

• Satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks where applicable.
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance- The post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard/ an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice . We have a policy on the secure handling, storage and use of DBS information, as well as a policy on the recruitment and employment of ex-offenders. Both policies are available on request - If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to GOV UK for details for how to obtain your Police check or Certificates of Good Character.

For more information on these checks, please visit checks page.

About the Candidate

We're looking for a proactive and resilient individual who can manage a varied workload while maintaining high standards of customer service and professional judgement. You will be an effective communicator with strong analytical skills, able to work positively with residents and partner agencies to achieve practical housing solutions in what can often be complex and sensitive situations.

We'll use the following essential criteria to decide which candidates to invite to assessment. Use your personal statement to provide evidence of how you meet each one, supported by relevant examples:

• Experience of gathering, analysing and interpreting information to make balanced, evidence-based decisions, including handling complex or sensitive cases.
• Strong communication, customer service and partnership-working skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and build effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload, prioritise competing demands, maintain accurate records and use a practical problem-solving approach to achieve positive outcomes.

The successful candidate must be willing to work as part of a rota, including shifts between 11:00am and 7:00pm, and must be able to undertake an enhanced DBS check

For guidance on how to write your personal statement, please visit How to Apply - Manchester City Council.

If you're invited to assessment, we'll look at a wider range of the role requirements. For more detail, please see the role profile.

Use of AI

You may use AI to support your application, but all examples must be your own and based on real experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is misleading or presents someone else's experience as your own. Internal candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

Applicants who meet the essential shortlisting criteria and are eligible under the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme will be progressed to the assessment stage.

Support and Adjustments

If you're successful in securing a role, we'll make every effort to provide the support, equipment and reasonable adjustments you need to carry out your duties. Where needed, we'll consider adapting aspects of the role. Find out more about our inclusion and wellbeing.

About Us

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you're supporting communities or improving public services, you'll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days' annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years' service
• Buy up to two extra weeks' leave
• Up to 3 days' volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full-time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• The UK's largest local government pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts and perks
• Good Employment Charter member

For more information about working for Manchester Council, please visit Careers - Manchester City Council

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council values equality and works to provide a fair and inclusive environment for a workforce that is as diverse as the communities it serves. We want to further increase the diversity of our workforce, in particular the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and disabled staff at all levels of the Council. This advert is open to all applicants, and we would particularly welcome applications from candidates identifying with one or both of those characteristics.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• 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 condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We're a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we'll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

GM Elevate Programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate( Leadership Development) Programme within the last two years, please indicate this within the 'Personal Statement' section or 'Supporting Statement' section of your application.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Accessible Formats
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