We're recruiting an experienced and detail-focused Housing Review Officer to join a Housing Needs service within a local authority. This is an excellent opportunity for a housing professional with strong statutory review and appeals experience to deliver robust, legally sound decisions and help protect the authority from legal challenge.

You'll be responsible for carrying out independent reviews of housing and homelessness decisions, ensuring all decisions comply with legislation, guidance and local policy.

The role plays a critical part in safeguarding service quality, managing risk, and supporting fair outcomes for customers with complex needs.

The Role
·Carry out independent statutory reviews of housing and homelessness decisions in line with the Housing Act and Allocations Policy.
·Provide a senior, legally robust review function independent of frontline Housing Officers.
·Conduct detailed enquiries and investigations to support review decisions, liaising with internal teams and external partners.
·Draft and issue clear, defensible statutory review decision letters within prescribed timescales.
·Ensure review decisions can withstand legal, political and media scrutiny.
·Work professionally with service users, solicitors, advocates and partner agencies throughout the review process.
·Instruct Legal Services on Housing Act appeals and represent the council in court when required.
·Manage and monitor the use of temporary accommodation during review and appeal processes to minimise cost and risk.
·Liaise with Legal Services to mitigate Judicial Review threats wherever possible.
·Provide quality assurance feedback to frontline teams to improve decision-making and reduce repeat reviews and appeals.
·Contribute to service improvement, policy development and procedural guidance.
·Maintain accurate case records, monitoring information and management data in line with information governance requirements.
·Deal with correspondence and enquiries from solicitors, councillors, MPs, the Ombudsman and other stakeholders.
·Attend case conferences relating to high-risk or vulnerable households.
·Deputise for the Review Manager when required.

Key Requirements
·Must have worked as a Housing Review / Reviews Officer for a minimum of 12 months within the last 2 years.
·Proven experience undertaking Homelessness Part VII s202 reviews, with at least 12 months' experience evidenced within the last 2 years.
·Strong working knowledge of the Review Regulations, Homelessness Code of Guidance, relevant case law, and the Housing Act 1996.
·Proven experience drafting and issuing legally sound statutory review decision letters.
·Ability to interpret and apply legislation, guidance and case law to complex and sensitive cases.
·Experience working closely with Legal Services and managing Housing Act appeals and Judicial Review risks.
·Strong understanding of related legislation including the Equality Act, Care Act, Mental Health Act, Immigration Act, Children Act and Welfare Reform Act.
·Experience managing complex cases involving vulnerable households and multiple needs.
·Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible decision letters.
·Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines.
·Confident dealing with complaints, correspondence and representations from solicitors, councillors, MPs and other senior stakeholders.
·Ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgement and maintain confidentiality.

What You Need to Do Now
If you are interested in this role and meet the criteria above, please click APPLY NOW and send us your application today.

If you do not hear from us within 48 hours of applying, your application has been unsuccessful.

Footnote
If you feel that this job matches your skills but not the rate, location or seniority, please feel free to send us your CV anyway. We constantly recruit for similar roles across all levels, UK-wide, and would be pleased to speak with you confidentially about your employment status.
Even if you're currently satisfied in your role, we welcome calls from Housing Review, Appeals and Homelessness decision-making professionals looking to make future connections. Our specialist team at Carrington West has over 100 years of combined experience in this market.
For more information, call Zubair at Carrington West on 02393 876065.
By applying for this position, you agree for Carrington West to hold and process your personal data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy. Your data will only be shared with third-party clients for roles relevant to your application. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us.