Senior Housing Options Officer

Closing date: 25 June 2026

Salary: Grade 11 ranging from £32,597 - £36,363 per annum

What will I be doing?

You’ll be providing expert guidance on complex cases relating to housing and homelessness.

As a senior member of the Housing Options team, you’ll be providing advice and guidance to housing officers on complex or high-risk cases. These may include cases involving safeguarding, domestic abuse, or multi-agency working.

You’ll be leading on the investigation and resolution of Stage 1 complaints, ensuring timely responses in line with national housing legislation and local council policy. You will also ensure compliance with homelessness legislation through regular case audits and quality checks.

Your role will also have various responsibilities relating to team support, including:

• Collaborating with service managers to review and improve effective processes and ways of working.
• Assisting with workload prioritisation to ensure regular contact with service users.
• Mentoring and supporting your team of housing officers, providing coaching and guidance where necessary.
• Undertaking s202 reviews.

You will also contribute to the preparation of reports and data analysis. Where required, you will deputise for the Service Manager at multi-agency meetings and other external forums.

Your role will ensure the delivery of robust casework and effective resolution of issues. You’ll play a key part in delivering a compassionate, efficient service that’s grounded in legislation, good practice and doing what’s right for our communities.

If you meet the requirements of this position and want to make a real impact within the communities of Somerset, then we would love to hear from you!

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

• In-depth knowledge of homelessness legislation and the Homelessness Code of Guidance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Welfare Benefits System and the choice-based lettings system.
• Proven ability to manage complex cases and provide expert guidance.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners, and multi-agency forums.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and organisational skills.
• Qualified to A-Level or equivalent, or qualified through relevant experience in a similar front line service.

What’s in it for me?

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?

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Louisa Hill via email at louisa.hill @somerset.gov.uk.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve. We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team.

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you.

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.

(994/EF/FG)