We currently have an opening for a housing advisor position for our Eastern region. The successful candidate will be fully trained and will join a supportive and experienced team, committed to preventing homelessness across Ireland.
Benefits of working for Threshold include:
Hybrid working
22 days annual leave (plus additional leave over Christmas period)
Additional annual leave for long service
Contributory pension
Comprehensive induction programme
Employee Assistance programme
Training and Development support
Paid maternity and paternity leave
Paid sick leave and long term illness cover
Cycle to work and tax-saver commuter ticket schemes.
Job Description
Job Title: Housing Advisor
Reports to: Assistant Manager
Who we are looking for
The ideal candidates will have excellent communication skills and be committed to very high standards of work and customer care. Effective writing skills are essential along with the ability to respond to clients with empathy and a commitment to preventing homelessness. Candidates will ideally have some experience working in housing or a related sector and some understanding of housing law. Practical experience of advice, support and advocacy is desirable for the role along with a related third level qualification e.g. law, social care, sociology, social work (or significant relevant work experience).
Main purpose of the job
To work with those at risk of becoming homeless to solve their housing problems
To work as part of a team, to provide an efficient and effective advice and advocacy service to clients who contact Threshold with housing issues with an emphasis on helping people to help themselves
To contribute to the overall development of Threshold as an agency working to address the underlying causes of housing problems and homelessness
Principal Duties
Provide and ensure the provision of a high quality and effective advisory and advocacy service to Threshold clients - in person, via outreach, over the phone, by email, webchat, video consultation and other emerging communication platforms
Advise clients on all available options and assist them in choosing a course of action
Support clients in taking action themselves
Where appropriate, undertake follow-up work on behalf of clients including advocacy, negotiation and mediation work with landlords, letting agents and statutory organisations including Local Authorities and the Department of Social Protection
Make appropriate referrals to other agencies
Support Threshold clients in taking cases to the RTB and WRC and make appeals to Social Welfare Appeals Office or to Local Authorities, and where appropriate provide representation
To work in collaboration with staff in other voluntary and statutory groups
To manage a case load, ensuring that all work carried out in a timely manner
Accurately record details of clients and the actions taken on their behalf on Threshold’s database in a timely and accurate manner
Maintain client files in accordance with relevant policies and procedures
Contribute towards providing the evening phone service on a rota basis for which time off in lieu (TOIL) is given
Other Duties
To keep up-to-date with relevant legislation, policies and practice, in addition to other information resources and technology
To contribute to Threshold’s policy, research and lobbying function, particularly by identifying queries which have wider policy implications
To record case studies on a regular basis and as required for external messaging purposes and to inform services development
To attend support/supervision, case conferences, training sessions and staff meetings
To share in administrative tasks (updating information, filing, carrying out research, inputting data etc.)
To support in the administration and running of external facing events including fundraising ventures and policy events
To represent Threshold at meetings where necessary
To deliver training sessions and presentations to other groups and agencies
To keep up-to-date and comply with all Threshold policies and procedures
To report to the Services Manager and undertake other tasks which they may assign from time to time
Hours: The position is full time (37.5 hours per week) and while working hours are Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.30pm the service operates from 9am to 9pm and as a result the role requires flexibility from the post holder including some evening work.
Salary: €34,000 pa/pro rata
Holidays 22 Days plus additional time off over the Christmas period and public holidays
Closing date 14th February 2025
Threshold is an equal opportunities employer
GDPR
All of the information requested from you and collected by Threshold during this application process is necessary and relevant to the performance of the job for which you have applied. Threshold will treat all information you supply with the utmost confidentiality and in line with current data protection law.
If you have any questions about the use of your data during the application process, or wish to know how your data will be treated if you take up employment with Threshold, please contact us.