Bracknell Forest Council
Housing Options Officer (12 months Fixed Term Contract)
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Everyone deserves a safe, secure place to live, and as one of our Housing Options Officers, you will play a key role in preventing homelessness and supporting people and families at some of the most difficult points in their lives.
This is a rewarding role where your advice, judgement and compassion can make a lasting difference. You will work directly with residents to understand their circumstances, explore practical housing options and help them take positive steps towards stability, safety and independence.
You will see the real impact of your work, whether that means helping someone stay in their home, finding a safer housing option or connecting them with the right support at the right time. In return, we will give you the support, training and guidance you need to build your confidence and expertise in housing advice and homelessness prevention. You will have opportunities to develop your casework skills, strengthen your knowledge of housing law and grow your career within a supportive council environment.
Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying. Search ‘secondment policy’ on the intranet for more information.
At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service. This role includes an expectation to work from our Time Square office one day per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.
About You…
You will carry out full housing needs assessments, issue statutory notifications and create Personal Housing Plans that help residents understand their options and take practical steps towards securing accommodation. The role offers flexible and agile working, with some face-to-face appointments at Time Square, so you will usually need to attend the office at least once a week.
We are looking for someone who is empathetic, resilient and motivated by helping people. You will be confident building trust, listening without judgement and giving clear, practical advice to residents who may be facing difficult circumstances.
You will have a good working knowledge of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and experience in housing and homelessness, alongside strong communication, negotiation and organisational skills and the ability to work well with partners together with the confidence needed to manage a varied caseload.
About The Team…
You will work as part of a friendly, supportive team that values collaboration, practical problem-solving and providing proactive advice and assistance to households experiencing housing difficulties or at risk of losing their home. You will also work closely with the Rough Sleeper and Single Homelessness Team, supporting our shared ambition to reduce and prevent rough sleeping in Bracknell Forest.
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You will work closely with colleagues and partner agencies, including Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, Probation, hospitals and voluntary organisations, to prevent homelessness and support residents with wider needs.
Key responsibilities…
- Provide high-quality housing advice and support to households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, helping them to sustain existing accommodation or secure suitable alternative housing.
- Assess homelessness applications in accordance with the Housing Act 1996 (Part VII), the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
- Undertake comprehensive housing needs assessments and develop tailored Personal Housing Plans to support positive housing outcomes.
- Deliver a customer-focused service, ensuring all statutory duties, notifications and casework are completed accurately and within required timescales.
- Work proactively to prevent homelessness through early intervention, advice and practical solutions.
- Maintain accurate case records and ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies and service standards.
Our benefits…
- 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
- Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.
Our Values
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
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Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.
Disability confident and inclusive recruitment
Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be an inclusive employer. This means that if you have made us aware on the application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or you are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on Monday 28 September 2026.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Michele Keegel, Housing Options Team Leader, Phone Number: 01344 351355
Or
Emma Thomas, Housing Options Team Leader, Phone number: 01344 351352
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Equal Opportunities
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
Further information on this vacancy
- Job Description and Person Specification
- Candidate Pack
Apply Online
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