This vacancy has now closed

Empty Homes Adviser

  • Full time
  • £30,374
  • Edinburgh (hybrid working)
  • Closing 3rd December 2023


  • Advertised from 20th November 2023
  • 37.5hrs/week. Fixed term contract until 31st March 2024.

Role

Has your experience of advice/customer service gained working with a range of clients given you the ability to interact effectively with professionals and members of the public alike? Then join Shelter Scotland on a fixed-term contract as an Empty Homes Adviser and you could soon be playing a vital role within our Empty Homes Advice Service.

About Shelter Scotland

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet over a million people in Scotland struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter Scotland we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the team

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is hosted by Shelter Scotland, and has been funded by the Scottish Government since 2010. The current funding commitment runs until end of March 2024. The Partnership works to deliver a number of strategic objectives. These include helping the Scottish Government to implement its Housing to 2040 strategy and encouraging every Local Authority to adopt a strategic approach to bringing empty homes back into use. Another key objective is the delivery of an Empty Homes Advice Service (EHAS) that takes queries from members of the public, as well as practitioners engaged in empty homes work. That’s where you come in.

About the role

As an Empty Homes Adviser, you’ll be responsible for delivering a professional, impartial, pragmatic and outcome focused telephone and email advice service to empty homeowners, those with concerns about, or interested in buying and renovating, empty homes, plus empty homes practitioners. You’ll also be able to contribute to the digitalisation of some of our advice content to encourage self-serving, as well as to activities which will help market the advice service to reach the intended audience. And, when it comes to undertaking some complex enquiries or cases supported by your line manager and other members of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership team, again, we’ll rely on you to deliver.

About you

To succeed, you’ll need to be well-organised, with a proven relevant background and excellent time management and communication skills. You’ll also need to be proficient using a range of IT tools to carry out your work, including Microsoft Office applications, internet and email etc. Experience of using case management systems would be useful too, or the willingness and ability to learn new IT systems. You should also be happy to maintain and develop your advice knowledge and expertise and contribute to marketing activities when required.

How to apply

Please click the link below to apply. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should include responses to the ‘About You’ points in the job description of no more than 350 words each. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses:

We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (pro rata), enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter Scotland please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them

Application notes

To find out more and apply please visit our website

Closing date: 3rd December 2023 at 11.30pm