July 2015
Dear Applicant
Post Title
Company
Legal Enforcement Advisor
L&H Homes
Hours Per Week
Location
24
Boston
Thank you for your interest in the vacancy above, should you wish to apply please complete
our application form. You can download an application form from our website and post to the
address on the application or email to [email protected]
Please do not submit your CV as this will be removed prior to short listing and not
taken into consideration.
Please refer to the Job description and Person specification for details about this particular
vacancy. Further information about working for the Longhurst Group of Companies can be
found within this pack or on our website: www.longhurst-group.org.uk
If you are successful in being selected for interview, we will write to you to confirm the time
and location of your interview. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are
unable to interview everyone who applies for employment within the Group.
If you feel you have the qualities and attributes we are looking for with this vacancy, please
return your application as soon as possible. The closing date for this vacancy is 4pm on
Monday 3rd August 2015.
If you do not receive a response to your application, you can assume that your
application has been unsuccessful. It is the organisation’s policy not to confirm
receipt of application forms or non-selection for interview.
Please note that Interviews for this post will be held on Wednesday 19th August 2015.
If you have any questions about our recruitment process, please contact a member of the HR
team on 01205 319623.
Yours sincerely
Human Resources
Longhurst Group
Additional Information
Equal Opportunities
The Longhurst Group is an equal opportunities employer and it is the policy of the Group to
provide equality of opportunity to all, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, colour,
national or ethnic origin, religious belief, marital status/civil partnership, disability or age.
Information you supply to us on these issues will be treated as confidential and used for
statistical purposes only.
Data Protection Act 1988
In relation to the Data Protection Act 1988, we ask you to provide certain personal data on
the application form. This information is used for statistical purposes only, in relation to equal
opportunity monitoring, best practice and the law.
Longhurst Group conforms to
requirements under the Data Protection Act and all unsuccessful applications are
confidentially stored and destroyed after 6 months.
Pre Employment Checks
In accordance with our recruitment policy, the successful applicant will be offered the
position, subject to satisfactory employment references and may be subject to Disclosure
Barring Service (DBS) clearance, (formerly CRB).
Recruitment and Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders
A request for standard/enhanced disclosure of information from the Disclosure Barring
Service may be made. Please note: the disclosure will list both spent and unspent
convictions.
Longhurst Group adhere to the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice and, as
such, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment. A copy of the
Code of Practice and our Policy is available upon request. Alternatively further information
about the Disclosure Scheme can be found here.
Applicants with Disabilities
Longhurst Group is committed to the employment of disabled people. We will offer an
interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the job.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines a person as having a disability if he/she has a
physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on
his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
If you are selected for interview, you should inform us if you have any particular requirements
for interview or selection test, such as building access.
APPOINTMENT OF: Legal Enforcement Advisor
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
1.
The annual salary will be up to: £12,867.76 pa (starting salary subject to qualifications
/ experience) payable monthly on or immediately prior to the 25th of each month direct
into your bank account.
2.
The possession of a valid UK driving licence is essential for this post. A mileage
allowance is paid for which details will be available on appointment.
3.
Salaries are reviewed in April of each year.
4.
The post-holder will be required to work 24 hours per week.
5.
Annual leave 25 days and 3 Concessionary days per annum plus statutory bank
holiday, increases to 30 days after 5 years’ and 10 year’s service up to 31 days.
Please note this entitlement would be pro-rota if working part-time hours.
6.
Where appropriate appointments are subject to an appropriate level of Disclosure and
Barring Service check and the receipt of 2 references which the organisation deems
satisfactory, and a 6-months’ probationary period, during which you will be expected
to demonstrate your suitability for the post.
7.
Membership of a contributory pension scheme is offered to all staff. Details of which
will be supplied on appointment.
8.
Longhurst Group of Companies operate an ‘occupational sick’ pay scheme, which
applies to employees following completion of their 6-month probationary period of
service.
9.
One months notice of termination of employment by the postholder.
LONGHURST & HAVELOK HOMES
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE
LEGAL ENFORCEMENT ADVISOR
DEPARTMENT
TENANCY SERVICES
BASED IN
BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE
REPORTS TO
LEGAL ENFORCEMENT MANAGER
JOB SUMMARY

To work in conjunction with the Income Team and Legal Enforcement Manager and
Officer in the recovery of current tenant, former tenant and lease holder debt through
the monitoring of accounts and responding appropriately to ensure maximum income
is received.

Have knowledge and practical understanding of the legal enforcement tools and the
ability to apply them in debt recover and ASB case management.

To assist the Legal Enforcement Manager and Officer in supporting the
Neighbourhood Teams with general ASB case management.

To work in conjunction with the Legal Enforcement Manager and Officer and Income
Officer’s to prepare eviction approval reports, legal papers and submit court
applications for ASB, rent arrears or any other breach of tenancy agreement.

To monitor the health and safety risk assessment actions and lone working register.

Demonstrate customer excellence to customers telephoning or writing to us in line with
our Customer Service Standard.

Provide general housing management and office support.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Current Tenant Arrears Management

Complete eviction approval forms and make Court applications in relation to money
claims and possession hearings in line with the pre court protocol.

Upon receiving details of court hearings liaise with the Income Officers and
Neighbourhood Officers to ensure representation is arranged.
Recharges

Operate the recovery of recharges from current tenants, in line with the recharge
policy.
Former Tenant Debt

Balance accounts at the end of tenancy and checking benefit end dates.

Undertake debtor traces to locate a forwarding address for former tenants

Monitor former tenant and recharge accounts in accordance with the policy to ensure
a swift and thorough approach is undertaken in the management of these accounts.

Contact customers by telephone or by using standard letters where contact cannot be
made to pursue payment of outstanding former debt and recharges

Take calls made to the Income Team or Service Centre where there is a query
relating to the pursuit of outstanding former tenant debt.

Promote a wide range of payment methods to assist in the collection of former tenant
debt, issue standing order forms, setting up direct debits and order Allpay cards.

Pursue legal action to recover former tenancy debt in line with the policy and
procedure.

Liaise with Neighbourhood Officers and arrange visits to former tenants as part of the
process of pursuing outstanding debt

Update the arrears action diary with updates from The Sherriff’s Office of cases under
enforcement.

Recommend for write off outstanding debt in line with the former tenancy debt policy
and procedure.

Attend and participate in monthly team meetings and service improvement meetings
when required.
Shared Ownership and Leaseholders

Monitor shared ownership and leasehold arrears reports and rent accounts in
accordance with the policy to ensure a swift and thorough approach is undertaken in
the management of these accounts.

Contact customers by telephone or by using standard letters where contact cannot be
made to pursue payment of Shared Owner and Leaseholder debt

Liaise with mortgage lenders to recover unpaid rent in line with current policy and
procedures.

Promote a wide range of payment methods to assist in the collection of Shared Owner
and Leaseholder debt, issue standing order forms, setting up direct debits and order
Allpay cards.

Liaise with Income Officers to visit Shared Owners and Leaseholders as part of the
process of pursuing outstanding debt
Anti-Social Behaviour

In conjunction with the Neighbourhood Officers, assist the Legal Enforcement
Manager and Officer in preparing legal papers and court applications. This includes
liaising with the Courts on the timeliness of Court Hearings.

Assist the Legal Enforcement Manger and Officer in producing eviction approval
reports and compiling the required evidence.

To assist the PA to L&H Management Team in co-ordinating Starter Tenancy Appeal
Hearing Panels and attend the hearing to take notes.

Be responsible for the administration of the process sending the appropriate standard
letters at the key stages.

To cover or assist the ASB Advisors in their role as and when required. This will
include;
o
Responding to work trays in relation to antisocial behaviour, tenancy breaches
and estate management in line with policies and procedures and service
standards. Record information to provide a clear record of progress on each
case.
o
Investigate and respond to low level antisocial behaviour, tenancy breaches
and estate management in line with policies and procedures and service
standards.
o
Liaise with Neighbourhood Officers/ASB Officer in responding to tenancy
enforcement and anti-social behaviour queries.
o
Arrange appointments for Neighbourhood Officers to see the complainants and
respondents.
o
Monitor antisocial behaviour cases by contacting parties involved at different
intervals and feeding back to Neighbourhood Officers.
o
Review and update ASB complainant and respondent at agreed intervals.
o
Along with the Neighbourhood Officers review and consider closing ASB and
estate cases in line with our policies and procedures.
o
Update the antisocial behaviour and estate management module and database
and produce reports on local ASB/estate activities.
o
Produce Just Rewards warning notices and update UH with any warning
notices that are issued.
Heating safety check- no access

Assist the Legal Enforcement Manager and Officer in preparing legal papers and court
applications where we have been unable to gain access to complete the annual
heating safety checks. This include liaising with the Gas Serving Co-ordinator and
contractor to ensure all relevant information is received in readiness to prepare the
papers and to submit the court application and to update them with any actions
undertaken.
Health and Safety

Update and distribute the no lone working register with any new additions,
amendments or removals.

Regularly monitor the no lone working register and review with the Neighbourhood
teams to ensure it remains up to date

Monitor health and safety risk assessment actions to ensure that they have been
responded to and completed.
General Housing Management

Advise and deal with enquiries on all aspects of housing services for customers who
visit or phone the office.

Respond to work-tray items delivered to individual or group work trays.

Respond to legal enforcement team e-mail and written enquiries.

Produce monitoring and reporting data statistics.
General Office Support

Produce specified documents and photocopying.

Co-ordinate meeting room bookings and catering facilities.

Process office invoices.


Maintain office equipment.
Undertake any other duties as reasonably required by the Legal Enforcement
Manager/Officer or Head of Tenancy Services.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

The post will involve the use of VDU/PC.
WORKING CONDITIONS

The post-holder will be expected to work in an office environment, using a desk top
computer and telephone.
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
The post holder will be:

The post-holder will be educated to GCSE level (or equivalent), minimum
requirements include 4 GCSE’s grade C or above, including Maths, ICT and English.

Respectful of confidentiality at all times.

Interested in social housing and will possess a high degree of honesty, integrity, selfreliance and motivation.

Capable of communicating clearly and effectively both verbally and in written
communication.

Organised, with excellent administrative and inter personal skills and have a
methodical approach.

Demonstrate flexibility in approval and willingness to work to achieve objectives and
meet deadlines.

A team player and recognise the importance of joint working across the organisation
and externally.

The post-holder will be willing to undertake training appropriate to the responsibilities
of the position.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post-holder will be required to perform tasks and duties additional to those set out
in the job description and appropriate to the level of the post as reasonably requested
by the Legal Enforcement Manager and Officer or Head of Tenancy Services.

The post-holder will respect confidentiality at all times and comply with the Data
Protection Act 1998.

The post-holder must demonstrate a clear commitment to the:
o Values of social inclusion, equality and diversity
o Development and delivery of customers centred services; and comply with the
Group’s policies and procedures regarding the above.

The post-holder should be familiar with their Health and Safety duties set out in the
Company Health and Safety Policy. The post-holder will always work in a safe
manner and report any unsafe acts or conditions to a member of management.
This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. From time to
time job descriptions may be revised within the remit of the role and any revision does not
automatically justify a regarding of the post.
LONGHURST & HAVELOK HOMES
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POSITION TITLE: LEGAL ENFORCEMENT ADVISOR
QUALIFICATIONS
 Educated to GCSE level or equivalent of which a Grade A-C in Mathematics and English
are essential
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE
 Excellent administrative, organisational, interpersonal and communication skills with a
methodical approach and ability to keep accurate records
 High level of ICT skills
 Excellent written and spoken communication skills


Excellent time management skills
Ability to cope under pressure and manage and prioritise workloads, including managing
conflicting priorities and pressures
 Ability to forward plan work schedules to comply with policies and procedures
 Ability to demonstrate a high degree of initiative, self-motivation and work independently
with minimal supervision
 Negotiation skills
 Attention to detail
 Excellent listening skills and ability to demonstrate empathy
 Assertiveness skills
 Ability to understand and explain legal remedies
 An understanding of ASB legislation and other non-legal ASB remedies
 An understanding of legal actions available to pursue outstanding debt
 Ability to compile evidence for legal proceedings and court attendances
GENERAL
 Reliable
 Flexible
 Friendly and approachable
OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROLE
 Hold a current UK driving licence
 Thorough understanding of and commitment to promote equal opportunities
 Able to maintain confidentiality at all times
 Demonstrate enthusiasm and drive with a positive, confident and collaborative approach
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Essential Desirable AppForm Interview Assessment
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Desire to deliver excellence in customer service, understanding the needs of different
client groups and handling difficult situations sensitively
Be able to work as part of a team, and taking a positive approach to resolving problems
and providing support across teams
Ability to develop constructive relationships with partners, members of the public and the
wider tenancy services team
Ability to drive forward interventions and service improvements
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Ability to absorb information to make balanced, logical, structured and reasoned
decisions/conclusions
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LEGAL ENFORCEMENT ADVISOR Updated: July 2015
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