Technical Officer - Disabled facilities grants in Loughborough

Aatom Recruitment is looking for Technical Officer - Disabled facilities grants on behalf of a Local Authority.

Job Title: Technical Officer - Disabled facilities grants
Contract Duration: 6 Months
Hours Per Week: 37

Work Pattern: At least one day in the office - the role involves inspections and visits in the local area.

Job Purpose:

• To provide advice, assistance and practical support with regards to all aspects of home  improvements and adaptations.
• To assist in providing services in respect of the Lightbulb Service functions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To develop appropriate schemes of adaptations to properties to meet the needs of disabled people in accordance with statutory, Council and Lightbulb policy in consultation with colleagues and partner agencies e.g. Housing Support Coordinators, Occupational Therapists, Builders, and Architects.
• Provide advice and support to customers and colleagues on the technical aspects of carrying out adaptations to properties.
• Carry out inspections at all stages of work to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
• Visiting customers in their own homes and assessing building work required.
• To prepare detailed estimates relating to eligible grants and carry out detailed surveys.
• To provide drawings for each adaptation and prepare schedules of work.
• To case manage customers through the DFG process, including carrying out financial assessments with the service user to determine grant entitlement and detail any customer contribution required.
• To work with colleagues in Building Control departments to ensure inspection of any work undertaken.
• To update records both manually and electronically.
• To consider amendments to specification, variations and applications for revised grants and keep control of the construction, maintaining effective working relationships with all parties.
• To monitor and review Lightbulb’s current technical standards of construction specifications and costings, against constantly changing requirements.
• To evaluate claims for interim payments and to recommend final payments of grants which have been completed satisfactorily.
• Provide support and cover for other Technical Officers across Leicestershire during annual leave, sickness and at other times as required.
• To manage assigned resources in accordance with Council and Lightbulb policies and procedures, budget systems and constitution including the administration of certain budgets.
• To ensure or where required as part of your direct responsibility, carry out risk assessments for significant risks within the Council’s undertakings.  
• Identify appropriate controls and ensure that control measures are implemented.  When there are significant changes in the hazards or risks of the work activity, review the assessments.
• To carry out any other duties as may be deemed necessary by the Private Sector Housing Manager.

Qualifications

• HNC Building Construction
• MBIAT Member of British Institute of Architectural Technologists
• Demonstrable experience identified within the section below.

Experience      

• Experience of working with individuals to identify and resolve problems Of managing contractors and successfully undertaking planned work.
• In writing schedules of work and providing sketches/technical drawings Specification preparation.
• Of using Computer Aided Design (CAD) or similar software.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation.
• Knowledge of building construction.
• Knowledge of Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
• Knowledge of Housing/Grant Legislation.
• Knowledge of Adaptations