Job Introduction
Great and rewarding opportunity to join our Housing Needs, Advice & Support service as a Homelessness Money Advisor!
Portsmouth City Council's Housing Needs, Advice & Support Service (HNAS) works directly with customers to help deal with housing needs including the need to find alternative housing, to prevent homelessness in the city and to fulfil the councils' statutory homeless functions. We are a busy front-line service dealing directly with customers, many of whom are vulnerable and/or living in inadequate housing or facing homelessness. The service assesses and advises customers on the housing options available to them, provide support services to vulnerable people and rough sleepers, provide temporary accommodation and link with providers to help people move into more suitable and/or permanent accommodation.
The Money Advisor team support our customers to solve their problems and meet their responsibilities, which includes sustaining their income, paying their rent and bills and budget management. Despite an ongoing programme of welfare reforms, the impact of the pandemic and the increase in the cost of living, our Money Advisors have continued to support our customers to maximise their income, prioritise outgoings and resolve debt. If you believe you can make a valuable, positive contribution to our team then please read below for more about the role.
The role includes keeping up to date with welfare reforms as they happen and sharing this with your colleagues. The Money Advisors support Housing Assessment & Advice Officers (HAAO), Temporary Accommodation Officers (TAO) and Housing Register and Allocation Officers (HRAO) and Private Accommodation Sustainment Officers (PASO) to maximise the customers income, reduce debt, and manage their budget to sustain or source accommodation.
This is not a traditional Money Advisor role. Working within HNAS you will not necessarily have responsibility for case holding or lead on money advice to customers. Instead, you will work as part of the HNAS team sharing your expertise in welfare benefits, debts and budgeting, developing the skills of others to deliver appropriate budgeting advice and assistance with maximising income.
For full details of what this role will involve please see the job profile attached at the bottom of this page!
Who is the person?
Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points below through descriptive examples from work/personal experience which clearly illustrate what you did and where appropriate the outcome achieved. You need to:
- Demonstrate a good working knowledge of welfare benefits preferably with experience of supporting and advocating for customers.
- Have experience of supporting customers with budgeting advice and advising on priority and non-priority debts, you may hold a relevant qualification, though applications are also welcomed from those without formal qualifications.
- Be approachable, supportive and non-judgemental, and able to foster positive working relationships with customers, colleagues and other professionals.
- Be able to listen well and use effective questioning skills to drill down into the root causes of customers' problems.
- Be competent at understanding complex information and relaying to customers in clear and simple terms to ensure the best outcome for the customer.
- Have strong written and verbal communication skills to enable effective negotiation with creditors or other professionals where appropriate.
- Have experience of developing others in performing effectively in their role, with the confidence to reflect with them on the quality of their interactions.
- Be self-motivated with the ability to work without support and with a willingness to keep your knowledge up to date through your own research.
- Have an understanding of the wider social issues that effect the residents of Portsmouth.
- Be competent with using Microsoft software including: Excel, Word and Outlook and be able to use IT systems to keep clear, accurate, concise and methodical records.
- Be flexible as you may be required to work from any of the 7 area Housing Offices to cover periods of sickness and annual leave. You may be required to carry out visits outside of normal working hours.
- Ideally have a current driving licence and daily use of a vehicle; however this is not essential to the role.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
Additional Information
If you have any questions or would like to have an informal chat about this role please contact nicola.ellson@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or janice.davis@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Interview process: 28th & 29th April 2026
Our recruitment process
Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal
You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.
