Housing Officer training
Case reference FOI2024/00236
Published 27 February 2024
Request
What training do housing officers responsible for discharging the council's duties under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 get in relation to:
• The Housing Act 1996
• The Homelessness Code of Guidance
• The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
• The Equality Act 2010
• The Care Act 2014, including safeguarding
• The Data Protection Act 2018
• Trauma Informed Practice
• Implementing Psychologically Informed Environments
• Domestic Abuse Act 2021
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Dual diagnsosis
• Multiple Exclusion and Homelessness
• Mental Health in respect of making reasonable adjustments and priority need
Response
What training do housing officers responsible for discharging the council's duties under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 get in relation to:
• The Housing Act 1996
A: Training/refresher training on an annual basis by professional training organisations which is combined with in-house training.
• The Homelessness Code of Guidance
A: Training on this is combined with training on the Housing Act 1996 as one relates to the other - see above.
• The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
A: As the sections of the HRA 2017 pertinent to the functions of housing officers discharging the council's functions under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 have been absorbed by the HA 1996 - see above.
• The Equality Act 2010
A: Training on the sections of the Equality Act 2010 pertinent to the functions of housing officers discharging the Council's function under Part VII of the HA 1996 are provided at the same time as the above.
• The Care Act 2014, including safeguarding
A: Training on Care Act 2014 and how it pertains to assessment of housing need/homelessness provided by specialist legal trainer. This training also covered safeguarding in relation to housing need/homelessness assessment. General training on safeguarding is provided to all staff through internal Council training.
• The Data Protection Act 2018
A: All Council staff have to undertake annual on-line training with regard to data protection as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Trauma Informed Practice
A: Staff have previously received training by a professional trainer. Future training will be considered.
• Implementing Psychologically Informed Environments
A: Staff have not received specific training with regard to discharging duties under Part VII however general on-line training is available to all Council staff.
• Domestic Abuse Act 2021
A: Housing officers responsible for discharging the council's duties under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 have annually undertaken on-line refresher training provided by specialist training organisations. The majority of these staff have received in-person training by specialist training organisations.
• Human Rights Act 1998
A: Training on the sections of the Human Rights Act 1988 pertinent to the functions of housing officers discharging the Council's function under Part VII of the HA 1996 are provided at the same time as training on Part VII of the HA 1996.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
A: Training provided as part of training on The Care Act 2014 - see above.
• Dual diagnsosis
A: As part of the training/refresher training on Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 Housing Officers receive training on dual diagnosis as part of training on Priority Need. In addition Housing Officers who specialise in working with street homeless applicants have received training around dual diagnosis.
• Multiple Exclusion and Homelessness
A: As part of the training/refresher training on Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 Housing Officers receive training on multiple exclusion and homelessness as part of training on Priority Need.
• Mental Health in respect of making reasonable adjustments and priority need
A: As part of the training/refresher training on Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 Housing Officers receive training on mental health in respect of making reasonable adjustments as part of training on Priority Need.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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