Disrepair Caseworker

£24.53 per hour – PAYE

£30.62p per hour – UMBRELLA

Full Time

6 Month Contract Initially

London – Hybrid, 1 day per week from home after the first 4 weeks.

Role Purpose

• Completing the necessary casework for Pre-Action Disrepair cases
• Maintaining accurate case records, monitoring deadlines and supporting the overall team in effective management of legal disrepair casework
• Liaising with Disrepair Surveyors and Contract Manager in relation to remedial works.

Main Responsibilities

• Complete initial case requirements such as acknowledging claims and providing 6.2 disclosure to the opposing solicitors.
• Liaise with surveyors regarding inspections of properties and monitoring the receipt of expert reports in line with case demand.
• Completing 6.3 Landlord’s Responses to a high standard by cross referencing Council and Claimant evidence with expert reports and calculating damages and agreeing the scope and timescale for repairs.
• Negotiating settlement of Pre-Action Protocol cases with opposing solicitors when 6.3 Landlord Responses are not agreed in line with case law and required works.
• Identifying cases which require escalation
• Adopt Witness Statements and Defences; and attend Court when necessary for cases which escalate to litigation.
• Managing a varied workload and prioritising urgent cases based on the financial and reputational risk.
• To undertake a central role in the defence and management of legal claims to minimise costs and reputational impact.
• Carry out root cause analysis of claims to identify any problems to be addressed within the Repairs Service and any opportunities for reducing the incidence of legal disrepair.
• Liaise with legal colleagues on individual cases as necessary and on more general issues such as procedure and interpretation of legislation and case law.
• Ensure that all deadlines and actions are completed within the operational deadlines set by the Senior Disrepair Manager and legal deadlines set by the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Establish and maintain good lines of communication with other key stakeholders, both Haringey Council and [external bodies/in-house legal]
• Maintaining robust records on Our Clients operating systems.
• Providing analysis of key areas of concern when required by the Senior Disrepair Manager.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of the legal framework relating to disrepair
• Experience of dealing with potentially difficult people in potentially difficult situations
• Delivering excellent standards of customer service and the ability to deliver accurate and clear communications in writing, face to face or by telephone
• Experience of preparing and issuing performance reports
• Knowledge of relevant legislation
• Understanding and demonstrating awareness of cultural and community diversity
• Effective relationship/client or stakeholder management
• Excellent IT skills, with experience in using various IT systems including Microsoft Office packages and Housing Management systems
• In depth knowledge of the activities of Social Housing
• Experience of liaising directly with solicitors and attending court as a witness on legal disrepair related matters
• Working level of literacy and numeracy relevant to the role

If this role is of interest and you meet the above criteria, then please apply immediately