Kristina Klove

Responsibilities include:

• Assessing homeless applications under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Undertaking homelessness inquiries to determine duties owed to the applicant.
• Drafting effective personalised housing plans tailored to the individual’s needs and circumstances.
• Offering advice, negotiation, and mediation to prevent homelessness by exploring all available housing options.
• Liaising with various agencies such as police, social services, private and social landlords, Independent Domestic Abuse Advisors, charitable organisations, Social Prescribers, GP surgeries, hospitals, other local authorities etc.
• Providing specialist advice on eviction proceedings including s21 notices; tenants’ rights, and tenant & landlord law.
• Helping applicants understand their housing rights and prevent illegal eviction.
• Connecting applicants with specialist support organisations such as social services.
• Maintaining accurate records of any interaction with applicants and managing a very busy workload.
• Assessing suitability and affordability of accommodation.
• Carrying out affordability assessments where appropriate.
• Providing efficient customer-focused service.

• Supervised general advice sessions with a key focus on Universal Credit related issues.
• Provided support and supervision to the team, and carried out 1-2-1 supervisions with volunteers and paid staff.
• Member of Tackling Worklessness in Peterborough and UC Steering Group meetings.
• Prepared training on budgeting to refugees residing in Peterborough and training on UC to the staff of Citizens Advice Peterborough. I ensured that good quality customer care was maintained at all times.

• Advised clients on various issues such as benefits, housing, employment, debt and consumer rights.
• Provided budgeting advice and support to UC claimants, and was the first professional in the Peterborough area to deliver UC budgeting support to new UC claimants in partnership with Jobcentre Plus.
• Created a learning program on budgeting to UC claimants. Attended regular meetings with Jobcentre Plus and provided regular and accurate reports on the referrals received and support provided.

• Actively promoted the use of tablets to enable the clients to find information themselves on various reputable sources.
• Identified cases where a gateway assessment was required and directed them to an appropriate specialist.

• Worked on a research investigating the impact of benefits changes on migrant workers.
• Carried out a series of interviews and surveys with those no longer eligible to claim benefits but who were still residing in the UK. Citizens Advice Peterborough used the research findings to understand their clients' needs better.
• The position was funded by the University of Sheffield.

• Responsible for collecting data of the items stored in the warehouse to make sure the company did not oversell its stock.
• Responsible for adjusting inventory data on the database where required.

• Translated articles from Lithuanian into English, and the articles were published on the foundation's English version website.

• Interviewed people and wrote articles concerning student life and associated issues.