Allocation Manager

Ashford Borough Council; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Salary-linked pension scheme

Generous annual leave with flexi time

Life insurance

Relocation package for specific roles

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

Ashford Borough Council is seeking an experienced Allocations Manager to lead the Housing Options and Allocations Service. You will oversee social housing allocations and temporary accommodation, ensuring fair and efficient delivery in line with statutory requirements and Council policies.

With significant housing allocations experience, you will manage teams, work with partners, and drive continuous service improvements while supporting the council's Homelessness strategy and stock management

Qualifications

• Significant experience in housing allocations, homelessness, housing management or related field.
• Ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation including the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act.
• Excellent analytical skills using performance data to drive improvements.
• Experience working with housing providers and partner agencies.
• Willingness to work occasional out-of-hours.

Responsibilities

• Oversee allocations and temporary accommodation allocations teams and service delivery.
• Ensure social housing allocations are in line with Allocation Scheme and nominations agreements.
• Monitor performance, analyse data and drive service improvements.
• Lead policy development and respond to legislation, guidance and best practice.

Skills

Staff leadership

Housing policy knowledge

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Project management

Out-of-hours work

Education

CIH Level 4 (desirable)

Job description

Are you an experienced housing professional with a strong understanding of social housing allocations, homelessness legislation and temporary accommodation management? This is a key role within our Housing Options and Allocations Service, responsible for ensuring that social housing and temporary accommodation are allocated fairly, efficiently and in accordance with statutory requirements and Council policies. Working closely with the Service Lead for Housing Options and Allocations, you will oversee the day-to-day management of the service, ensuring compliance with housing legislation, delivering excellent customer service and driving continuous improvement across the allocations and temporary accommodation functions. As Allocations Manager, you will be responsible for leading and managing the Allocations and Temporary Accommodation Allocations teams, providing supervision, support and performance management, ensuring that social housing allocations are delivered in accordance with the Council's Allocation Scheme, nominations agreements and relevant housing legislation. In addition, you will:

• Oversee the temporary accommodation placement function, ensuring households are accommodated appropriately and in line with statutory duties.
• Manage complex housing cases, appeals, complaints and review requests.
• Work closely with housing association partners, temporary accommodation providers and internal stakeholders to maximise housing opportunities for residents.
• Monitor service performance, analyse data and identify opportunities to improve processes and outcomes.
• Review legislation, government guidance and best practice, recommending and implementing policy changes where required.
• Support the delivery of the Council's Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy and Best Use of Stock programme.
• Contribute to strategic projects, service development and procurement activities relating to housing allocations and temporary accommodation.
• In order to thrive in this role it is essential that you have significant experience in housing allocations, homelessness, housing management or a related field, along with having:
  • Experience of leading and managing staff, with the ability to motivate, develop and inspire high-performing teams.
  • A strong working knowledge of housing legislation, including the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act and associated guidance.
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to use performance data to drive service improvements.
  • Experience of working with housing providers, partner agencies and other stakeholders.
  • A Level 4 CIH qualification is desirable; however, applicants willing to work towards this qualification will be considered.
  • Have the ability to work some occasional out-of-hours as required.
• Hybrid Working - We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you to balance your working life and home life and offer flexible ways of working to help structure your life in a positive and productive way; both at home and in the office. This maximises personal development and collaborative working. Competitive remuneration package - We offer an excellent salary linked pension scheme, generous annual leave with flexi time, free life insurance, supportive relocation package for specific roles and opportunities for training and development.
• Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we provide We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community