Deputy Manager Homelessness Prevention and Solutions

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave

Flexible working

Generous pension plan

Job summary

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is seeking a Deputy Manager for the Homelessness Prevention and Solutions team. You will lead seven officers, ensure compliant, person-centred housing advice, and drive proactive strategies to prevent homelessness across the boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond.

The role focuses on early intervention, collaboration with partners, and delivering high-quality support within a changes-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Awareness of homelessness causes and prevention techniques.
• Ability to interpret complex homelessness legislation and guidance.
• Experience working in busy, fast-paced service environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication with clients and partners.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to multitask under pressure.
• Experience handling complex client cases and risk management.
• Proficient IT literacy and data handling skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officers to high standards.
• Supervise complex casework and ensure compliance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Use data dashboards and performance indicators to monitor outcomes and drive improvements.
• Participate in the Duty Manager rota and make decisions on housing assistance and temporary accommodation.
• Collaborate with statutory and voluntary agencies and conduct community outreach.
• Handle corporate complaints and embed lessons into service delivery.

Skills

Homelessness awareness

Legislation interpretation

Fast-paced environment

Excellent communication

Organisational skills

Experience with complex clients

IT literacy

Job description

Job Title: Deputy Manager Homelessness Prevention and Solutions

Salary: £47,730 – £57,837per annum

Contract Type: Fixed Term until 31 March 2028

Location: Housing Customer Centre, 90 Putney Bridge Road, Wandsworth SW18 1HR

Other essential information: Minimum 3 days working in the office

Are you passionate about preventing homelessness and driving innovative housing solutions? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, people-focused environment where your leadership can directly impact lives? If so, we invite you to join our dynamic Prevention and Solutions Service as a Deputy Manager.

Objective of Role

As Deputy Manager, you will lead a team of Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officers to deliver high-impact, person-centred housing advice and support.

You will play a key role in preventing and relieving homelessness across Wandsworth and Richmond boroughs, ensuring statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 are met. You will be instrumental in shaping service delivery, driving innovation, and improving outcomes for vulnerable residents. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dedicated team of seven officers within a service that is expanding to meet growing demand and is central to the Council’s priorities. You’ll be at the forefront of shaping how we support residents at risk of homelessness through early intervention, tailored advice, and collaborative working with internal and external partners.

About The Role

• Lead and manage a team of Homelessness Prevention and Solutions Officers, ensuring high standards of performance, conduct, and customer care.
• Supervise complex casework and ensure compliance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
• Use data dashboards and performance indicators to monitor outcomes and drive service improvements.
• Participate in the Duty Manager rota, making key decisions on housing assistance and temporary accommodation.
• Collaborate with statutory and voluntary agencies and take the service into the community through housing surgeries and outreach.
• Handle corporate complaints and embed lessons learned into service delivery.

We’re seeking a confident, knowledgeable, and empathetic leader who can:

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of homelessness legislation, housing options, and prevention strategies.
• Interpret complex guidance and case law to support robust decision-making.
• Communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and partners.
• Manage and motivate staff, conduct appraisals, and support career development.
• Navigate high-pressure situations and respond to emergencies with professionalism and care.

Essential Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• You will need to be aware of the reasons that people become homeless and have a good working knowledge of a range of housing prevention techniques and options.
• Have an ability to interpret and explain complex legislation and guidance
• Be able to work in a busy fast paced environment and be able to navigate others so that the demands of the service are adequately met.
• You will need to possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a wide range of people
• You will need to have strong organisational skills and work well under pressure
• You will need to have a vast experience of working with complex clients and understanding their needs as well as managing any risks
• You will need to have strong IT literacy skills

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Sunday 22nd November 2026

Shortlisting Date: Week commencing 23rd November 2026

Interview Date: TBC

Useful Information

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.