Head of Housing and Inclusion

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council seeks an outstanding leader to join the Adults & Health Directorate as Head of Housing and Inclusion, a senior post guiding housing needs, homelessness strategies, and community support.

You will lead across prevention, asylum seeker support, social prescribing, and partnerships with health, councils and the voluntary sector to improve outcomes for residents while delivering statutory duties.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of homelessness, housing needs, inclusion and community wellbeing.
• Experience leading transformation, managing budgets and performance.
• Proven track record of cross-sector partnership work with councils, health, housing and voluntary sector.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with commitment to equality and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead homelessness and housing needs services.
• Prevent homelessness and reduce rough sleeping.
• Improve access to safe and sustainable accommodation.
• Develop effective responses to growing demand.
• Oversee support for asylum seekers, refugees and newly arrived communities.
• Manage the First Point of Contact for Adult Services.
• Oversee social prescribing and community connector services.
• Lead the Complex Lives Partnership and the Crisis Resilience Fund.
• Promote trauma-informed, co-produced services and strong partnerships.

Skills

Homelessness

Housing needs

Inclusion

Prevention

Community wellbeing

Transformation leadership

Budget management

Performance improvement

Partnerships

Communication & influencing

Co-production & equality & inclusion

Education

Degree level in housing or related discipline

Leadership/management qualification or equivalent CPD

Job description

About the Organisation

Blackburn with Darwen is seeking an outstanding leader to join the Adults & Health Directorate as Head of Housing and Inclusion. This is a key senior leadership role, leading services that help residents live safe, independent and fulfilling lives.

About the Role

You will lead a broad portfolio across housing needs, homelessness, inclusion, prevention and community support, ensuring the Council meets its statutory duties while improving outcomes for residents and communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead homelessness and housing needs services.
• Prevent homelessness and reduce rough sleeping.
• Improve access to safe and sustainable accommodation.
• Develop effective responses to growing demand.
• Oversee support for asylum seekers, refugees and newly arrived communities.
• Manage the First Point of Contact for Adult Services.
• Oversee social prescribing and community connector services.
• Lead the Complex Lives Partnership and the Crisis Resilience Fund.
• Promote timely advice, strengths-based practice, trauma-informed support, co-production, effective partnership working and targeted help for residents facing hardship, housing instability or multiple disadvantage.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant discipline, such as housing, homelessness, public services, social policy, social care, health, community safety or management.
• Leadership, management or senior leadership qualification, or equivalent evidence of continuing professional development in leadership and management.

Required Skills

• Strong knowledge of homelessness, housing needs, inclusion, prevention and community wellbeing.
• Experience of leading transformation, managing budgets and performance, and improving services.
• A strong track record of partnership working across councils, health, housing and the voluntary sector.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a commitment to co-production, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Skills

• Inspirational, credible and strategic leader with strong political awareness.
• Clear focus on outcomes and performance.
• Ability to lead complex services through change.

Pay range and compensation package

This is an opportunity to shape services that make a real difference to residents, working within an ambitious leadership team focused on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome candidates from all backgrounds who can support inclusive, respectful and anti-discriminatory practice.