Head of Supported Housing

Niyaa People; Luton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Niyaa People is seeking a Head of Supported Housing to provide strategic and operational leadership over a large portfolio of supported housing services. You will ensure financial sustainability, quality outcomes and safeguarding across the organisation, while mobilising new Exempt Rent services.

You will build commissioner relationships, drive performance improvement and lead dispersed teams nationwide, using trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches to support residents at all stages.

Qualifications

• Strategic leadership experience in housing or social care environments.
• Experience managing complex, funded services and dispersed teams.
• Strong knowledge of housing regulations, regulation, and good practice.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, income and expenditure, including benefits.
• Solid safeguarding, risk and performance management know-how.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational performance and continuous improvement of Supported Housing services.
• Oversee budgets, income and expenditure, including Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
• Mobilise and grow new Supported Exempt Rent services.
• Embed safeguarding, risk management, complaints and resident feedback processes.
• Manage service planning, risk management and contract performance.
• Build relationships with local authorities, commissioners and partners.
• Lead remote teams to foster high performance and collaboration.
• Promote trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches.
• Develop opportunities for residents to access employment, education and activities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Operational delivery

People management

Budget management

Governance & safeguarding

Stakeholder engagement

Homelessness expertise

Leading dispersed teams

Trauma-informed approaches

Decision making under pressure

Job description

We are recruiting on behalf of a growing, purpose‑led organisation operating within the supported housing and homelessness sector. They work in partnership with established community organisations to provide accommodation and support to people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

The Role:

Reporting to senior leadership, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a large supported housing portfolio, ensuring services are financially sustainable, compliant, high quality and focused on positive outcomes for residents.

A key priority will be leading the mobilisation and expansion of a new Supported Exempt Rent service, using trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches to help strengthen the organisation's homelessness prevention pathway.

You will also play a significant role in developing commissioner relationships, improving service performance and embedding a strong culture of safeguarding, resident involvement and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities of a Head of Supported Housing:

• Lead the day-to-day operational performance and continuous improvement of Supported Housing services.
• Oversee service budgets, income and expenditure, including Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
• Lead the mobilisation and growth of new Supported Exempt Rent services.
• Ensure robust safeguarding, risk management, complaints and resident feedback processes are embedded.
• Oversee support planning, risk management and contractual performance.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, commissioners, delivery partners and community organisations.
• Lead and develop remote teams, creating a high‑performing and collaborative culture.
• Champion trauma-informed, strengths‑based and psychologically informed approaches.
• Develop opportunities for residents to access employment, education, community and recreational activities.
• Support the development of social impact measurement and reporting.
• Work closely with senior leaders to deliver strategic growth plans and identify new opportunities.
• Ensure services meet relevant housing, safeguarding, health & safety and regulatory requirements.
• Act as a subject matter expert on supported housing, homelessness and multiple disadvantage.

You will ideally have:

• strategic thinking with strong operational delivery.
• Significant management experience within supported housing, homelessness or a related social care environment.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation, regulation and good practice.
• Experience managing complex services, budgets and geographically dispersed teams.
• Good understanding of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and supported housing models.
• Strong safeguarding, risk and performance management knowledge.
• Experience working with local authorities, commissioners and external partners.
• A track record of improving service quality and outcomes.
• Experience of trauma-informed and/or strengths‑based approaches.
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship‑building skills.
• The ability to manage challenging situations and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced environment.
• A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel regularly across the UK, particularly during periods of service mobilisation.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation going through an exciting period of growth, where you will have genuine influence over the development of services and the organisation's wider homelessness strategy.

You will have the opportunity to lead significant change, develop new supported housing provision and make a tangible difference to the lives of residents.