Housing Allocations Team Leader

North Northamptonshire Council; Grafton Underwood; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local governmental authority is seeking a Housing Allocations Team Leader to oversee the management of the housing allocations service. This role involves ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, customer-focused service while complying with statutory obligations. You'll lead a team to develop and implement effective arrangements, manage partnerships, and monitor performance to enhance service outcomes. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in housing and team leadership, along with a relevant qualification.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension scheme with significant employer contribution

Generous leave entitlement

Hybrid working arrangements

Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering a housing allocations scheme.
• Substantial experience at a team leader level within a local authority or housing association.
• Experience in partnership working with various organizations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the housing allocations service to achieve excellence.
• Develop and implement service agreements and protocols.
• Ensure compliance with statutory obligations and performance standards.

Skills

Leadership and management skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Knowledge of housing legislation

Education

HND/NVQ Level 4 or equivalent

Professional qualification in housing or social care

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Council's Housing Allocations Team. As a Housing Allocations Team Leader, you will develop, update and implement clear and effective arrangements for the management of the service to ensure that the Council meets its statutory obligations and provides a high‑quality, customer‑centred service. This includes building and maintaining effective partnerships with social housing landlords, the delivery of a fully compliant Housing Allocations Scheme, and associated agreements, that helps to meet the Council's strategic objectives and statutory requirements, and through procurement ensure an efficient and cost‑effective software system for the allocation of social/affordable housing. Assisted by the Senior Housing Allocations Officers, manage, motivate and lead team members to deliver the Housing Allocations Service, achieving service excellence and positive results. The role will be based across the locality of North Northamptonshire.

What will you be doing?

Lead the operational delivery of the housing allocations service, ensuring services are of a high quality, customer focused and comply with statutory requirements, the Council's policies and procedures and service standards. Ensure appropriate and prompt allocation of social/affordable housing available to the Council to meet its statutory duties in line with legislation, guidance and the Council's Keyways Housing Allocations Scheme. Assist the manager to ensure there are adequate service level agreements, data sharing agreements, partnership agreements and protocols are in place for all third‑party partners / housing providers of social/affordable accommodation including creating and monitoring appropriate performance targets and. Work proactively and collaboratively with internal teams and other services and organisations to improve service delivery, agree new and more innovative ways of working, ensure that vulnerable people are supported and empowered and work together to address complex cases and safeguarding concerns. This will include developing and maintaining protocols, partnership agreements, data‑sharing agreements with key partners and representing the Council in attending or chairing relevant multi‑agency meetings. Responsible for the line management, supervision and performance of the Senior Housing Allocations Officers, providing them with advice, guidance, support and training to enable them to deliver effective and outcome focused functions within the housing allocations service. Manage, motivate and lead team members working across the housing allocations service to achieve service delivery and positive results. Monitor individual and team performance against key performance indicators (KPIs), including production of performance reports, provision of support and/or addressing performance issues where appropriate. Ensure accurate collection, analysis and submission of internal and external data returns, including statutory returns and performance monitoring data, preparing reports for senior management and partner agencies as required. Support the management of service budgets, including keeping robust records of relative expenditure, monitoring expenditure and maximising opportunities for income collection. Ensure payments related to the service are processed accurately and efficiently. Assist the manager to develop, coordinate and deliver the Council's Housing Allocations Scheme, including ongoing monitoring and review. Contribute positively to the development of policies, procedures and strategies, identifying opportunities for service improvement, innovation and best practice. Support the implementation of the Council's Housing and Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and associated action plan and items within the Housing Solutions Service Plan to enhance service outcomes and efficiency. Demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people's behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs. Comply with the Council's policies and procedures including (but not limited to) safeguarding, financial regulations, promotion of equalities, customer care, agreed audit actions and health and safety (ensuring that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons). Understand the councils commitment to Corporate Parenting and take responsibility to support this commitment. Enable the council to be the best corporate parents possible to children and young people in our current and previous care. Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post. This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies a level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances. Such reviews and any consequential changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder. This post requires satisfactory clearance of a Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure.

Hold a relevant qualification (e.g. HND/NVQ Level 4) or show an equivalent capability. Professional qualification in housing, social care, or a related field. Evidence of continued professional development in housing, management, or related areas. Substantial and demonstratable experience at a team leader level (or similar) within a local authority, housing association or voluntary organisation. Proven experience and knowledge of delivering a housing allocations scheme. Extensive knowledge of Part 6 Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and related legislation and case law. Experience of managing, mentoring and supporting teams to deliver high‑quality services. Experience in partnership working with statutory, voluntary, and private sector organisations. Experience of attending and participating in multidisciplinary case conferences. Experience of working with and advocating for vulnerable adults, and knowledge of relevant safeguarding procedures relating to adults and children. Experience and knowledge to completing appeals and statutory reviews of decisions. Spoken and written English fluency. Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop staff. Ability to form and develop professional and effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and service users and work effectively and enthusiastically as part of a team. Able to produce clear, concise and persuasive reports and letters on complex issues. Good analytical skills and ability to produce and interpret statistical information. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. A skilled problem‑solver and negotiator with an organised and imaginative approach to work and the ability to manage difficult and sensitive situations. Ability to work well under pressure, on own initiative, and manage and prioritise own workload and team members when needed. Effectively work with others to achieve a positive outcome by being proactive and solution focused. IT and keyboard skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office and maintain accurate records and case files. Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people's behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs. Willingness to work outside normal office hours where necessary. Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we're transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You'll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think! Why choose us? We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill‑health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.