RQ1489286 – Senior Housing Options and Homeless Prevention Officer

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated professional to lead housing options and homelessness prevention services. In this pivotal role, you will provide expert advice, manage complex cases, and ensure compliance with housing legislation while promoting innovative solutions for residents in need. Your leadership will drive performance improvements and foster effective partnerships with social care and other stakeholders. Join a forward-thinking team committed to making a difference in the community and enjoy a rewarding career in public service.

Qualifications

• Expertise in housing legislation and casework management.
• Proven experience in leading and developing project teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of housing options advice and prevent homelessness.
• Manage complex cases and ensure compliance with statutory duties.

Skills

Housing Legislation Knowledge

Case Management

People Management

Customer Service

Data Analysis

Education

Degree in Social Work or Related Field

Professional Qualification in Housing

Tools

Housing Management Software

Case Management Systems

Job description

• Full time
• £33 an hour

ROLE PURPOSE:

• To provide expert advice, undertake complex case work, represent the Local Authority in high profile situations and proactively contribute to support the effective leadership and management of the Housing Options, Move-On and Homeless Prevention service for residents in need of housing advice and assistance.
• The post-holder will be responsible for proactively contributing to leading a service delivering housing options advice, including low cost home ownership, preventing homelessness and undertaking statutory assessments.
• The operational service delivery will be consistently accurate, flexible and responsive to client needs within available resources ensuring agreed team plans and performance targets are delivered and that a culture of putting our residents first and continuous service improvement is maintained. The post-holder will be responsible for leading and contributing to the delivery of strategic improvements to the service and other corporate, cross-cutting priorities, as required, on a portfolio, project basis. This includes working closely with social care services to support the move-on of families to suitable accommodation, leading on cross-service strategies and understanding the impact of housing decisions on other key service areas.

Job Description

1. People Management

• To be responsible for the selection, development and performance of project teams for the delivery of agreed priorities and programmes within the Housing Service and other corporate and cross-cutting service areas.
• To provide support so that all team members receive the appropriate level of communication to maintain engagement with the Council’s vision, priorities and activities.
• To be a visible and effective senior officer within the service and department, represent the service at a range of public and internal forums, actively seek to improve the council’s service delivery and provide a cohesive and efficient service to colleagues, Hillingdon residents and stakeholders.
• To support the implementation of relevant policies, strategic actions and objectives within the operation of the team, identifying opportunities to improve performance, promoting modern and professional service delivery, expanding good practice and actively targeting weaker aspects of the service to improve.
• To challenge, manage and resolve poor performance where it exists within the service.

1. Customer Management

• To actively contribute to the effective operation of the range of panels available to enable key groups to access suitable housing and support, ensuring consistency and transparency in decision making.
• To actively support the management of the service delivering a professional, responsive and individualised service to Hillingdon residents requiring housing advice.

1. Operational Service Delivery

• To actively contribute to the effective operational delivery of key frontline services, including a timely, high quality casework management service and customer-focussed contact arrangements. This will include taking the practical lead to develop and implement clear procedures and professional standards to achieve excellence in day-to-day service delivery.
• To be the practical lead for ensuring the application of systems to provide assurance that standards are met in own area.
• To set up, chair and manage meetings and forums where required.
• To analyse and use data reports to inform and recommend team specific targets, to monitor performance and evaluate progress and identify case risks which require mitigating action.
• To be the practical lead for ensuring consistent and effective case recording.
• Be knowledgeable and up to date with housing legislation, policy, procedures, case law and Codes of Guidance to ensure statutory requirements are consistently met.
• To be the practical lead for ensuring that robust systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating expenditure across the service area, in order to protect the Council’s financial position and comply with internal financial regulations as well as those imposed by statute and external agencies. This will include actively shaping the business planning process of the service.
• To communicate clearly and effectively with staff, customers and their representatives, Elected Members, colleagues and other third parties around all aspects of the service delivery and linkages with other areas, promoting a widespread understanding of the service and its capacity in order to manage stakeholders expectations and agree realistic outcomes and goals.
• Represent the service at meetings, case conferences and on committees/bodies as required, including the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, Safeguarding Adults Board, MAPPA meetings and Care Leaver panels.
• To provide quality advice and information to senior managers, Councillors and government departments in respect of performance and policy developments related to housing needs, homelessness and housing advice. This will include the production and presentation of reports to Members and attendance at meetings of Council committees, as required.
• To undertake detailed investigations into the background of stage 2 and 3 complaints and complex Members Enquiries and ombudsman enquiries to understand the facts in each case and identify any gaps or failings in service delivery. Ensure corporate standards are met consistently, including complaints and Members Enquiries.
• To take the practical lead to effectively deal with complex cases, including complaints, MP and Member Enquiries and able to undertake and take the lead for independent reviews of homeless case This includes attending Court on behalf of the Council in complex judicial review cases and liaison with professional legal agencies, as required.
• Able to take the lead for the day to day delivery of homeless case work decision making, if required

Housing Options and Move-On

• Be able to provide expert advice on a range of housing options, including low cost home ownership which promotes self-service, independence and prevents homelessness.
• To proactively manage case work using expertise, knowledge of legislation and well established networks and partnerships to move clients on from temporary accommodation into longer term suitable and sustainable accommodation which effectively fulfils the Councils statutory duties.
• To ensure that suitable housing solutions are delivered to residents consistently, including those with complex housing needs. This includes reducing the use of temporary accommodation and developing creative solutions to achieve this, including consistent use of the Social Housing Allocations Policy and the Private Rented Sector (PRS).
• To develop and maintain effective relationships with private sector landlords, local managing and lettings agents and owners of empty properties in order to secure use of privately rented properties for households in housing need in the Borough.
• To support the active promotion of the Council’s full range of procurement options at landlord forums, trade events and one-to-one meetings and contribute to the design and content of promotional materials.
• To engage with the Housing Register and Allocations Team, Adult Social Care and Children’s Services to deliver a seamless service.

Homeless Prevention

• To be proactively managing complex case work where residents are at risk of homelessness to effectively fulfil the Council statutory duties and resolve their homelessness.
• Where required, undertake more detailed investigations into cases and resolve complex issues including carrying out independent reviews and appeals within the terms of part VII of the Housing Act 1996. Ensure statutory requirements are always met. Able to lead the independent reviewing process from start to finish.
• Be responsible for building effective working relationships with Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, other Council services and external housing and support partners to deliver a seamless service, where appropriate. Have an understanding of the various social care legislative requirements as they affect housing.

1. Service Planning & Development

• Actively contribute to the annual Team Plan, aligned to the Group / Service Plan(s) and support communication to team members in a timely manner.
• Take the practical lead to develop clear Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) where appropriate, covering all aspects of service delivery with performance and response levels, together with the escalation process if SLA’s are not met.
• Actively contribute to a service workforce plan including a succession plan for all key roles within the service.
• Take the practical lead to develop and review procedure manuals providing guidance on the functions of the team and accurate, up-to-date information relevant to the areas of responsibility, having regard to Council policy and ensure that these are understood, accessible to, and followed by staff.
• To develop new and cross cutting initiatives in line with an enhanced housing options approach, and developing and implementing external and partnership services.
• To develop smart performance targets and monitor team performance against these, managing improvement plans and recovery actions where required.

1. Financial & Resource Management

• To actively support and contribute to the effective management of the allocated department / team budget.
• To ensure all purchasing and procurement is conducted in line with the corporate guidelines with appropriate use of the Council’s financial systems.

If you think this job role is for you, please send your CV to [e-mail]