Head of Homelessness Prevention and Advice

Working on behalf of a Local Authority, Aatom Recruitment has an opportunity for an Head of Homelessness Prevention and Advice on a 2 month’s contract with a possibility of an extension.

Job Purpose.

To undertake leadership responsibility for the Homelessness Prevention and Advice service area within the Housing Needs Service and to develop, manage and promote all aspects of the service area in accordance with the Council’s objectives and priorities. To ensure the service maintains high levels of good customer care and empathy throughout.

As a member of the Housing Needs Senior Management Team to contribute to the effective development and implementation of policies for the management of the Housing Needs Service and the Council as a whole. To keep abreast of government policy and directives in this area of work and take a lead role in developing action plans and implementing change where necessary.

To review national and regional service delivery and legislative changes relating to designated service area, taking appropriate steps to keep the council at the forefront of innovative service delivery developing new strategies, policies and procedures as necessary for your service area whilst ensuring the statutory provisions governing the functions of the designated service area are met.

Main Accountabilities.

• To deliver the council’s homelessness and rough sleeping strategy and related policies in a way that is commensurate with the legal duties but also considers the resource constraints as directed by the Council’s senior management team.

• To work with other parts of the housing function, social care, the council overall and with key stakeholders and partners to achieve this balancing act.

• Keep abreast of key organisational issues and the wider local government agenda to be able to respond innovatively and effectively to corporate challenges and opportunities

• To recruit, develop, appraise and motivate the designated service area staff and ensure they are motivated and trained to deliver excellent customer services. Ensure in liaison with appropriate training providers, that the training and development needs of staff are identified and provided for.

• Ensure that HPAS achieves and maintains a customer-focused culture, that all staff promote a positive image of the Council; and that service delivery is regularly re-evaluated so as to meet the needs of its customers.

• To adopt an approach that is based on prevention best practice and housing choices including maximum use of the private rented sector to discharge duties.

• To minimise use of temporary accommodation through effective prevention and relief of homelessness.

• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with all relevant internal, external partners and other relevant agencies over the formulation and implementation of Housing Needs related policies and ensure that the housing needs of vulnerable people are appropriately met.

• To work with private rented sector landlords, to understand the market and make recommendations for incentives and other measures that would be attractive to them to sustain tenancies for the councils residents.

• To work with Housing Benefits and Income Teams to minimise the financial impact of Welfare Reform including Universal Credit

EXPERIENCE:

Substantial experience of leading, motivating and managing services with multi-disciplinary teams to achieve significant, sustainable improvements and positive outcomes through internal and external partnerships

Experience of delivering a high quality homelessness prevention and advice service in a related area for a large local authority or comparable organisation.

Experience of monitoring performance, producing reports and analysing data in order to drive service improvements.

Experience of successfully implementing a prevention and options approach in tackling the issue of homelessness and of coaching and helping staff to use negotiation tools in an advice or advocacy setting.

Experience as a team manager within a large, complex, customer-focused organisation with a significant emphasis on performance management.

To get more information about this role and how to apply please contact Jordan on 07950899682 or email your CV directly