Housing Solutions Team Leader Ref: 10-26
Job Description
Job summary
Grade: | 7 |
|---|---|
Responsible To: | Housing Solutions Team Manager |
Responsible For: | Housing Solutions Officers |
Job Purpose: | To line manage and provide technical support and guidance to the Housing Solutions Officers, supporting the Housing Solutions Team Manager in the delivery and planning of the Council's statutory housing duties. To provide and champion excellent levels of customer service within the team, managing and providing housing options and advice on a case management basis |
Location of Job: | Elizabeth House, Dereham with travel within Breckland and to meetings across Norfolk. |
Directorate/ Service Area: | Housing |
Description of duties
To support the Housing Solutions Team Manager in providing an effective Housing Solutions Service.
To directly line manage the Housing Solutions Officers, working with the other Senior Housing Solutions Officer to do this, and provide professional support on a case load basis in line with the Council's statutory housing duties, carrying out regular 1:1 supervision, appraisals, etc. with staff in accordance with Council policies.
Support the team to assess and process all homelessness and housing advice related enquiries within The Homelessness Reduction Act, focusing on prevention and relief criteria, in a manner which is focused upon accurate application of the homeless legislation, while being sensitive to the needs of the customer. This includes the processing of enquiries that relate to:
- Advice on the wide range of housing options available to clients in differing circumstances, including signposting clients to third parties
- Completing assessments and Personal Housing Plans in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act.
- Homelessness prevention casework
- Landlord/tenant advice and dispute resolution
To participate positively in a duty rota to ensure prompt responses to service requests, conducting face to face interviews and home visits
To work collaboratively with the Housing Solutions Officers in relation to clients being referred to ensure that duties owed by the Council to clients are discharged in a timely and appropriate manner.
Take personal responsibility to build and maintain relationships with key partners, including private landlords, housing associations, statutory bodies, and third and voluntary sector organisations and the general public.
Develop and maintain open, honest and constructive relationships and be supportive to colleagues.
Play an active role in driving forward improvements in customer service delivery including complaints, MP enquiries, FOI requests and S.202 reviews
To assist the Housing Solutions Team Manager and Accommodation & Allocations Officers in managing the use of temporary accommodation, with the aim of keeping occupation and bed and breakfast expenditure to a minimum.
To contribute to and assist in the delivery of the Housing Strategy and to assist in the development and implementation of the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy.
Assist in the preparation of reports, carrying out of investigations or making of recommendations in conjunction with the Team Manager and service management team for Cabinet, Scrutiny, senior managers or external agencies ensuring appropriate liaison and consultation with interested parties.
To take part and contribute to the out of hours emergency homelessness service.
To undertake any other duties as requested by the Housing Manager, Housing Solutions Team Manager appropriate to the level and competence of the post.
Ensure that a high level of customer service is maintained at all times.
Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.
Primary Line/Performance Management Objectives of the Role
To ensure the Housing Solutions Officers provide a range of excellent, customer-focused housing advice and homelessness prevention services, including but not exclusive to housing and welfare rights and responsibilities, the range of housing options available to the client, assistance in dealing with homelessness and/or threats of homelessness, etc
Where homelessness is not preventable, ensure the proper assessment and issuing of decisions for applications for assistance with homelessness in accordance with relevant legislation, the Homelessness Code of Guidance and relevant case law.
Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role
To lead the Housing Solutions Officers to deliver relevant statutory obligations.
Responsibilities for:
People - The post holder is responsible for developing a culture within the Housing Solutions Team and wider Housing Service which is linked to the behaviours and values of the Council. In addition, the post holder will be expected to look at improved ways and processes to benefit customers of the service and the wider organisation.
Assets - The Post holder is responsible for the equipment issued by Breckland Council.
Finance - No budgetary responsibility
Decision Making - Assessing and processing all homelessness and broad housing advice related enquiries in a manner which is focused upon the sensitive requirements and needs of the customer.
Communications - Liaising with internal staff members of staff and portfolio holders. Direct communication and contact with external partners including but not exclusive to Breckland residents, tenants and landlords, organisations/representatives, Government and non-governmental organisations. Take a personal responsibility to build and maintain relationships with key partners, including private landlords, housing associations, statutory bodies, and third and voluntary sector organisations and the general public.
This job description is not exhaustive.
The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service. This will be in consultation with the post holder, as detailed in your Contract of Employment.
