Job title: Housing Options Manager
Salary: PO6
Hours: Full Time
Contract: 1 x Permanent
Location: Merrion House
This is an exciting opportunity for a leadership role within a highly successful and busy Housing Options/Homelessness services in the UK.
The role would be working on the key strategic aims around the successful preventing and relieving of homelessness across the city.
The successful candidate will need to have excellent leadership, organisational and communication skills along with the ability to work individually and as part of a team. You will need to be flexible in approach and be able to prioritise workloads, looking to improve the way we work and continually enhance how we deliver our service to those we serve. You will lead your team to make a difference to the people of Leeds in a challenging but dynamic service.
About you
As Housing Options Manager you will bring to the role:
* Experience of working within management within homelessness services
* Knowledge of legal framework of Homelessness Reduction Act and Best Practice, experience of implementing this work across operational teams and within management structures
* Experience of using and interpreting homelessness data to influence service delivery and strategy and proven experience of delivering on this.
* Understanding and experience of service commissioning and experience of working up bids for grant funding for services, experience of implementing these bids.
* Proven history of partnership working and an understanding of local arrangements in delivering the homelessness service
About the role
Leeds Housing Options is one of the most successful services of its type in the country. You will be joining a team that has a history of nationally acknowledged strong performance. This is a large service with strong responses to different types of homelessness. As one of the Housing options managers, you will be working in collaboration with other experts to manage the resources we have, understand performance to adapt the service to new trends and look for opportunities to strengthen and improve service but also bring new funding and services online. You will be helping to lead a brilliant team of managers and staff in delivering services in reducing homelessness locally. The impact of increased temporary accommodation placements has wider links to budgets locally and can lead to serious financial problems for a local authority. You will be working to set strategies and implement projects to tackle homelessness and reduce temporary accommodation placements.
This is an excellent opportunity to make a real difference for the people of Leeds.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Kerrie Murray, Head of Homelessness 0113 3789531 or kerrie.murray@leeds.gov.uk.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB PURPOSE
To manage the Leeds Housing Options: the Council’s principal service offering housing advice to people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness and in other forms of housing need. The role involves providing operational leadership to deliver a face to face, telephone and digital access based housing options service in accordance with homelessness, housing and other relevant legislation. The role also involves taking a lead strategic role relating to homelessness including the development and delivery of the city’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
* To lead a service area or range of activities in order to deliver Value for Money services to customers in line with Council priorities.
* To use effective people management skills in order to motivate, develop and performance manage staff within your service area to drive service improvements.
* To be responsible for the development and delivery of a service plan and to contribute to the delivery of Council priorities.
* To manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of your service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focusing on equality of outcome.
* To actively drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate and Divisional Management Teams.
* Within a service area or number of areas, to take responsibility for maintaining effective communications with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders.
* To work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, inclusive, responsive and accountable government.
* Working as a team for Leeds by developing and maintaining good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.
* To be accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with Legislation and the Council Health and Safety Policy.
* To provide appropriate strategic advice relating to the work of the Directorate to Members and council officers so as to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
* To be actively involved in preparing, managing and controlling budgets and take responsibility where appropriate for assigned budgets.
* As a senior manager in the Council to work flexibly as required to meet Directorate and Corporate priorities.
* As a leader in the organisation with key people management responsibilities to undertake duties in relation to people management policies.
* To promote the ambitions and values of the Council with staff.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
* To manage the Council’s Housing Options Service offering a housing options service to people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or in housing need.
* To ensure that the Housing Options Service operates in accordance with all relevant homelessness, housing and other legislation.
* To take a lead role on strategic development and delivery relating to homelessness including the city’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.
* To take a lead role on representing the Council at a range of external meetings and events.
* To seek out best practice on all issues relating to the delivery of a Housing Options service.
* To lead on the Housing Options Service contribution to tackling rough sleeping, begging and other street based activity.
* To take a lead role on managing the Council’s temporary accommodation duties.
* To take a lead role on safeguarding priorities relating to homelessness and housing.
* To take a lead role for managing the Paralegal service.
* To take a lead role for managing the statutory review function.
* To deputise for the Housing Options and Gypsy Traveller Manager on all service matters relating to Gypsy and Travellers.
EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION
In order to fulfil the standard requirements of the post, post holders must meet the following requirements. Candidates for selection for the post will only be short listed for interview if they can demonstrate in their application that they meet these requirements.
SKILLS
* Ability to provide visible and effective leadership which empowers, enables and develops staff to achieve results.
* Ability to identify and implement change programmes, improve service quality and support a culture that drives up standards and performance.
* Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences at all levels, including presenting high level information and reports on complex issues in an appropriate way.
* Ability to lead the development of appropriate systems and procedures to enable effective data capture and analysis to inform service delivery.
* Ability to think creatively and to solve problems in a constructive way.
* Ability to manage complex programmes and projects and lead project teams.
* Ability to work to strict deadlines with conflicting priorities and to manage personal work and time effectively.
* Ability to access and interpret local/national strategy and communicate this quickly and effectively to all interested parties.
* Ability to make a contribution to the strategic direction of the Directorate, Division and services/functions.
KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS
* Understanding of appraisal and evaluation techniques.
* Understanding of change management principles.
* Working knowledge of programme and project management principles and best practice.
* Significant knowledge of managing a Housing Options service.
* Significant knowledge of issues relation to homelessness including the prevention of homelessness.
* Significant understanding of homelessness, housing and other relevant law.
* Understanding of wider housing priorities, services and systems and the Housing Options Service contributes to them.
* An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Directorate and other key agencies and stakeholders in the city.
* A detailed knowledge of key strategic plans including the Vision for Leeds and City Priority Plans and the Council’s planning framework.
* A working knowledge of the Council’s Values and Leadership and Management standards.
* Knowledge of Governance requirements and the Council’s policies and procedures that would apply to the Division and the wider Directorate.
* Knowledge of the Council’s decision-making processes.
EXPERIENCE
* Of working effectively with internal and external partners to lead strategic partnerships and programmes and deliver cross sector or cross service projects to achieve positive outcomes.
* Of communicating appropriately with a wide range of people, through a variety of different methods and gaining the commitment of a range of stakeholders/influencing views and behaviour to meet set objectives.
* Of developing services to meet continuously changing needs.
* Of managing the effective deployment and support of human resources.
* Of leading, coaching and motivating teams and individuals.
* Of managing in a political environment and working on politically sensitive issues.
* Of managing and controlling significant budgets and achieving budgetary targets.
* Of driving service improvement through the provision of advice, support and challenge.
* Of interpreting and analysing complex information and data.
* Of conducting Equality Impact Assessments.
* Of delivering effective consultation to support service design, delivery and evaluation.
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
* Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
* Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
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