About the role
West Northamptonshire Council is a new unitary authority formed in April 2021. It is an exciting time for the Communities and Opportunities Directorate with the Housing Solutions Service currently undergoing a major transformation programme to re-model and aggregate the separate housing solutions services from the pre-unitary legacy councils and work underway to develop new housing and homelessness policies and strategies for the new council.
We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, energetic and experienced housing professional with a track record of improving services and the skills to work effectively with partners, customers and elected members for this new role within our Communities and Opportunities Directorate management team. The Directorate provides synergies between housing, homelessness, community safety, regeneration, economic growth, libraries and community hubs. The Directorate also works closely with our colleagues in Public Health to reduce health inequalities.
This key role will be responsible for leading and shaping our new Housing Solutions service and team which includes housing allocations, homelessness and rough sleeping services. You will provide leadership and direction to the service and develop an organisational culture which is positive, performance-driven and customer-focused and in which staff are valued, empowered, trusted and encouraged to embrace change and innovation. You will also have excellent working knowledge and understanding of the implications of local government issues, legislation and statutory obligations, which affect the housing solutions service.
For more information:
If you’d like to find out more about this exciting position, please click here to view the full job description and apply.
If you would like to have an informal chat about the role, please feel free to contact Jo Barrett, Assistant Director for Housing & Communities: joanne.barrett@westnorthants.gov.uk
What will you be doing?
- Leading the development and delivery of the Council’s Housing Solutions Service to deliver best in class approaches to the management of homeless prevention, housing allocations, homelessness assessment, effective management of temporary accommodation and single homelessness and rough sleeping outreach and resettlement.
- Developing and driving the Council’s Ending Rough Sleeping Plan, Temporary Accommodation Reduction Plan, Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy and Allocation Scheme.
- Developing close relationships with external stakeholders including DLUHC, Homeless Link, the Council’s ALMO, Registered Providers, private sector landlords and local community & voluntary organisations to ensure the council is effectively preventing and reducing homelessness, increasing access to private rented housing for households on lower incomes and maximising opportunities to attract external funding to the area
About you
You'll need:
- Deep knowledge and understanding of legislation, policy, procedures and practices in housing allocations, homelessness and rough sleeping.
- Proven track record of delivering complex change projects that deliver real service improvement and cost reduction.
- Strategic knowledge and understanding of the commissioning environment and contract management.
- Proven track record of developing and leading collaborative partnerships with stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary and community sectors
- Experience of managing and developing staff as well as managing complex budgets
- Ability to develop coherent strategies and programmes of work, including those involving external partners.
Our benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:
- Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
- Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
- Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
- Car Lease scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
- A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
- Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
- Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.
The council is in the process of implementing a new pay structure and terms and conditions which will be applicable to this role. The outcome could result in a future variation to the advertised salary, and this will be discussed at interview.
About us
We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.
Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.
At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.
Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.
West Northants Council, where careers thrive.
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