Housing Options Team Leader (Fixed-term)

What will you be doing?

You will provide support and leadership to a team of officers delivering advice and assistance to homeless households and those at risk of homelessness, ensuring the service is legally compliant, meets its targets, produces sustainable outcomes for customers, and minimises the use of temporary accommodation.

You will provide regular meetings with officers to discuss caseloads, set clear targets and expectations and support officers to deliver a high-quality service. You will address staffing issues, including performance concerns, promptly and in accordance with Council policies and procedures.

You will conduct statutory reviews of homelessness decisions, issuing legally compliant letters, referencing relevant guidance and case-law, and detailing the reasons for your decision.

About you

You are a high achiever who relishes a challenge.

You will be familiar and aware of local support agencies, health, and social services to ensure that we have sustainable and strong outcomes for families and vulnerable adults.

To meet the requirements of this challenging and exciting role, you will;

• Have in-depth knowledge of Part VI and Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), related codes of guidance, key caselaw; landlord and tenant law; and grounds for possession for rented and mortgaged property.
• Be able to understand, interpret and apply statutory legislation and related case-law, and explain it to a variety of audiences.
• Have excellent negotiating, advocacy, and casework skills.
• Have excellent time-management skills and be able to work in a fast-paced, demanding, front-line, people-focused service.

Please note – we are not accepting CVs. Please use your Supporting Statement to address the essential and desirable criteria in the attached Job Description & Person Specifications.

Want to know more or chat about our flexible and hybrid working? Please email our Homeless Reduction Manager – Andrew.Gunton@westnorthants.gov.uk

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.
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• 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
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• 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.

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. 

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU 

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.