Interim Head of Homelessness Prevention & Assessment

My client, a southeast London local authority, seek an Interim Head of Homelessness Prevention and Assessment for an immediate start.

This is an exciting and busy role that is at the centre of the Councils response to homelessness. The service is developing and progressing our agenda to reduce the use of temporary accommodation and achieve more upstream prevention outcomes.

To effectively lead, develop, organise and control the Homelessness prevention & Assessment service including, but not limited to;- Housing Advice & Early intervention, homelessness prevention services, Homelessness Assessment, access to supported housing, rough sleeping, the Council’s homelessness statutory reviews function and the delivery of housing options services ensuring that complaints and case work is responded to in a timely manner.

About you

You have extensive knowledge and experience of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, working with vulnerable people, and experience of leading multi-disciplinary housing teams and work involving complex needs and diverse client groups and an expert knowledge of homelessness and associated legislation.

You are a dynamic leader driving continuous improvement to a first class, modern and flexible prevention focussed service to a wide range of residents.

You have extensive experience and consistent achievement at a senior management level in an organisation of comparable scope and complexity, working to continuously improve services for vulnerable people.

Extensive and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the national policy context affecting Housing Needs and Social Housing requirement and future direction of relevant service areas and able to demonstrate successful operation delivery in a Housing Service.

Your excellent interpersonal skills will mean that you are able to be supportive and motivating as you lead and inspire, empowering your teams and colleagues whilst being clear and firm about performance and service delivery.

You are an expert communicator who has extensive experience of developing excellent relationships with key partners. You take personal responsibility to obtain and maintain trust of a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, internal departments, external agencies, government departments.

You are a critical thinker with innovative and creative problem solving skills that achieve the strategic objectives of the council, while managing and minimising risk across the service and effectively implement a preventative ethos in the areas of housing, health and social care.

You have high personal integrity with a respect for the dignity and confidentiality of others. You will be committed to equal opportunities and understanding how the service needs to adapt to improve accessibility.

You are self-motivated, highly organised and analytical with an attention to detail, able to review budgets, data and identify trends and make appropriate decisions. It is desirable that you have a degree or equivalent qualifications. You have demonstrable work experience and can evidence continual professional development.

You can travel independently around the Borough to meet other professionals in community settings

Immediate start

Ongoing temp booking

Day rate £307.43 PAYE / £400 LTD UMB

Full time Mon to Fri 35 hours per week