Head of Homelessness & Allocations

 

Job Description

 

 

Job title: Head of Homelessness and Allocations	Service Area/Division: Housing Needs & Homelessness
Directorate: Housing	Post Number From Oracle	Evaluation Number
Grade: CSRB	Date issued: November 2023
Croydon Council’s priorities   We will live within our means, balance the books and provide value for money for our residents.    We will focus on tackling ingrained inequality and poverty in the borough. We will follow the evidence to tackle the underlying causes of inequality and hardship, like structural racism, environmental injustice and economic injustice.   We will focus on providing the best quality core service we can afford. First and foremost, providing social care services that keep our most vulnerable residents safe and healthy and keep our streets clean and safe.   To ensure we get full benefit from every pound we spend, other services will only be provided where they can be shown to have a direct benefit in keeping people safe and reducing demand.
Croydon Council’s new ways of working We will practice sound financial management, being honest about what we’ve spent and what we can afford.   We will focus on what we, uniquely, can do as the local authority as the democratically elected leaders of our borough. This means we will focus on our core services, and a small number of evidence-based outcomes that deliver our priorities. But we will also continue to use our democratic mandate to convene our partners around a common purpose and to make a clear case for a better deal for Croydon.   We will aim to become a much more transparent, open and honest council.   We will involve residents in our decision making. But we will also need to be clear with residents about what we can do, and what we can’t. When we have to say no, we will do so with compassion and take the time to explain our decisions.

Job Purpose:

 

As a member of the extended management team, the Head of Homelessness and Assessments will work collaboratively across their department and with other Heads of Service and directors to ensure the effective and efficient development and delivery of council services that support departmental and council objectives.

 

As required, the postholder will participate in corporate management activities that cross over service or departmental boundaries.

 

The Head of Homelessness and Assessments will undertake the role of being the strategic lead in the service area including associated policies and procedures.

 

Reports to: Director of Homelessness Prevention & Accommodation

 

Responsible for: To be the professional lead for all aspects of homelessness and housing register assessments, rough sleeping and allocation of social housing which includes:

• Homelessness assessment (triage, prevention and relief service)
• Single Homeless Service
• Tackling rough sleeping
• Reviews
• Housing register assessment
• Allocation of social housing

 

The post holder is responsible for a service budget of £ XXm and will deliver services and the associated savings programme and transformation projects within that budget envelope.

 

Corporate Accountabilities (all Heads of Service)

 

To take a “one Council” approach to deliver more effective outcomes and at all times avoid a siloed, single division or service area approach.

 

To actively seek out and learn from external good practice and bring those new ideas and ways of working into service development and delivery.

 

To contribute and lead as required as a project owner on the delivery and implementation of specific corporate projects as required.

 

To actively role model the council’s priorities and ways of working and the council’s leadership framework and values.

 

To lead, manage and develop staff teams and ensure compliance with the council’s performance management system and all HR policies and procedures

 

Be accountable for associated budget and have affordable plans in place to deliver the annual budget and Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

Provide assurance that the services are compliant and performance monitoring is part of the corporate rhythm, and exceptions have robust action plans.

 

To operate within the governance, financial and legal frameworks of the Council at all times.

 

Ensure equalities is embedded into all aspects of professional and managerial roles, including service delivery and at all times carry out your duties with regard to the Council policy.

 

Ensure by robust management that the services and staff you are responsible for adhere to the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and operate within the safety management frameworks.

 

To ensure the effective management of data and security of information received and used within the division, to comply with the relevant legislation such as GDPR and the Freedom of Information Act, recognising that the council wishes to operate in the most open and transparent way.

 

Participate in cross organisational risk management and emergency planning activities as required

 

Service Accountabilities:

 

To work jointly with the director of Director of Homelessness Prevention & Accommodation and other heads of service within the division to ensure the development and transformation of services that meet the new budget envelope in the medium-term financial strategy is delivered.

 

As the professional lead for homelessness and housing register assessment as well as allocation of social housing, to deliver a high quality new integrated housing service which is respectful and responsive to our tenants and leaseholders, managing all residential lettings regardless of tenure and funding base (HRA or GF).

 

To lead on temporary accommodation strategy, looking at ways to reduce TA and increase prevention. Oversee quality of TA/EA provision in conjunction with private sector housing team

 

 

To lead and work collaboratively with other council services, partners and residents on service development and improvements to ensure delivery of housing targets.

 

To ensure that council meets its statutory obligations to homeless households, including prevention.

Putting in place performance measures to review periodically the impact of new duties on clients, and services, analyse trends and plan for sustainable service delivery at the highest standard; and ensure that housing assessments are conducted in line with the legislation and are in compliance with Council Policy and all internal and external standards.

Providing strategic direction to the planning and implementation of service delivery within a complex and high-risk service area.

Leading on Rough Sleeping strategies and pathways to ensure statutory obligations are discharged.

Leading all aspects of single homelessness work.

Instil a culture of customer service and “can-do” attitude across teams

Providing direction and management to Homelessness and Housing Register Teams, to plan, develop and deliver our statutory duties in line with legislation, Council Policy and priorities.

The list of duties in the role profile should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with your job and, in addition, as a term of your employment you may be required to undertake various other duties as may reasonably be required.

 

Ensure the safe, effective and efficient delivery of the homelessness prevention grant.

 

Work closely with other directorates on homelessness prevention and safeguarding issues.

Your duties will be as set out in the above role profile but please note that the Council reserves the right to update your role profile, from time to time, to reflect changes in, or to, your job.

 

You will be consulted about any proposed changes.

 

 

Key Stakeholder Relationships:

 

Internal:

Members; Chief Officers; Directors; Heads of Service; other teams and senior departmental colleagues across the whole council; trade unions

 

External:

Local, regional and national government bodies, agencies and NGOs; professional bodies; other local authorities; partner organisations; statutory bodies; members of the public and community groups; national and local press; trade unions; contractors and suppliers; MPs and MEPs; GLA/London Mayor’s office; courts; legal and other representatives; the Housing and Local Government Ombudsman.

 

 

Political Restrictions:

 

This post is politically restricted and under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the post holder may not have any active political role either in or outside the work. Will only apply to HOS whose duties also involve giving advice to committees, sub-committees or to the Executive or speak on behalf of the Council to journalists e.g. Head of Scrutiny, Head of Communications, deputy monitoring and S151 officers

 

 

Statutory Responsibilities:

 

This role has no assigned statutory responsibilities.

 

 

Other Considerations:

 

You may, from time to time, be required to work outside of regular office hours including weekends and evenings to attend meetings and community events.

 

Delegated Authority:

 

In relation to the portfolio area of responsibility:

• to exercise decisions and discretion in authorising action in accordance with the Council’s policies, procedures and scheme of delegation
• to exercise decisions on strategic issues involving legal, technical, social, economic, policy, cultural and other matters of priority
• to exercise decisions on service development and improvements in order to deliver long-term, community based sustainable solutions

 

In relation to Housing Needs & Homeless Service as a whole undertake the above decision making in collaboration with the portfolio Head of Service and/or the Director/Executive Director/CE in order to provide cover as and when needed

 

Person Specification

 

Specific Minimum Qualifications and Expertise

 

Qualifications:

• None

 

Experience:

 

• Proven ability to lead a strategic team at a similar level through customer services and leadership capability
• A successful track record and background of consistent achievement at senior management level in a local authority or large complex organisation.
• Experience of establishing and implementing business planning processes and performance management systems to ensure appropriate and cost effective service delivery.
• Demonstrable excellence in team management and service delivery in relation to the provision of customer orientated services that achieve successful outcomes.
• Experience of working in partnership with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders / bodies including statutory bodies and organisations

• Demonstrable track record of successful achievement in the areas of the following:

• Homelessness prevention
• housing options
• housing register and allocations
• housing mobility

 

Knowledge and Skills:   

 

• An up to date knowledge of relevant national, regional and local policy in order to develop strategies and plans
• A good knowledge of the legal, policy and financial framework within which homelessness, housing options and allocation operate.
• High level of communication skills to persuade and engage audiences

and form positive relationships at all levels (internally and externally).

• Knowledge of close working with Cabinet Members and senior managers
• Ability to work in a collaborative way to transform service delivery including the ability to manage internal departmental relationships
• An acute understanding and knowledge of financial and budget management including probity, commissioning, delegations, forecasting and management accounts.
• An acute understanding and knowledge of housing and related issues on a local, regional and national basis
• Evidence of being a strong corporate player who will lead, motivate and inspire their teams and build a high performing culture.
• Ability to work effectively across a range of service disciplines and with a range of people.
• Commitment to the Council's core value and objectives

 

 

Corporate Values

 

Our values are the base of every job role within Croydon – our values are fundamental in everything we do as a Local Authority. You are required to demonstrate a commitment to our corporate values and this will be assessed using the criteria below:

 

One Team: To cross boundaries to work together towards shared goals with colleagues, partners and communities

You are strategically innovative in your approach to building and maintaining partnerships and you and your teams act in a joint enterprise with them. You use your contacts and colleagues to bring teams together.   Proud to Serve: We strive to always do our best for the community, getting the most from limited resources and using taxpayers’ money wisely

• You are proud to be part of the wider Croydon and the contribution you and your teams make to it. You make a difference to people’s lives through engagement and you strive to get the best possible value for money for customers.

 

Honest and Open: We work hard to build trust by treating everyone with honesty and integrity

• You think through who needs to understand what during communication; and take care to communicate detail clearly. You take people’s views into account continuously. You trust people, colleagues and staff, to do their best and deal with any issues positively.

 

Taking Responsibility: We encourage and support each other to take responsibility and show what we can do, learning together and recognising each other’s contributions

• You are clear where formal accountability lies and where we can all take responsibility for results. You praise your colleagues for their efforts and ideas and thank them for their contributions.

 

Valuing Diversity: We make the most of the many perspectives that make Croydon distinctive

• You treat all staff and customers with equal value and respect. In everything you do, you make good use of the wide variety of background, skills and perspective your teams, the Council and the community demonstrate.

 

Updated: November 2023