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- Tasks: Lead the Housing Options team to prevent homelessness and provide essential housing advice.
- Company: Join Uttlesford District Council, a friendly council in the beautiful Saffron Walden area.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, discounts, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational management and service improvement is essential.
- Other info: We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities and care leavers.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Uttlesford District Council is a small rural district council, based in the market town of Saffron Walden in North Essex, recently voted as the best place to live in the UK. We’re ideally located just off the M11 with easy access to London and Cambridge and an international airport on our doorstep. Uttlesford borders South Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
We are seeking an experienced manager to lead the Housing Options team through a period of transformation. Providing operational leadership, this role will ensure the Council takes a customer-focused approach to meeting the statutory requirements of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant contribution to developing effective preventative homelessness services both locally and across wider Essex. Experience of operational management, transformation and service improvement is essential for this role.
Duties Include:
- Leading and co-ordinating the day-to-day operational business of the Housing Options team and its associated workload ensuring the council meets its statutory responsibilities in terms of homelessness prevention and decision making in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
- Ensuring that households approaching the council for housing advice or who are facing homelessness receive appropriate information and advice including welfare benefits advice, delivering a cost effective and customer focused service to its community.
- Undertaking day-to-day monitoring of workloads and management of the team.
- Managing the service to ensure that necessary enquiries and robust homelessness decisions are made in accordance with legislation and statutory guidance.
Uttlesford District Council is a family friendly Council. We encourage and support our employees to have a healthy work life balance as well as offering a range of benefits including generous annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rata), leisure centre discounts, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and an online platform offering discounts from online retailers.
For an informal discussion please contact Simone Russell on 01799 510403. To find out more and apply please visit https://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/jobs-careers. Closing date for completed applications is Friday 6 June 2025. It is intended that interviews will be held on 17/18 June 2025. CVs will not be accepted.
Uttlesford District Council is an inclusive employer and we welcome applications from all. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and proud to support our Care Leavers and the Armed Forces Covenant. Anyone disclosing a disability or is a Care leaver or is a member of the Armed Forces community (Veteran/Service leaver, Reserve Forces, or their Spouses/Partners or Cadet Force Adult Volunteer) whose application meets the essential criteria for the post will be guaranteed an interview.
Housing Options Manager employer: Uttlesford District Council
Contact Detail:
Uttlesford District Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing Options Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Understanding its key provisions and how they impact local councils will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the housing sector, especially those who have experience in operational management and service improvement. Engaging with them can provide insights into best practices and may even lead to valuable referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led teams through transformation. Highlighting your past experiences in managing change will show that you're capable of leading the Housing Options team effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Uttlesford District Council's current housing initiatives and challenges. Being knowledgeable about their specific context will allow you to tailor your responses during the interview and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing Options Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the key responsibilities and requirements for the Housing Options Manager position. Tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in operational management and service improvement.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a compelling cover letter that showcases your passion for housing services and your understanding of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Use specific examples from your past experience to demonstrate how you can lead the Housing Options team effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, focus on your previous roles that involved operational leadership, transformation, and customer-focused service delivery. Make sure to quantify your achievements where possible, such as improvements in service efficiency or customer satisfaction.
Follow Application Instructions: Ensure you follow the application instructions precisely. Remember that CVs will not be accepted, so make sure to submit all required documents through the specified application process on the Uttlesford District Council website.
How to prepare for a job interview at Uttlesford District Council
✨Understand the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and its implications for local councils. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure compliance and implement effective strategies to meet statutory requirements.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Housing Options Manager, you'll need to lead a team through transformation. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed teams, improved services, or driven change in a similar context.
✨Emphasise Customer-Focused Approaches
Uttlesford District Council values a customer-focused approach. Think about how you can demonstrate your commitment to providing excellent service to those facing homelessness and how you would ensure your team does the same.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think through potential challenges you might face in this role and how you would address them effectively.
