At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to provide essential housing support and advice to residents in need.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Newham, dedicated to making a difference in the community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and a chance to impact lives positively.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of those facing homelessness in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing advice and strong leadership skills required.
The London Borough of Newham is looking for a Housing & Homelessness Support Team Leader to lead our frontline housing service. You'll be the operational lead across our face-to-face locations, managing a team of up to 12 officers and ensuring residents can access housing advice, make homelessness applications, and raise housing need enquiries — every day, in person, at the point of need.
This is a leadership role at the frontline: you'll set the standard for how the council shows up for residents facing some of the most difficult moments in their lives.
What you'll do
- Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of frontline teams responding to resident demand at our face-to-face locations across the borough.
- Lead on eligibility and homelessness decisions where the position is clear, ensuring residents get a prompt, accurate response.
- Ensure the service meets its statutory obligations under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017).
- Oversee HPAS administration, including invoice processing and delegating tasks such as file copies and basic reporting.
- Work closely with Temporary Accommodation colleagues — handling enquiries, advice, and support for residents in section 188 accommodation.
- Lead on Private Sector Housing advice, working with the Renters Rights Team where breaches are identified.
- Work proactively with the Solutions Team to ensure residents always have access to private rent options to negate homelessness or temporary accommodation.
- Balance early intervention with urgent need, keeping the service responsive without losing sight of prevention.
Where you'll work
You'll be based in the office five days a week, primarily our lead office in Stratford, while leading a team that also operates from the Stratford and Canning Town Housing Hubs. There may be some capacity to work from home up to 1 day a week in agreement with the Senior Manager Pathways where an appropriate solution can be implemented.
About you
You're an experienced housing advisor with detailed, practical knowledge of homelessness legislation and significant frontline experience in a high-demand environment. You're decisive, calm under pressure, and confident managing a team while still being hands-on with complex cases.
Why this role
Homelessness in Newham is driven by private sector evictions, overcrowding, and domestic abuse. This role sits at the point where residents meet the council in that moment — it's challenging, but it's also where you can make a direct, visible difference to thousands of lives.
If you're an experienced Housing Advisor (or similar) in a busy London local authority looking for your next step, this role offers real scope for progression. Interesting. Difficult. Fulfilling. Never boring.
Please note this may close early if we receive a high amount of applications.
Closing date: 31st August 2026
Additional Information
We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.
The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role. We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.
Housing and Homelessness Support Team Leader employer: Borough of Newham
Newham Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for Waste HGV Drivers. With competitive pay and flexible shift patterns, employees can enjoy a fulfilling career while contributing to the community's cleanliness and sustainability goals. The council prioritises employee growth and development, ensuring that staff have the opportunity to thrive in their roles and make a meaningful impact in the borough.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Housing and Homelessness Support Team Leader
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Borough of Newham.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Borough of Newham!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Borough of Newham, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Borough of Newham or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Housing and Homelessness Support Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Borough of Newham:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Borough of Newham! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Newham
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
