At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape homelessness services, ensuring quality and compliance while supporting vulnerable residents.
- Company: Westminster City Council, committed to social justice and community support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Other info: Join a diverse team dedicated to creating a fairer Westminster.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and lead a purpose-driven team.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership experience in homelessness services and a passion for community support.
The predicted salary is between 79005 - 98472 £ per year.
Salary range: £79,005 - £98,472 per annum. Salary negotiable depending upon experience.
Work location: Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, Westminster, SW1E 6QP.
Hours per week: 36.
Contract type: Permanent.
Closing date: 31 May 2026.
Interview date: June 2026.
About Us
Housing Needs in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. For leaders like Marleen, leadership is felt most clearly through the people they support and the service they help shape.
The Role
As Head of Services for Homelessness and Reviews, you can make a powerful contribution. Westminster City Council's vision is to build a Fairer Westminster – a city that supports and celebrates its communities through social justice, effective leadership and high‐quality services. We have created a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which you will deliver on a day‐to‐day basis.
This is your opportunity to take senior leadership responsibility for one of the Council's most critical statutory services. We are currently facing unprecedented demand and complexity. You will lead Westminster's statutory homelessness functions, reviews and complaints service. This will entail taking accountability for service quality, legal compliance and resident experience.
You will oversee our significant frontline service. This includes managers and teams who are responsible for statutory homelessness decisions, prevention and relief activities. They also work on statutory and non‐statutory homelessness reviews, enquiries and complaints. You will join a team that places great value on this purpose‐led work and offers meaningful support to some of our most vulnerable residents. We strive to have a resident‐centred practice that learns from cases, data and feedback. You will have a direct impact on how homelessness decisions are made, reviewed and improved.
You will work in a highly visible and politically attuned environment, where you'll support teams to manage challenges, respond to complaints and reviews, and use learning to strengthen decision‐making and service quality over time. As this is a leadership position, we ask that you bring confidence and a visible presence to the office and across the frontline.
It's key that you collaborate with Delivery Leads, other Heads of Service and senior leaders to ensure a joined‐up approach. You'll ensure that work is safe, compliant and cost‐effective. Across the Council, you will promote high performance, strategic thinking and innovation so that we can be our most effective at improving housing outcomes and preventing homelessness.
This is a role where your leadership skills, values and impact all come together. Your influence will be felt every day across the service and the wider organisation.
About You
You'll bring strong leadership and professional expertise in statutory homelessness and customer experience to this role. You have built this through working at a senior strategic level within a local authority, government organisation or voluntary sector body focused on homelessness, where you've held accountability for lawful decision‐making, service quality and resident outcomes.
You have a proven track record of leading complex, demand‐led services, ensuring decisions are fair, consistent and defensible, even in highly pressured and politically sensitive environments. You're comfortable taking responsibility for services that operate under scrutiny and understand the importance of getting decisions right the first time.
As a leader, you've successfully developed and supported multidisciplinary managers and frontline teams delivering homelessness services. You create a culture of professional judgement and accountability across the service.
You bring confidence in working with a wide range of stakeholders, including elected Members, senior leaders, legal colleagues and external partners. When issues arise, you're able to respond with empathy, clarity and sound reasoning, supported by strong written and verbal communication skills.
You have an excellent understanding of local government and its political context, alongside strong knowledge of homelessness legislation, policy and equalities practice. You're able to balance statutory compliance with resident‐centred service delivery, ensuring services remain both compassionate and robust.
As this role carries financial responsibility, you'll have experience managing budgets and resources effectively, using performance data, learning from complaints and reviews and service insight to drive improvement and sustainability.
We welcome information about any qualifications you hold, though these are not essential.
What We Offer
Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three‐quarters‐of‐a‐million people work in Westminster.
Westminster City Council is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision‐making and help to determine the city's future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.
At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is Our Westminster Way.
As a forward‐thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.
The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.
We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
Head of Service - Homelessness and Reviews WCC624175 in London employer: CIH International Housing Group
Westminster City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where every employee is empowered to lead and make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable residents. With a strong commitment to professional development, flexible working arrangements, and a focus on diversity and inclusion, staff are encouraged to grow their careers while contributing to a fairer Westminster. Located in the heart of London, employees benefit from a vibrant community and the opportunity to engage directly with diverse populations, making their work both rewarding and impactful.
Contact Details:
CIH International Housing Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Homelessness and Reviews WCC624175 in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend events, and connect with others on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who truly cares about the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable answering common questions and discussing your experiences. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A simple thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and show your enthusiasm for the position. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service - Homelessness and Reviews WCC624175 in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff:Before you start writing, make sure you understand the role inside out. Familiarise yourself with the job description and think about how your experience aligns with what they're looking for. This will help you tailor your application to show you're the perfect fit!
Be Personal and Authentic:When writing your application, let your personality shine through! Use a conversational tone and share your unique experiences that relate to the role. We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to express your passion for homelessness services and leadership.
Showcase Your Achievements:Highlight specific examples of your past successes in similar roles. Whether it’s leading a team or implementing a new strategy, make sure to quantify your achievements where possible. Numbers and results speak volumes and can set you apart from other candidates!
Check, Check, and Check Again:Before hitting that submit button, give your application a thorough proofread. Typos and errors can create a negative impression, so take the time to ensure everything is polished. And remember, applying through our website is the best way to get your application in front of us!
How to prepare for a job interview at CIH International Housing Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of homelessness legislation and the specific challenges faced by Westminster City Council. Brush up on recent policies and strategies, especially the new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, so you can discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership style and how you've developed teams in previous roles. Think about times when you've empowered others or navigated complex situations, as this will resonate well with the council's focus on person-centred solutions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your decision-making skills under pressure. Practice articulating your thought process and how you would handle sensitive situations, ensuring you demonstrate empathy and sound judgement.
✨Engage with Their Vision
Familiarise yourself with Westminster City Council's vision of building a Fairer Westminster. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to this vision and improve housing outcomes, showing that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely invested in their mission.
