Housing Advice and Options Manager in Kettering

6 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To lead and manage the Housing Advice and Options Service, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality homelessness prevention, assessment and housing advice service that reduces homelessness and minimises the use of temporary accommodation.

The postholder will be responsible for the strategic development, operational management and performance of the service, ensuring statutory homelessness duties are met in accordance with legislation, case law and best practice. The role will drive partnership working, service improvement and homelessness prevention initiatives, whilst providing expert advice to senior leaders and elected members on housing options and homelessness matters.

Key Responsibilities

Service Management & Leadership

• Lead and manage the Housing Advice and Options Service.
  
• Provide leadership and direction to:
  • 5 Team Leaders
    
  • 1 Senior Landlord Liaison Officer
    
  • 1 Reviews Officer
    
• Ensure the service delivers high-quality housing advice and homelessness prevention outcomes.
  
• Monitor service performance and ensure compliance with statutory duties.
  
• Motivate, mentor and develop staff to achieve high standards of service delivery.
  
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and customer-focused practice.
  

Homelessness Prevention & Housing Options

• Ensure the Council fulfils its statutory responsibilities under homelessness legislation.
  
• Oversee homelessness assessments, prevention and relief duties.
  
• Ensure robust and timely triage of homelessness applications.
  
• Promote upstream prevention activities to prevent homelessness at the earliest opportunity.
  
• Support customers to access settled housing solutions and reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
  
• Ensure customers receive accurate housing advice based on their housing circumstances, eligibility and housing options.
  

Strategy, Policy & Service Development

• Lead the development and implementation of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.
  
• Develop and review housing advice, homelessness and related service policies.
  
• Ensure policies and procedures remain compliant with legislation and best practice.
  
• Contribute to wider directorate and corporate transformation programmes.
  
• Develop innovative approaches to homelessness prevention and housing solutions.
  

Performance & Quality Assurance

• Manage service performance, outcomes and KPI delivery.
  
• Monitor homelessness trends and identify service improvement opportunities.
  
• Oversee data collection, reporting and performance management frameworks.
  
• Prepare reports and presentations for senior managers, leadership teams and elected members.
  
• Ensure effective quality assurance and compliance processes are in place.
  

Partnership Working

• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with:
  • Housing Providers
    
  • Support Services
    
  • Voluntary Sector Organisations
    
  • Health Services
    
  • Adult Social Care
    
  • Children's Services
    
  • Statutory Agencies
    
• Lead multi-agency approaches to homelessness prevention and housing support.
  
• Ensure service level agreements, protocols and data-sharing arrangements are maintained and effective.
  

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage service budgets and monitor expenditure.
  
• Forecast financial pressures and implement corrective action where required.
  
• Ensure value for money in service delivery and procurement activities.
  
• Support funding applications, grant bids and associated projects.
  
• Monitor commissioned services and partnership arrangements.
  

Governance & Strategic Advice

• Provide specialist advice to:
  • Head of Housing Solutions
    
  • Assistant Director
    
  • Corporate Leadership Team
    
  • Councillors
    
• Support strategic decision-making relating to homelessness and housing services.
  
• Prepare committee reports and briefing papers.
  
• Represent the service at meetings and governance forums.
  

Requirements

Essential

• Degree-level qualification, relevant housing qualification or equivalent experience.
  
• Detailed knowledge of:
  • Housing Act 1996
    
  • Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
    
  • Homelessness Legislation
    
  • Housing Allocations
    
  • Relevant Case Law and Statutory Guidance
    
• Significant experience managing housing advice, homelessness or housing options services.
  
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
  
• Experience managing budgets and financial resources.
  
• Experience developing housing policies, strategies and service improvement initiatives.
  
• Experience working with vulnerable individuals, families and homeless households.
  
• Strong understanding of homelessness prevention and housing solutions.
  
• Experience working effectively within political and financial constraints.
  
• Excellent partnership working and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Strong analytical, decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Experience producing reports and presentations for senior stakeholders.
  
• Ability to think strategically and deliver operational outcomes.
  

Desirable

• Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Membership.
  
• CIH qualification.
  
• Experience leading homelessness transformation programmes.
  
• Experience managing grant-funded projects and funding bids.
  
• Experience within a senior local authority housing management role.
  

Additional Information

• Location: Kettering and/or Corby, North Northamptonshire
  
• Hours Per Week: 35 Hours
  
• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments