At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support residents facing homelessness and implement effective housing solutions.
- Company: Join a dedicated team making a real difference in the community.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, generous leave, health cash plan, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career growth and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Be a change-maker in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience with the Homelessness Reduction Act and strong leadership abilities.
The predicted salary is between 47181 - 52413 € per year.
Lead Officer for Housing Options and Outreach
Salary: £47,181.00 to £52,413.00
Contract Type: Permanent/Full Time
Closing date: Tuesday 5th May 2026
Interview date: 21st/22nd May 2026
Could you support positive change in people's lives? Do you have experience implementing the Homeless Reduction Act 2017 and leading a team of front-line Housing Options and Outreach Officers or have the transferable skills to undertake this?
We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and resilient person to join the Housing Options Team as the Lead Officer for Housing Options and Outreach team. The role will predominantly focus on supporting our residents who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
This role will challenge you every day to use your excellent customer service, problem-solving and leadership skills within a supportive and motivated team and wider service.
If you can:
- Help to motivate and guide the team to manage homeless approaches and exit plans for support and accommodation.
- Communicate effectively with clients, face to face and over the phone to maximise engagement and positive housing and support outcomes.
- Work with a varied workload and be able to juggle ever changing priorities as demand requires.
- Represent Strategic Housing at multi-agency meetings, leading discussions, influencing outcomes, and constructively challenging partners to support residents.
- Work in partnership with relevant agencies to ensure that we offer holistic support for clients to access and maintain accommodation.
- Have experience in working with the Homelessness Reduction Act and proactively work to prevent and relieve homelessness including full housing needs assessments and personalised housing plans.
- Undertake management responsibilities for 5 Housing options officers and 1 Outreach worker.
- Assist in the delivery of and development of homelessness prevention pathways, homeless forum and the prevention of homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.
- Assist in the delivery of the Renters Rights Act and the Supported Housing reform programme.
- Oversee the role of the council's outreach worker, ensuring that any person experiencing rough sleeping is supported to ensure this is rare, brief and non-recurrent and lead on the delivery of SWEP.
- Work closely with the Temporary Accommodation team to reduce reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation.
In return, we offer an excellent package of benefits including:
- Hybrid-working (50% in the office, 50% at home – after first 3 weeks in office)
- Employer paid health cash plan
- Salary sacrifice scheme for cars and bikes
- 26 days annual leave per year rising to 33 days - dependent on length of service
- 13 days additional flexi leave per year (subject to operational requirements)
- Option to buy up to 5 days additional annual leave
- Free parking (during work hours) at any Winchester Park and Ride
- Membership to the Local Government Pension Scheme
- Discounts at a range of major high street brands and the two leisure centres in the district
- Season Ticket loans
- Excellent working environment
- Support for continuous professional development
Are you as passionate about housing as we are? Please read the job description and person specification and apply now!
Homelessness Lead Officer in Southampton employer: Ecruit
As a Lead Officer for Housing Options and Outreach, you will join a dedicated team committed to making a positive impact on the lives of residents facing homelessness. Our organisation fosters a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being, offering hybrid working options, generous leave entitlements, and continuous professional development opportunities. Located in Winchester, we provide an excellent working environment with additional perks such as free parking and discounts at local businesses, making us an outstanding employer for those passionate about housing and community support.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Homelessness Lead Officer in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the housing sector, attend relevant events, and connect with professionals 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 those interviews! Research the organisation and its values, especially around homelessness and housing options. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs and be ready to share specific examples of your problem-solving and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, let your enthusiasm for making a difference in people's lives shine through. Share your vision for supporting residents and how you can contribute to positive change.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and making an impact in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Homelessness Lead Officer in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let us see your enthusiasm for tackling homelessness! Share personal experiences or insights that highlight why this role matters to you and how you can make a difference.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Highlight Relevant Experience:If you've worked with the Homelessness Reduction Act or led teams before, shout about it! Use examples that demonstrate your leadership and problem-solving skills in similar situations.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Make your application easy to read by using bullet points and clear headings. This helps us quickly see why you're the right fit for the Lead Officer role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ecruit
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented it in past roles or how your skills can transfer to this position. Showing that you understand the legal framework will demonstrate your commitment and expertise.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team, especially in challenging situations. Think about times when you motivated your team or resolved conflicts. This role requires strong leadership, so be ready to highlight your experience managing people effectively.
✨Engagement is Key
Since communication with clients is crucial, think of specific instances where you maximised engagement with difficult clients. Prepare to discuss your approach to building rapport and trust, as well as how you handle sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism.
✨Be Ready for Multi-Agency Collaboration
This role involves working with various agencies, so come prepared with examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Discuss any multi-agency meetings you've led or participated in, and how you influenced outcomes for the benefit of clients.
