At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve supported housing services, ensuring quality and positive outcomes for residents.
- Company: Purpose-led organisation focused on homelessness and community support.
- Benefits: Opportunity to influence change and develop new services in a growing organisation.
- Other info: Exciting growth phase with opportunities for professional development and impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.
- Qualifications: Experience in supported housing, strong leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
We are recruiting on behalf of a growing, purpose-led organisation operating within the supported housing and homelessness sector. They work in partnership with established community organisations to provide accommodation and support to people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Supported Housing to take a lead role in the operational performance, quality and growth of a developing Housing & Support function.
The Role: Reporting to senior leadership, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a large supported housing portfolio, ensuring services are financially sustainable, compliant, high quality and focused on positive outcomes for residents. A key priority will be leading the mobilisation and expansion of a new Supported Exempt Rent service, using trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches to help strengthen the organisation's homelessness prevention pathway. You will also play a significant role in developing commissioner relationships, improving service performance and embedding a strong culture of safeguarding, resident involvement and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities of a Head of Supported Housing:
- Lead the day-to-day operational performance and continuous improvement of Supported Housing services.
- Oversee service budgets, income and expenditure, including Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
- Lead the mobilisation and growth of new Supported Exempt Rent services.
- Ensure robust safeguarding, risk management, complaints and resident feedback processes are embedded.
- Oversee support planning, risk management and contractual performance.
- Build strong relationships with local authorities, commissioners, delivery partners and community organisations.
- Lead and develop remote teams, creating a high-performing and collaborative culture.
- Champion trauma-informed, strengths-based and psychologically informed approaches.
- Develop opportunities for residents to access employment, education, community and recreational activities.
- Support the development of social impact measurement and reporting.
- Work closely with senior leaders to deliver strategic growth plans and identify new opportunities.
- Ensure services meet relevant housing, safeguarding, health & safety and regulatory requirements.
- Act as a subject matter expert on supported housing, homelessness and multiple disadvantage.
You will ideally have:
- Significant management experience within supported housing, homelessness or a related social care environment.
- Strong knowledge of housing legislation, regulation and good practice.
- Experience managing complex services, budgets and geographically dispersed teams.
- Good understanding of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and supported housing models.
- Strong safeguarding, risk and performance management knowledge.
- Experience working with local authorities, commissioners and external partners.
- A track record of improving service quality and outcomes.
- Experience of trauma-informed and/or strengths-based approaches.
- Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to manage challenging situations and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.
- Flexibility and willingness to travel regularly across the UK, particularly during periods of service mobilisation.
Why Join? This is an opportunity to join an organisation going through an exciting period of growth, where you will have genuine influence over the development of services and the organisation's wider homelessness strategy. You will have the opportunity to lead significant change, develop new supported housing provision and make a tangible difference to the lives of residents.
Head of Supported Housing in Luton employer: Niyaa People Ltd
Join a reputable organisation in Manchester that prioritises quality, safety, and compliance while offering a supportive work culture. As a Passive Fire Estimator, you will benefit from a permanent position with career progression opportunities, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive benefits package including healthcare and pension schemes. This role not only allows you to contribute to vital public sector projects but also fosters your professional growth in a collaborative environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Supported Housing in Luton
✨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 Niyaa People Ltd.
✨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 Niyaa People Ltd!
✨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 Niyaa People Ltd, 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 Niyaa People Ltd 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 Head of Supported Housing in Luton
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 Niyaa People Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Niyaa People Ltd! 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 Niyaa People Ltd
✨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.
