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- Tasks: Lead a team to support residents facing homelessness and develop effective housing solutions.
- Company: Winchester City Council, dedicated to community support and innovative housing solutions.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, generous leave, health cash plan, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership and problem-solving skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing support and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with excellent career growth and a positive work environment.
The predicted salary is between 47181 - 52413 £ per year.
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
- 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
If you would like to discuss this role further, please contact Tara Hourigan, Housing Options Manager on 01962 848189 or via email at thourigan@winchester.gov.uk.
Lead Officer for Housing Options and Outreach in Winchester employer: South East Employers
Contact Detail:
South East Employers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Officer for Housing Options and Outreach in Winchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Winchester City Council. Understanding their values and mission will help you connect your experience with what they’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on how your skills in customer service and problem-solving can directly benefit the Housing Options Team.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for helping others! During the interview, share specific examples of how you've supported individuals facing homelessness or similar challenges. This will demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a great way to keep your name fresh in their minds!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Officer for Housing Options and Outreach in Winchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with homelessness prevention and outreach. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of client interaction, it’s crucial to demonstrate your excellent communication abilities. Use examples in your application that show how you’ve effectively engaged with clients in the past, whether face-to-face or over the phone.
Highlight Leadership Experience: As a Lead Officer, you’ll be managing a team, so make sure to mention any leadership roles you’ve held. We’re looking for someone who can motivate and guide others, so share specific instances where you’ve successfully led a team or project.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at South East Employers
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Homelessness Reduction Act and any relevant housing policies. Brush up on your knowledge about the local housing landscape in Winchester, as this will show your commitment and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams or projects. Think about times when you motivated others or resolved conflicts, as these stories will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Practice Your Communication
Since the role involves a lot of client interaction, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and empathetically. Role-play common scenarios you might face, such as engaging with clients at risk of homelessness, to demonstrate your customer service skills.
✨Be Ready for Multi-Agency Collaboration
Expect questions about working with various agencies. Prepare to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past, and think about strategies you would use to influence outcomes positively in multi-agency meetings.