Home Adaptations Team Manager in Southampton

About The Home Adaptations Service

We have an exciting opportunity to expand our delivery of adaptations in Southampton and join the Council’s newly formed Home Adaptation Service. The role of Home Adaptation Team Manager is to be a pro‑active, enthusiastic, self‑motivated and solution‑focused person to lead the service. The primary role is to make a real difference to people’s lives. The Team Manager’s role will be to help direct, lead and manage all services, across all tenures relating to Adaptations in Southampton and help provide a multi‑agency, strengths‑based approach to work undertaken through statutory support and the services provided.

The Team Manager will take a lead role in developing the interface across internal and external agencies to provide an approach that maximises independence and provides quality access to adaptations and related services. This role will ensure the team have the right conversations, have access to the best information and knowledge of what is available in communities and provides high‑quality information, advice, and guidance to disabled residents.

This is an excellent time to join our team as we continue to innovate and develop our Home Adaptation Service as part of a wider transformation programme of expansion and promotion and provide a more robust foundation from which we can expand the reach of the service whilst also seeking more innovative, preventative and personalised applications from the available funding.

The Home Adaptations Team Manager will help lead the Home Adaptation Service in a range of duties primarily relating to the delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants and the Council’s new Discretionary Assistance Policy including the new SCC Social Housing Adaptations Policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a full administrative service to deliver the Disabled Facilities Grant and the Council’s Discretionary Housing Programme in its entirety, ensuring the service is appropriate for individual needs and that relevant support is offered to customers by Grant Law.
• Lead on all enquiries and referrals from customers or professional contacts, ensuring that the Occupational Therapist (OTs) and that the Home Adaptation Team referral is acceptable and be responsible for liaison with all relevant internal and external organisations.
• Lead the management of customer expectations and work in partnership with the Housing OT service, housing surveyors and outsourced contractors for all building works, and administer the team’s cases effectively.
• Demonstrate strong and motivational leadership to ensure all staff are informed and understand their roles, creating an environment where staff can excel and are committed to providing high standards to the public as the first point of contact.
• Work closely with wider Council teams including Finance, Adult Social Care, Procurement, I.T. and external partners as required such as the Better Care Board.
• Help manage delegated budgets, financial and performance monitoring, and relevant reporting, including setting targets for staff.
• Report accordingly on performance to Home Adaptations Service Manager and Senior Management.
• Lead and manage the team, undertaking regular 1:1s and appraisals and support training and team development to help drive change including Diversity, Inclusion and Equalities.
• Prepare briefing/cabinet papers working with the Home Adaptation Service Manager and relevant reports for Head of Housing Needs and Support, Executive Directors and Council Members, and also attend internal and external management meetings as required.

About The Team

Our Home Adaptation Service supports both children and adult residents of Southampton who require an adaptation in their home to help access essential facilities and to maximise independence. We complete home visits across the city and make recommendations for:

• Major and minor adaptations funded via the Disabled Facilities Grant/ Discretionary Financial Assistance Policy
• Adaptations delivered through Southampton City Council Housing Revenue Account
• Specialist equipment and other minor works when required

You will be part of a supportive, collaborative team with strong links across housing, health and social care services.

About The Role

Manage the Home Adaptations Service overall casework with the support of the Senior Caseworkers and Principal Officers and develop tailored support and action plans for an applicant’s requesting adaptations from initial referral to the installation and completion of an adaptation. Support the Team in the overall delivery of adaptations and the team’s preparation of specifications and appropriate plans, write reports and submissions to the Home Adaptations Board and oversee contractor delivery ensuring grant conditions are met.

Ability to analyse data and produce reports to improve service delivery. Work closely with a range of internal and external partners, including:

• Home Adaptation Team including Triage officers, Caseworkers, Senior Technical Officers, Technical Officers and Southampton’s Principal Officers.
• Adult Social Care and Housing Occupational Therapists
• Appropriate additional support agencies
• Relevant NHS and community health teams

Support the delivery of safe, effective and timely adaptation pathways. Contribute to the continuous improvement and development of the service.

Qualifications and Experience

• Hold 5 GCSEs (English and Maths) and a higher‑level qualification such as a relevant degree or equivalent.
• Have comprehensive team management experience and a track record of managing a busy team that holds large caseloads and also experience of working with vulnerable adaptation applicants.
• Have demonstrable administrative, organisational and excellent report‑writing skills, as well as being an effective communicator, with the ability for critical thinking for quick decision making.
• Proficiency in IT and case management skills / reporting.
• Able to maintain accurate budget reporting for senior management and the Home Adaptation Service Manager, oversee team’s case files and prepare, write and update reports for Senior Management.
• Able to prioritise the Home Adaptations Team’s overall adaptation caseload, identify urgent, priority cases, as well as any potential difficulties in an adaptation application/ client journey.
• Ability to handle sensitive and high‑pressure situations with empathy and assertiveness.
• Able to effectively negotiate with key stakeholders and build key partner relationships.
• Able to take responsibility for complex decisions.

Salary

The salary band for this role is £57,755 - £65,222. The starting salary is £57,755 with annual progression through the salary band.

Benefits

• Excellent holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service.
• Flexible working options with a mixture of office and home, outside of face‑to‑face visits with individuals we support.
• Opportunities for training and development.
• Supportive management and regular professional supervision.
• Family‑friendly policies – Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for dependents.
• Health and wellbeing support – Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks.
• Veteran‑friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform.
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres.
• Sustainable travel benefits – low‑emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans.
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer.

Additional Information

Training and regular supervision will be provided. The Council operates a successful and comprehensive Apprenticeship Scheme and would look favourably at applications for the Southampton City Council Apprenticeship Scheme.