Housing Support Manager (Contract) in Harrow

Support When It Matters Enterprise CIC (SWIM) is an African/Caribbean-led, Hackney-based social enterprise focused on improving mental health, wellbeing, and criminal justice outcomes for African/Caribbean and other minoritised communities. Our expertise lies in delivering culturally informed psycho-social interventions to individuals and groups experiencing discrimination and exclusion. We support people to make positive changes in their lives through improved access to services such as substance misuse and mental health support. We deliver programmes aimed at reducing re-offending and substance misuse, alongside housing and employment support.

Our approach is embedded in hope, compassion, and unconditional positive regard, while also facilitating and supporting personal responsibility and commitment to change. Our programmes actively support participants to examine culture and belief systems, acknowledge hardships, and build the motivation and resilience needed to work towards positive goals and aspirations. SWIM is commissioned by Local Authorities, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and other commissioners to support people from African/Caribbean heritage and other minoritised communities to overcome challenges and lead meaningful lives.

Through our consultancy and outreach work, we also support local health and mental health services to design more culturally informed approaches that reduce reluctance to engage and mistrust among many ethnic minority communities.

Mission
We believe equality and inclusion strengthen our communities. We work to inspire a sense of belonging in others. Compassion, understanding, and respect for the individual and the communities in which they reside underpin our commitment to enabling positive change. We offer our lived experience and skills to equip individuals with the tools they need and empower them to lead better lives.

Values

• Equality
• Inclusion
• Belonging
• Understanding
• Compassion
• Respect

SWIM Principles

• We give a voice to people who have previously been silenced.
• We show love and understanding, walking alongside you to find your truth.
• We cultivate a culturally sensitive environment, creating a sense of belonging.
• We influence funders to respond to your needs.
• Our lived experience allows us to approach our work with genuine compassion.
• We are respectful and responsive to everyone.

Job Summary
We are recruiting an experienced Supported Housing Manager to oversee the daily management of our housing provision and staff teams across all SWIM schemes. Our staff teams provide housing and recovery support to people with complex support needs relating to substance and/or alcohol misuse, poor mental health, and accommodation difficulties. You will create a culture that reflects the ethos of the organisation and provide values-based, clear, and passion-driven operational leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Accommodation Management: Manage accommodation providing a therapeutic environment prior to full independence and move-on. Line manage Team Leaders, Project Workers, and Volunteers. Ensure safety and wellbeing of residents.
• Housing Delivery Model: Lead a Housing First approach combined with harm reduction and Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE). Ensure timely assessments, pre-tenancy work, and case coordination. Oversee structured and opportunistic interventions.
• Referrals & Move-On Pathways: Process referrals and conduct thorough assessments. Oversee admissions and move-on accommodation pathways. Ensure housing benefit claims are active and resolve suspended claims.
• Partnership Working: Work closely with Local Authorities, partner organisations, clinicians, social enterprises, and education and training providers to create integrated pathways into wellbeing and sustainable alternatives to substance misuse and crime.
• Service Development: Support quality improvement and service expansion alongside the Operations Manager.
• Property & Contractor Management: Work with the Housing Compliance Manager to schedule works. Act as first point of contact for contractors. Ensure work is completed on time and to a high standard.
• Housing Audits: Assist in periodic audits. Identify deficiencies and oversee action plans.
• Statutory Compliance: Ensure all documentation is recorded and monitored. Follow up on expiring compliance certificates.
• Property Safety Checks: Ensure weekly property checks are completed. Oversee timely remedial maintenance.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership and Staff Management: Manage staff ensuring appropriate skill mix and supervision systems. Lead appraisal, supervision, and learning & development processes. Manage employee relations and support recruitment. Provide coaching, wellbeing support, and supervision. Deliver in-house training as required.
• Communication, Representation & Engagement: Raise SWIM's profile with commissioners, employers, communities, and recovery networks. Ensure internal communications embed SWIM's values.
• Governance, Legal, Facilities & Risk: Implement risk management and quality assurance policies. Ensure safety of staff, tenants, and service users. Manage serious incident reporting and investigations. Handle complaints appropriately. Promote equality and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Finance: Oversee petty cash, rent collection, and housing benefit processes. Liaise with Local Authorities regarding claims. Identify and manage financial risks.
• Service Delivery & Performance: Monitor and report performance data. Identify and address poor practice or risks. Support property reorganisation or expansion. Coordinate staff and volunteers to deliver recovery-focused support. Take responsibility for health & safety and property compliance. Promote volunteer and coaching opportunities.

Other Requirements

• Flexible working across operational sites.
• Occasional evening/weekend work.
• Commitment to continued professional development.

Generic Duties & Responsibilities

• Confidentiality: All service user, volunteer, and staff information is confidential and must comply with data protection legislation.
• Code of Conduct: Staff must adhere to all SWIM policies and professional codes of conduct.
• Privacy & Dignity: Respect diversity, cultural needs, and privacy.
• Safeguarding: All staff have a duty to safeguard service users and must be familiar with safeguarding policies.
• Health & Safety: Comply with Health & Safety legislation and risk management policies.

Educational Requirements & Competency Framework

• Essential: Housing management experience, including therapeutic environments. Experience managing staff in demanding environments. Experience delivering training. Staff supervision and development experience. Effective partnership working. Experience motivating unpaid staff and embedding values-based support. Data collection and reporting experience. Administrative and financial management skills, including budget management.
• Desirable: IOSH or NEBOSH qualification (or willingness to work towards).