At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage frontline homelessness services to drive positive outcomes for residents.
- Company: Hillingdon Council, committed to improving housing services and community support.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, generous holiday entitlement, and mental health support.
- Other info: Join a diverse team with opportunities for career growth and impactful work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in housing or homelessness services and strong leadership abilities.
About the role
Lead change. Manage demand. Deliver outcomes. Hillingdon Council is recruiting Homelessness Team Managers to lead critical frontline services across our Housing Needs & Homelessness service. These opportunities sit across a range of specialist teams, including: Families, Move-On, Singles, Domestic Abuse, Resettlement, Housing Advice.
This is a pivotal operational leadership role where you will manage demand, drive performance and improve outcomes at scale, taking ownership of service delivery across complex casework environments. You will play a key role in delivering transformation and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) priorities, strengthening operational oversight, improving consistency and ensuring high-quality, resident-focused services across the homelessness system.
This is an excellent opportunity to step into a high-impact leadership role within a fast-paced and high-demand environment. You will lead frontline teams delivering statutory homelessness services, ensuring strong performance, high-quality casework and positive outcomes for residents.
Responsibilities will include:
- Leading services across prevention, front door, families, single homelessness, move-on from temporary accommodation and specialist pathways such as domestic abuse and resettlement.
- Developing and applying specialist practice knowledge across cohorts, including singles, domestic abuse and complex needs.
- Ensuring lawful, consistent and high-quality decision-making across the service.
- Building high-performing teams and embedding a strong performance culture.
- Managing caseloads, workflows and delivery against key targets.
- Overseeing complex and high-risk cases.
- Using data, insight and performance information to drive service improvement.
- Supporting residents to prevent and relieve homelessness through effective interventions and partnership working.
These are fast-paced operational leadership roles requiring strong decision-making, resilience and the ability to maintain oversight within demanding frontline services.
Why These Roles Matter
These teams are central to the delivery of homelessness services across the borough. You will:
- Manage demand at scale.
- Improve outcomes for residents.
- Support vulnerable households.
- Help reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
- Contribute directly to MTFS delivery and service transformation.
About You
We are looking for confident, resilient leaders who can deliver in complex, high-demand environments. You will bring:
- Experience within housing, homelessness or related frontline services.
- Strong knowledge of homelessness legislation and safeguarding responsibilities.
- A track record of managing teams and improving operational performance.
- Experience handling complex cases and service pressures.
- Strong leadership, decision-making and organisational skills.
- The ability to drive accountability and deliver outcomes.
We want leaders who:
- Take ownership and deliver results.
- Are visible, practical and hands-on.
- Stay calm under pressure.
- Are committed to improving outcomes for residents.
What You Can Expect:
- A high-impact leadership role with visible outcomes.
- Opportunities across a range of specialist homelessness services.
- A key role in delivering MTFS and service improvement priorities.
- Strong leadership support and development opportunities.
- Flexible and modern working arrangements.
Why Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a stable, ambitious council investing in its housing services and leadership to meet growing demand and deliver better outcomes for residents and communities.
Please note: there are 10 positions available as part of this recruitment campaign, with 5 permanent positions and 5 fixed-term contracts.
About us
We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide:
- Flexible Working Hours - We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
- 36 Hour Week - Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
- Generous Holiday Entitlement - increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
- Hillingdon Sports & Leisure - Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes - option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
- Cycle to Work - Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
- Local Government Pension Scheme - access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
- Vivup Benefits - Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
- Mental Health Support and Counselling Services - Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
- Travel Support - Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
- Trade Union Membership - The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly. The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.
Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.
Recruitment Information
Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:
- Enhanced DBS Check
- 2 years of Referencing
Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.
Homelessness Team Manager employer: Totalwellnessacupuncture
Totalwellnessacupuncture is an exceptional employer that values the well-being of both its clients and employees. With a supportive work culture that prioritises professional development, you will have access to ongoing training and growth opportunities while making a meaningful impact in the lives of older adults in Bridgend. The hybrid working model offers flexibility, allowing you to balance your personal and professional life effectively.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Homelessness Team Manager
✨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 Totalwellnessacupuncture.
✨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 Totalwellnessacupuncture!
✨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 Totalwellnessacupuncture, 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 Totalwellnessacupuncture 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 Homelessness Team Manager
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 Totalwellnessacupuncture:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Totalwellnessacupuncture! 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 Totalwellnessacupuncture
✨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.
