Location
London Borough of Sutton

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£50,085 per annum

About the Borough
The London Borough of Sutton is situated less than 30 minutes by train from Central London, with direct connections to London Victoria and London Bridge. Located in zone 5 with excellent transport links, Sutton boasts award-winning parks and open spaces, low crime rates, affordable housing, and great schools. The borough is known for high levels of resident engagement and satisfaction, delivering quality services while successfully addressing financial challenges and involving residents in key issues and local developments.
Sutton is investing continuously in the health, wellbeing, and education of its residents and future generations, as outlined in the “Ambitious for Sutton” corporate plan. Home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton is developing the London Cancer Hub, aiming to become the world’s leading life-science district specializing in cancer research and treatment. This vision is expected to create around 13,000 jobs and contribute £1.2bn annually to the UK economy, fostering a vibrant community of scientists, doctors, and innovative companies.
With ongoing regeneration including new homes and schools, Sutton is committed to working closely with residents and vulnerable groups to support independence and balance support with independent living.
The Council is a driving force within the South London Partnership, focusing on strategic growth, regeneration, and investment across five outer south west London boroughs. Sutton aims to shape the borough’s future and adapt services to meet residents’ needs, making it a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

About the Service and Team
This role is based within the Housing Advice, Information and Assessment Service.

About the Role
As the Advice and Prevention Team Leader, you will lead a dedicated frontline team to ensure applicants' housing and support needs are assessed and met in full alignment with statutory legislation, government guidance, and council policies.
Key duties include:
- Line management and supervision of Targeted Housing Advisers, including workload planning, 1-to-1 meetings, appraisals, performance target setting, and training needs identification.
- Oversight of casework and statutory decisions under Part VI and Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), ensuring legal compliance and high performance.
- Providing expert technical guidance on security of tenure, possession proceedings, domestic abuse, housing rights, welfare benefits, debt counselling, and long-term accommodation options.
- Monitoring team KPIs, managing caseload progression including 56-day relief duty targets, analyzing management statistics, and implementing service improvements.
- Building effective multi-agency partnerships across Council services, housing providers, and external stakeholders to deliver coordinated, person-centred advice.
- Managing complex customer enquiries, MP/Councillor correspondence, formal complaints, safeguarding referrals, and operational risks.
- Deputising for the Team Manager as required to ensure smooth service delivery.

Our Offer to You
We are committed to supporting your career growth in a friendly, collaborative environment that encourages innovation and continuous improvement. We value your ideas and provide a dynamic management team to support your development.
Benefits include:
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 26-32 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time)
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption, and dependents leave
- Two volunteering days per year
- Flexible working arrangements and smarter working schemes
- Access to learning and development portal with a range of courses
- Discounts at local shops, restaurants, gyms, and leisure centres
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
- Electric vehicle leasing scheme
- Confidential health, wellbeing, and counselling support

Application Process
Please apply online outlining your skills, abilities, and experience relevant to this role. Ensure your CV details are correctly uploaded. We value authenticity and expect personalised responses demonstrating your motivation and alignment with our PRIDE values.
Applications may close early once sufficient numbers are received, so early submission is advised.
We operate an anonymised application process to reduce bias and encourage diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
We are a Disability Confident employer and guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria.
We are an accredited London Living Wage Employer, guaranteeing the London Living Wage to all employees regardless of contract type.
Note: Sponsorship for work visas is considered on a case-by-case basis and is subject to eligibility and budget.

Experience
- Relevant experience working within homelessness, housing advice, or housing support services in statutory or voluntary sectors.
- Proven leadership and team management experience, including setting objectives, monitoring performance, conducting casework supervision, and staff engagement.
- Comprehensive knowledge of housing legislation including Part VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended), Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Renters Right Act 2025, Housing Act 2004, security of tenure, welfare benefits, and allocations.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret complex legislation, evaluate evidence, make clear decisions, and handle complex escalated casework.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills to explain complex information, resolve complaints, negotiate with landlords, and build positive multi-agency relationships.
- Proficient in collating and evaluating performance data, analyzing management statistics, and accurately recording information on IT case management systems.

About You
You are an experienced, resilient, and customer-focused housing leader with high professional expertise and proven management capabilities. You are committed to delivering excellent service outcomes and fostering a supportive team environment.

Qualifications
Specific qualifications are not detailed but relevant professional experience and expertise in housing legislation and homelessness services are essential.