Location
London Borough of Hounslow

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£53,919 per annum

About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Homelessness, Independence and Preventative Services which adopts a preventative approach across the housing, health and social care agendas. You must be professional, energetic and enthusiastic as we are interested in what you can bring to help us improve and develop our services to support some of our most vulnerable residents.

As an Assistant Service Manager within the Housing Register team, you play a critical frontline leadership role in delivering a modern, responsive, and person-centred housing service to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families across the Borough.

This is an exciting and busy role at the centre of the Council’s response to homelessness and housing need. You will be responsible for the effective line management and operational oversight of a team of 4–8 frontline officers, ensuring high-quality delivery of services relating to housing applications, assessments, advice, resettlement, homelessness prevention, and allocations.

You will take a lead role in the day-to-day management of the Housing Register and the implementation of the Council’s Allocations Policy, ensuring statutory duties under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 are fulfilled. Your team identifies households at risk of homelessness and those whose independence may be compromised by inadequate or insecure housing.

The focus of your role will include:
- The assessment of housing applications from residents wishing to join the housing register in line with the Council's Allocation Scheme
- Maintaining accurate records, using data, to implement and measure quality assurance initiatives
- Responding to Member enquiries, Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman investigations, complaints, freedom of information requests, and subject access requests
- Providing briefings to senior management
- Applying expert knowledge of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 and associated statutory guidance and case law
- Leading and developing a team of Housing Register officers
- Leading the day-to-day management of all Part VI reviews, including carrying out and/or monitoring investigations required to make and issue decisions on Part VI reviews

The post holder is responsible for ensuring a casework-based approach is adopted throughout the team, and that each case is progressed efficiently and in line with relevant legislation, policies, and guidance.

You will operate effectively in a highly changeable and demanding working environment with multiple competing priorities, ensuring timely and relevant interventions are carried out to prevent escalation of need, decisions are made to fulfil statutory requirements, and legal challenges are responded to.

About us at Hounslow
We are an outstanding council serving one of London’s most diverse boroughs with brilliant, visionary leadership, a dynamic Cabinet and a can-do culture. Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We live by five core values: Lead with Heart, Do New, Pass on the Power, Harness the Mix and Be a Rock. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of all our work. We serve a diverse community, have a diverse workforce, and are committed to being an inclusive employer. We make reasonable adjustments to accommodate candidates as part of our Disability Confident Employer commitments.

Our Benefits
If you join us, you’ll have access to a range of employee benefits designed to support your wellbeing and development.

Experience
Extensive knowledge and experience of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) working with vulnerable people. Experience of leading multi-disciplinary housing teams and working with complex needs and diverse client groups.

About you
- Strong ability to lead, motivate, manage and develop staff in a challenging, high volume, fast paced environment
- Expert communicator who engages effectively with applicants, colleagues, and elected members to motivate, influence, negotiate and achieve multi-disciplinary outcomes
- Acts with integrity, takes personal responsibility, handles stress effectively, and makes confident decisions
- Works flexibly and independently, adapting to changing needs and proactively keeps the team updated with legislation, policy and guidance
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a comprehensive understanding of issues faced by vulnerable people
- Collaborative team leader who drives the team to achieve targets and objectives and deliver excellent service outcomes

Are you passionate about customer services? Are you an experienced homelessness professional? Are you looking to work in a forward-thinking and progressive housing department? If so, we would like to hear from you.

Qualifications
Must hold a relevant Level 4 qualification in housing management regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) or be willing to work towards such a qualification.

Other Requirements
Basic DBS check required.