Temporary Accommodation Operations Manager

Main Purpose of the job:

Management of the allocation and tenancy management function for households in housing need placed in temporary accommodation. This includes managing allocation of accommodation, housing management of temporary accommodation, move on and resettlement functions on behalf of the Housing Needs Service.

To act as an ambassador for the Council’s policies relating to the function of temporary accommodation allocation and tenancy management, providing advice relating to relevant senior managers, Executive Directors and members as required.

Manage the resettlement function on behalf of the service and build and maintain positive and

effective relationships with key referrers and stakeholders. Utilise community based resources to reduce social isolation and provide support to customers to effectively sustain their tenancies.

To ensure high quality offers, suitability and discharge of duty decisions are made in a timely manner relating to offers of properties (temporary accommodation & private rented properties) and that staff work proactively to find an appropriate housing solution to bring the Council’s 'relief’/ full housing duty to an end.

The post-holder will be responsible for contributing to the delivery of strategic improvements to the service and other corporate, cross-cutting priorities, as required to deliver corporate priorities. This includes working closely with social care services to support the move-on of families to suitable accommodation, leading on cross-service strategies and understanding the impact of housing decisions on other key service areas.

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Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:

Lead, direct, and be accountable for the performance of all staff within the Accommodation Assessments and Lettings team, Temporary Accommodation team and Tenancy Management and Resettlement team, ensuring robust arrangements are in place and are followed to recruit, induct, manage, appraise and develop staff in order to maximise the effectiveness, efficiency and customer focus of Housing Needs Services.

To manage the service in a way that achieves strong performance and continuous

improvement in the following broad areas (the list below is not exhaustive):

• Reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation;
• Increase the resident referrals to Private rented properties to meet demand.
• Reducing the budgets in relation to temporary accommodation;
• Ensuring the Local Authority achieves value for money on any Service Level agreement/
• contract relating to the provision of temporary accommodation
• Maintaining accommodation independently by providing sustainment and resettlement
• support;
• Minimising avoidable or inappropriate use of long term statutory support services;
• Ensure customer satisfaction through maintaining the quality of the temporary
• accommodation stock;
• Clienting temporary accommodation services for homeless households managed by
• External providers and all associated risks including hostels, PSL accommodation and acquisitions.

Provide and apply expert professional advice, interpretation, information, support and

challenge to Lewisham Council and external parties on the full range of operational and

legislative issues within the field of temporary accommodation and the housing

needs legal framework.

Knowledge & Experience

A successful track record of establishing a strong performance culture through effective performance measures, that has led to improved outcomes for service users.

Experience of effectively managing and monitoring multi

disciplinary teams in a similar environment.

Excellent understanding of the issues facing the management of a public sector organisation.

Good knowledge of major professional, legislative and policy

issues facing the provision of services within the Division,

particularly homelessness.

Experience of formulating, leading and implementing housing

strategies and programmes and related strategies and

programmes that cross service or professional boundaries.

Experience in successful planning, managing and controlling

complex workloads.

Experience of developing and managing customer driven