Housing Advice and Benefits Manager

Job Title: Housing Advice and Benefits Team Manager
Location: Hybrid - Homebased with two days in the office based in Rugby (CV21)
Hourly Pay Rate: 23.55 to 25.13 dependent on experience
Hours: 37 per week
Length of the contract: 3 months with a potential to go permanent

Gi Group are now seeking to appoint an experienced Housing Advice and Benefits Team Manager to our client based in Rugby. The Housing Advice and Benefits Team Manager will report to the Chief Officer of Communities and Homes, act as an operational lead in delivering a continuously approving, creative, and empathetic Housing and Benefits Service, which is responsive to the needs of customers and reflective of the client's corporate values.

Duties of the Housing Advice and Benefits Team Manager

• Be an integral part of the Communities and Homes Management Team and the client's wider Management Team to help drive continuous improvement.
• Work with a broad range of stakeholders for the prevention and management of homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.
• Managing the housing waiting list and allocation of homes, including nominations to Registered Providers, in accordance with the client's adopted allocations policy.
• Overseeing the delivery of a complaint and responsive Housing Benefits Service and Council Tax reduction scheme.
• Support the strategic enabling of affordable housing which meets need.
• To ensure that complaints, MP, and Ombudsman enquiries are responded to in compliance with service standards and are used as a data source to inform potential service improvements.
• Take a lead role in creating, delivering, and monitoring the implementation of relevant strategies, service plans, and service area projects identified in the Corporate Strategy Delivery plan.
• Securing, and where required, managing suitable temporary accommodation solutions for service users.
• Identification and pursuance of potential funding opportunities that will help to ensure better outcomes for people who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.

Role Criteria

• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a multi-operational team to deliver an empathetic, responsive, and legally compliant customer service, in accordance with corporate values.
• Possess, and continue to develop, the skills and knowledge required of an operational lead supporting the most vulnerable residents in respect of homelessness, rough sleeping, housing needs, and housing allocations.
• Ability to support and oversee the Housing Benefit and strategic enabling of affordable homes functions within the borough, with a preparedness to develop skills and knowledge further in these fields.
• An excellent, IT literature Manager who is effectively able to monitor and manage budgets, risks, business continuity, health and safety, complaints, and FOIs.
• Ability to support the implementation of corporate strategy and continuous improvement of the client's services through robust project management and delivery from inception to completion.
• Ability to develop, nurture, and maintain positive and effective relationships with a whole host of internal and external stakeholders, including the MP, Councillors, the voluntary and community sector, registered providers, and colleagues.
• Have, or be prepared to study for, a minimum Level 4 qualification in Housing Management or its equivalent.
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Management qualification.

Hiring Contact: Tiegan Clark
Agency: Gi Group