Housing Needs Lead

Posted 31 July 2025
Salary 37
LocationSlough SL1 United Kingdom
Job type Full time
Sector Real Estate and Property
ReferenceRQ1576368

Job description

6 months contract with local authority
Job Purpose:

The primary purpose of this role is to lead, manage, and develop a team of Housing Needs Officers to deliver a high-quality and customer-focused housing needs service, including housing advice and homelessness services. The role also involves preventing and addressing homelessness and housing needs through the resolution of complex casework, contributing to the council’s housing strategy, and representing the service to develop the wider housing service and its integration with other allied services.

Key Responsibilities:
  1. Manage staff and resolve homelessness and housing advice cases in accordance with current legislation and case law to mitigate risks to the council and ensure appropriate use of resources.
  2. Oversee the council’s homeless prevention fund and provide management guidance to front-line staff.
  3. Lead the team in delivering prevention and enforcement action in line with homelessness and housing advice legislation and policies.
  4. Stay updated on current legislation, emerging national issues, and political drivers related to homelessness and housing advice.
  5. Build effective working relationships and liaison with officers and managers in the wider corporate structure to ensure integrated services.
  6. Represent the service and council to develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant external agencies and partners.
  7. Have day-to-day management responsibility of the team in terms of performance and delivery of wider homelessness and housing advice issues.
  8. Provide detailed advice and guidance to team members regarding homelessness, housing advice, and housing register legislation, especially on complex cases.
  9. Act as duty manager and take responsibility for the service in the absence of the Housing Demand Manager.
  10. Take a lead on a particular topic, project, and/or liaison with a partner department or agency as directed by the Housing Demand Manager.
  11. Monitor trends and identify housing needs, working with the wider housing management team and external partners to develop a proactive, preventative, multi-agency approach.
  12. Provide legal and housing advice and information to home seekers about their rights and options, in compliance with relevant legislation.
  13. Perform any other reasonable duties commensurate with the post.


Requirements


  • Knowledge of housing legislation and policies
  • Experience in managing and leading a team
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Understanding of homelessness prevention and resolution strategies
  • Legal and housing advice expertise
  • Ability to stay updated on relevant legislation and emerging issues