Housing Solutions Manager

Are you an experienced housing professional looking for the opportunity to lead a high performing service and make a meaningful difference within local communities?

We're looking for a Housing Solutions Manager to join Publica and lead the delivery of homelessness prevention, housing advice and housing solutions services across West Oxfordshire.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dedicated team, drive service improvements and help shape the future of Housing Solutions. You'll play a key role in ensuring residents receive high quality support and advice whilst ensuring the service remains compliant with homelessness legislation and best practice.

Working closely with colleagues, elected members, housing providers and partner organisations, you'll help deliver positive outcomes for residents facing housing challenges and support Publica's wider strategic objectives.

What You'll Gain

As part of our Housing team, you'll:

- Lead a service that has a direct impact on the lives of local residents
- Play a key role in preventing homelessness and supporting vulnerable households
- Influence service development, transformation and continuous improvement
- Work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and partner agencies
- Contribute to strategic housing priorities across West Oxfordshire
- Support and develop an experienced Housing Solutions team
- Be part of an organisation that puts communities and customers at the heart of everything it does

Key Responsibilities

- Lead and manage the Housing Solutions service and contribute to the wider Housing Management Team
- Ensure delivery of statutory homelessness functions in line with the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and associated legislation
- Oversee complex homelessness prevention and relief cases, providing expert advice and guidance when required
- Lead, motivate and develop the Housing Solutions team through effective supervision and performance management
- Deliver service improvement initiatives, transformation projects and digital solutions
- Monitor and improve service performance against local and national performance indicators
- Develop and maintain effective partnerships with Registered Providers, health services, social care teams and voluntary organisations
- Represent Publica and the Council at partnership meetings and multi-agency forums
- Develop policies, procedures and service standards
- Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring value for money and strong governance arrangements

We're Looking For Someone Who

- Has significant experience within housing, homelessness or a related local authority service
- Has experience leading and developing successful teams
- Possesses strong knowledge of homelessness legislation and housing advice services
- Can confidently manage complex cases and challenging situations
- Has experience delivering service improvements and managing change
- Builds positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Has excellent communication and influencing skills
- Can effectively balance strategic priorities with operational service delivery
- Demonstrates strong organisational and problem-solving skills
- Is committed to delivering excellent customer outcomes

Essential Requirements

- Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field
- Significant recent experience within housing, homelessness or a similar service area
- Experience of team leadership and performance management
- Experience of budget management and resource planning
- Experience of successful partnership and multi-agency working
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office and associated systems
- Full UK driving licence and ability to travel across Publica locations as required

Desirable Requirements

- Professional housing qualification or relevant professional membership
- Project management experience
- Management qualification
- Experience leading service transformation or continuous improvement programmes

Special Conditions

- Full UK Driving Licence Essential
- Access to a vehicle for business use
- BPSS and Enhanced DBS Check Required
- Requirement to work across Publica and client sites where necessary
- Some additional hours may be required to meet service needs

What we can do for you

- Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
- Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
- 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
- Renewed again for another year there is a health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
- Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of up to 7% of your earnings
- Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
- Cycle to work scheme
- Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
- Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
- Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
- Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary

Watch our new 'What is Publica' video to see why its great to join us!