Our borough

Hackney is London's most diverse and dynamic borough. Reaching from the Square Mile to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this is an area of rapid economic growth, particularly in technology, media, fashion and other creative industries. Hackney has more green spaces than any other inner London borough; some of the capital's finest schools; first class transport connections; excellent public services; and thriving arts, cultural and retail sectors. We seek people with ambition, creativity and commitment to ensure our economic growth provides benefits for everyone and creates opportunities to transform the lives of residents.

Hackney offers great benefits, for our people, including a range of flexible working options, discounts and other schemes to help you save money and the opportunity to plan for your future by joining the local government pension scheme (more details are available online here: https://hackney.gov.uk/staff-benefits.

Hackney also actively promotes equalities and diversity, find out more here: https://www.hackney.gov.uk/equality-diversity/

Our Service

The Benefits & Housing Needs Service is a very busy service, working with a wide range of residents who need our support to deal with the complex challenges they face. It is also a great place to work, develop and learn.

Our Ethos

We want to provide a Benefits & Housing Needs Service which is easily understood, fair, accessible and beneficial to our residents. A holistic service that we are proud and confident in delivering.

To achieve this ambition we are looking for people who are open, honest and accountable. People who are able to deliver difficult messages with empathy and compassion. Also who are keen to seek new solutions and learn through trying.

The Role

We are looking to recruit Hostel Managers to work in our Temporary Accommodation Hostels. Hackney manages more than 30 Temporary Accommodation Hostels and we are expanding our provision to meet a growing demand. Temporary Accommodation is a dynamic and pressurised part of the Benefits and Housing Needs Service and we need willing and flexible staff to enable the service to respond to the often complex needs of our customers.

We would like to recruit staff who have the knowledge and/or ability to undertake the responsibilities involved in looking after our homeless households who are accommodated in our hostels. This is a customer facing role and it is important that candidates are able to communicate well verbally and in writing.  Living in emergency/temporary accommodation is often a very anxious and uncertain time for customers and it is important that Hostel Managers are able to offer good advice, provide support and have excellent communication skills.

Whilst you will be part of a larger Hostel team, we need Hostel Managers who are proactive, self-motivated and are able to work with a minimum of supervision. Taking responsibility for ensuring the smooth running of the Hostel buildings and supervising caretaking staff.

The role requires a range of skills including:

•             - Managing vulnerable residents

•             - Enforcing licence agreement conditions

•             - Health & safety priorities

•             - Ensuring residents move to settled accommodation in a timely manner

•             - Day to day supervision of caretaker staff

Want to know more?  Have a look at this short video recorded by hostel managers.

We are also hosting Live Meet and Greet Sessions on 30 September 2021 at 5.30 pm via Google Meet, to join please use this link.

These sessions will further outline the characteristics required from a successful candidate and to give prospective applicants a chance to ask questions.

How to apply

To apply, all you need to do is:

• - Read the Job Description and Person Specification
• - Provide your details in our application form
• - Answer the 4 questions to demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience enable you to meet the criteria for the post.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 13 October 2021.

Interviews: to be confirmed.

To apply please click the red 'apply' button.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available hackneyworksjobs@hackney.gov.uk

Covid-19

Your health is very important to us. The Benefits and Housing Needs Service will continue to follow the government's safety guidelines about the coronavirus (COVID-19). Appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will be provided to all staff and social distancing will be maintained throughout the Hostel Service.