12-month Fixed Term

The award-winning Housing and Communities Team are passionate about the people who live in our town; our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within in a safe and thriving neighbourhood.

We are passionate about delivering innovative and creative solutions in tackling housing need and are looking for people that are enthusiastic, person centred and driven to support the delivery of our ambitious aims.

Working with partners is key to the success of the service, being resourced effectively to co-produce opportunities and build on best practice with other local authorities, housing providers, the private sector and the community and voluntary sector can only bring benefit to our customers.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role:

You will be responsible for the Council’s Housing Needs Service (including Housing Advice & Homelessness Prevention, Rent Guarantee Scheme, Commissioned Homelessness Services, Voids and Lettings) Ensuring that the services have a strategic focus, consistently meet the business plan and financial objectives and targets and place excellent customer service at the heart of delivery.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead on the Council’s strategic response to Homelessness including the development and delivery of the Rough Sleeping Strategy and Homelessness Strategy
• Ensure that the service remains at the forefront of sector innovation and good practice
• Accountable to customers, having detailed mechanisms in place for engagement, decision making and consultation
• Work with colleagues and external stakeholders and form strong links with Adult Social Care and Brighter Futures for Children to ensure that there is a co-ordination of service delivery
• Liaise with elected Members including the Lead Members for Housing & Communities and other Members with designated responsibility for areas of council services
• Represent the Council and testify in complex legal hearings, instruct legal services in relevant matters, produce affidavit evidence and lead in relevant litigation

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading

Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively

Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential

Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

About you

The following experience is required for this role:

• Extensive knowledge of Homelessness, allocations legislation and supported housing services
• Capable of leading and managing large numbers of staff, across a large and fast-moving, Housing Needs Service
• Able to lead and apply continuous improvement practices to improve service user outcomes
• Set and manage budgets effectively demonstrating robust financial monitoring and control
• Demonstratable excellent leadership skills through motivation, empowerment, and development of staff
• Able to show partnership working with other teams, services, external clients, and contractors
• Working with elected Members to achieve outcomes including the ability to prepare and present committee reports
• Budget control and authorisation of expenditure for a multi-million budget

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 24 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 32 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave. A wide range of flexible working opportunities. Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading. Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees. Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work. Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.

For more information on this position please contact stephen.johnson@reading.gov.uk

Closing date: 28 August 2022

Interview date: 3 September 2022

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.