Scheme Manager - Dowding House

Are you interested in joining our expanding Housing Options Team at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council?

Do you want a role helping some of our most vulnerable residents in housing need and making a real difference to people’s lives?

If you answered yes, the post we’re seeking to fill could be for you!

We’re looking to recruit a dynamic and hands-on Scheme Manager who is passionate about supporting vulnerable households who are in living in temporary accommodation.

As Scheme Manager, you will be responsible for managing Dowding House, the Council’s owned block of 25 units of temporary accommodation. This includes ensuring health and safety of the block, providing tenancy and housing related support to residents and signing up, settling in and singing out households who are provided with accommodation at Dowding House.

You will be working as part of the Accommodation Team alongside other colleagues in the wider Housing Options Service.

Main Responsibilities

The main responsibilities include managing Dowding House (the Council owed block of 25 units of temporary accommodation) and being responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the block, reporting and health and safety or repair needs, and providing tenancy and housing-related support to the residents.

To sign up, settle in and sign out households placed at Dowding House, including completion of their licence agreements, inventories and housing benefit forms, ensuring residents comply with the conditions of their occupation and carrying out regular property inspections.

To ensure the safety of residents and security of Dowding House, including carrying out six monthly fire drills, completing weekly fire alarm tests and updating of the site health and safety folder accordingly.

To advise residents on financial and practical issues in relation to housing, including payments of rent, and rent arrears, claiming benefits, encouraging and guiding residents to become self-sufficient, and referring residents to agencies where external support is required; and helping residents identify privately rented properties or other move on options.

About you:

• Demonstrable experience of working within housing options, homelessness, or tenancy management.
• Experience of working within a front-line customer-led service, particularly with supporting vulnerable customers with a range of support needs
• Educated to A ‘Level standard or equivalent, at grades A to C, or equivalent grading, or demonstrable experience of working within housing options, homelessness, or housing management.
• A good understanding of the welfare benefit system and welfare reform changes.
• Ability to work in a team and develop effective and supportive relationships with colleagues.

In return we offer you:

• Financial: An attractive basic salary within a clear pay structure.
• Holiday Entitlement: 22 days annual leave (increasing to 27 days after 5 years continuous Local Government service) plus an additional day in December and bank holidays.
• Employee Assistance Programme: The Council has partnered with Health Assured to provide staff with access to EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to assist in balancing everyday life with the requirement of work and home.
• Pensions: Membership of the Local Government (CARE – Career Average (Revalued Earnings) Pension Scheme.
• Flexibility: The Council operates a hybrid working model with opportunities to work from home and in an office environment, and a flexible working policy subject to the business needs being met.
• Personal Development: Invaluable training opportunities for continuing professional development.

To find out more take a look at the Job Description and Person Specification below. Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile.

For an informal discussion about this post, you can contact Jack Doyle, Accommodation Team Leader, on 01892 554622 or jack.doyle@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

To stay up to date with our latest vacancies and what it’s like to work here you can follow us on twitter @TWBC_Jobs and LinkedIn @TWellsCouncil

Closing Date: 8^th December 2024

           

Interview Date: 13^th December 2024

 

Please note – Interviews will take place in person at Dowding House (Dowding House, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, TN12 6DP).