3 Month Contract With A Local Authority Job Purpose To lead and manage the Housing Needs and Homelessness Service, ensuring the Council meets its statutory duties under housing and homelessness legislation. The role is responsible for delivering high-quality homelessness prevention and housing solutions services that are customer-focused, legally compliant, financially sustainable, and aligned with the Council's housing and corporate objectives. The postholder will promote safeguarding, equality, and trauma-informed practice, ensuring services remain accessible, fair, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable households. Key Responsibilities Lead, motivate, and manage the Housing Needs and Homelessness team to deliver high-performing, customer-focused services. Ensure homelessness assessments, statutory decisions, prevention activities, and accommodation placements are completed lawfully, accurately, and within required timescales. Drive homelessness prevention initiatives through early intervention, partnership working, and innovative service delivery. Oversee the procurement, management, suitability, and health and safety compliance of temporary accommodation. Monitor service performance, quality standards, budgets, and compliance requirements, implementing improvements where necessary. Manage complex homelessness cases and provide professional advice and guidance on housing legislation, policy, and best practice. Coordinate responses to legal challenges, complaints, reviews, Ombudsman investigations, and judicial proceedings relating to housing and homelessness services. Build and maintain effective relationships with internal departments, housing providers, health services, community organisations, and other external stakeholders. Represent the Council at strategic partnerships, multi-agency meetings, and housing-related forums. Ensure safeguarding responsibilities are embedded throughout service delivery and that vulnerable households receive appropriate support. Contribute to emergency planning arrangements and participate in the out-of-hours homelessness management standby rota as required. Support the development and implementation of housing strategies, policies, and service improvement initiatives. Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, equality, and excellent customer service across the team. Requirements Essential Significant experience managing housing needs, homelessness, or related housing services. Extensive knowledge of homelessness legislation, housing law, statutory guidance, and best practice. Proven experience leading and managing teams within a public-facing service environment. Strong understanding of housing law relating to homelessness, security of tenure, landlord and tenant responsibilities, and temporary accommodation management. Experience working in partnership with external agencies, housing providers, and support services. Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to manage complex and sensitive cases while making sound, legally compliant decisions. Strong planning, organisational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. Experience monitoring service performance, budgets, and operational targets. Good ICT skills, including Microsoft Office applications and housing management systems. Commitment to delivering high standards of customer service, safeguarding, equality, and inclusion. Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent experience. Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use. Desirable Professional qualification in Housing or a related discipline. Full or part membership of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). Experience using housing CRM or case management systems. Experience managing accommodation services or temporary accommodation portfolios. Knowledge of wider local government housing policy and social housing sector issues. Experience managing services within a politically sensitive environment. Budget management and financial monitoring experience. Additional Information Location: County Hall, Newport, Isle Of Wight Hours per Week: 37 Hours Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly