INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Senior Health and Housing Adviser

Salary: SO2 £37,280 - £39,152

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House / Citywide Locations

Make a Difference: Senior Health and Housing Adviser

At the heart of our Health and Housing Team we aim to to create opportunities for disabled and vulnerable people to live in quality, affordable, safe, and stable homes across all tenures.

We are a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team of skilled professionals, working collaboratively to deliver innovative and person-centred housing solutions for our residents.

We are now seeking a Senior Health and Housing Adviser to join our service. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape and strengthen the delivery of vital services that make a real difference in people’s lives.

About the Role

As a Senior Health and Housing Adviser, you will:

Provide leadership and line management to a dedicated team of staff
Work closely with Principal Managers to drive the delivery of high-quality, responsive services.
Play a key role in supporting disabled and vulnerable adults and children to access suitable housing solutions

You will also ensure the effective delivery of core service functions, including:

Oversight of systems and software applications
Compliance with legislation and legal requirements
Delivering excellent customer care

Working in Partnership

This is a highly collaborative role, where you will build strong relationships across:

Internal Health and Housing teams
Customers and service users
Contractors and delivery partners
Key stakeholders such as Adult Social Care, Children’s Services (CHAD), and other partner agencies

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking service that values innovation, collaboration, and real impact. You’ll have the chance to lead, influence, and help shape services that directly improve lives across our communities.

For further information please contact Jo Ferguson - Principal Rehousing Manager on 0113 3785983, email - joanne.ferguson2@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

The Health and Housing Service aims to promote the capacity of vulnerable disabled people to live independently: either in their existing homes, through the provision of adaptations, or to facilitate a move to more suitable housing through priority awards for re-housing.

The post holder will be responsible for the management of a team within the Health and Housing Service, which will cross over between the Programming Team and the Health Team. They will support the Principal Programme Manager and Principal Health Manager to deliver the services across the two teams by contributing to the delivery of a high-quality Health & Housing service for disabled and vulnerable people. They will ensure key service functions are delivered around the management of services budgets, software applications, legislation, customer care and legal compliance.

Responsibilities:

Contribute to the delivery of an effective Health & Housing Service that generates Value for Money and helps achieve wider Council priorities.
To use effective people management skills to motivate, develop and performance manage staff within your service area to drive service improvements.
To contribute to the development and delivery of a Health & Housing’s Service Plan in line with wider service, divisional, directorate and Council priorities
To manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of service delivery, community engagement and human resource areas, focussing on equality of outcome.
To actively drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate and Divisional Management Teams.
Contribute to maintaining effective communications relating to the Health & Housing Service with staff, service users, councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders.
To work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, inclusive, responsive and accountable government.
Working as a team for Leeds by developing and maintaining good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.
To be accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with Legislation and the Council Health and Safety Policy.
Demonstrate a flexible approach to working as required meeting Directorate and Corporate priorities.
As a leader in the organisation with key people management responsibilities to undertake duties in relation to people management policies.
To promote the ambitions and values of the Council with staff.
To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
To actively promote and support Leeds City Council’s policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and Equality & Diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Under Rehousing

Directly line manage the Health and Housing Advisors and oversee the team to provide direct line management responsibilities.

Coordinate and facilitate the weekly Adaptations Panel meeting and monitor the actions required to approve / decline requests for aids and adaptations in line with policy and guidance. Recording of decisions and actions, following up on action items and sending outcome letters to customers and provide updates and responses to support the effectiveness of the Panel.

Manage the coordination of the Independent Appeals Panel by consulting with customers to ensure that their needs are met, circulate relevant documentation to panel members prior to the meeting and compile outcome letters following decisions.

Coordinate the Social Care funding panel by arranging meetings and summarising the outcomes to ensure that the most appropriate care and support is provided to those in need. Compile outcome letter and/or spend to saves for any additional funding that is granted.

Investigate and provide quality responses to all Health & Housing complaints, Councillor and MP

Obtaining customer satisfaction feedback to evaluate the service and identify areas where it can be improved. Use information to drive improvements and make the service better for customers.

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Ability to provide visible and effective leadership which empowers, enables and develops staff to achieve results.
Ability to identify and implement change programmes, improve service quality and support a culture that drives up standards and performance.
Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences at all levels, including presenting high-level information and reports on complex issues in an appropriate way.
Ability to lead the development of appropriate systems and procedures to enable effective data capture and analysis to inform service delivery.
Ability to think creatively and to solve problems in a constructive way.
Ability to manage operational service teams within a challenging context.
Ability to work to strict deadlines with conflicting priorities and to manage personal work and time effectively.
Ability to access and interpret local/national strategy, communicate to staff and apply where appropriate to service delivery.
Ability to contribute to the strategic direction of the Directorate, Division and services/functions.
Ability to provide visible and effective leadership which empowers, enables and develops staff to achieve results.

Knowledge Required

Understanding of appraisal and evaluation techniques.
Understanding of change management principles
Wide understanding of Health & Housing’s relevant law and policy
In-depth knowledge of the legislation surrounding the Government’s test of financial resources.
A wide understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Directorate and other key agencies and stakeholders in the city.
A wide understanding of key strategic plans including the Vision for Leeds and City Priority Plans and the Council’s planning framework.
A working knowledge of the Council’s Values and Leadership and Management standards.
Understanding of Council and partner safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults and children and how they apply to the service.
Understanding the importance of managing and controlling budgets
Appropriate degree level qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through work experience across the service area.

Experience Required

Of working effectively with internal and external partners to contribute to strategic partnerships and programmes and deliver cross sector or cross service projects to achieve positive outcomes.
Of communicating appropriately with a wide range of people, through a variety of different methods and gaining the commitment of a range of stakeholders/influencing views and behaviour to meet set objectives.

Of leading, coaching and motivating teams and individuals.

Of managing and delivering front facing services for disabled and vulnerable people

Of interpreting and analysing complex information and data.
Of conducting Equality Impact Assessments.
Of delivering effective consultation to support service design, delivery and evaluation.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

#INT #LI-DNI