Job title: Head of Health and Housing

Salary: JNC DIR 45% £60,480 - £66,318

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House / Citywide Locations

Make a Difference: Head of Health and Housing

At the heart of our Health and Housing Team we aim 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 to appoint a new Head of Health and Housing to join the Housing 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. Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About the Role

As the Head of Health and Housing, you will take the lead and be responsible for the development and delivery of a strategic and operational health and housing service for the local authority. The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of an operational adaptations service to private and Council tenants, overseeing the use of Disabled Facilities Grant to meet need and rehousing advice and support. They will also take a lead strategic lead role on wider health and housing work, working across the health system to ensure that housing is integrated into the health and social care system and to minimise the housing impacts on health.

You will also:

Work alongside the Housing Senior Management Team to shape future Housing Service Plans and objectives.
Provide leadership 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

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
3^rd Sector and charitable organisations

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Adam Crampton, Chief Officer Housing, Tel: 0113 53 51218, Adam.crampton@leeds.gov.uk,

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

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 visaroute 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. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose

The post holder supports the Chief Officer, Housing to deliver programmes of strategic significance to the Council in order to deliver services to customers in line with Council priorities. They will be responsible for the development and delivery of the service plan and drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate management teams. They will be required to work with elected Members, MP’s, service users, trade unions and partner stakeholders in ways which support inclusive open and accountable government through the provision of strategic advice on risk management and support them in their respective roles.

They will take the lead and be responsible for the development and delivery of a strategic and operational health and housing service for the local authority. The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of an operational adaptations service to private and Council tenants, overseeing the use of Disabled Facilities Grant to meet need and rehousing advice and support. They will also take a lead strategic lead role on wider health and housing work, working across the health system to ensure that housing is integrated into the health and social care system and to minimise the housing impacts on health.

Key Requirements

To lead on the strategic and operational management of the Health and Housing Service including the delivery of public and private sector adaptations and rehousing advice and support, ensuring that it meets all statutory requirements, business objectives and targets and is flexible to deliver a service that is customer focused and meets the needs of the local communities and residents.
To ensure that adequate and robust financial controls are in place to effectively manage a balanced budget year on year and drive ongoing budget and service efficiencies.
To drive a culture of continuous service improvements and maximise customer satisfaction, overseeing strategic relationships relating to the provision of the adaptations service to ensure a high quality, customer focused end to end adaptations process, including collaborative relationships with Adult Social Care and Children’s Services, along with third sector, contractors and customer representative groups.
To take a strategic lead on health and housing work, leading a collaborative approach between the housing, health, social care and third sectors to ensure that the Leeds Housing Strategy and Health and Wellbeing Strategy priorities to improve health through housing are delivered proactively in Leeds.
To work collaboratively with leaders across the wider housing and local government sector to drive national and regional health and housing approaches and best practice, seeking to ensure that Leeds is best in class. Provide detailed policy advice on all aspects of housing to staff, elected members, senior officers, customers, partners and external agencies.
Ability to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality transformational outcomes, showing effective leadership and delivering outstanding results
To represent SMT as and when required to provide briefings to local ward Members and MP’s.
Significant experience of leading change programmes, including service quality and driving up standards and performance, demonstrating the ability to manage competing priorities whilst ensuring delivery on a range of programmes and adapting to changing circumstances.
Experience of successful strategic and operational resource management including the evaluation of competing priorities and managing accountabilities
Substantial experience of delivering a multi-disciplinary service at a senior level that is driven by service user requirements based on delivers customer focused outcomes and excellent customer satisfaction results.
Substantial senior leadership and management experience in a service or operational area relevant to the area of service delivery
Evidence of significant experience and commitment in relation to the engagement of relevant citizens, customers and stakeholders in decision making processes.
Build strong and dynamic relationships and networks and build trust with individuals and partner agencies to deliver better outcomes for Leeds City Council.
Demonstrate knowledge of legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information applicable to the relevant strategic functions e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection. Promoting compliance with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues including significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and members of the Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence
In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for all financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations
Working Context- The role is primarily office based but post holders are expected to work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. Hours are worked mainly Monday-Friday, in accordance with the needs of the service; however the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required.

Role profile

Roles at this level support the Chief Officer in the professional leadership, management and development of the service in accordance with the Council’s strategic objectives and the directorate priorities. People in these roles combine a strategic service development role with operational responsibilities for services and delivery of day to day functions that contribute to the achievement of the Council’s vision and strategic outcomes. This involves contributing to the planning, organising, commissioning and delivery of services across the council and with partners to ensure there is a fully integrated city wide approach.

As part of a directorate/service leadership team roles at this level live and model values and behaviours to help the council achieve its ambition to be the best city council in the country.

For roles at this level, you must be able to show you….

Knowledge

have an appropriate professional qualification or equivalent substantial knowledge gained through significant managerial or practical experience within the service area and you use your knowledge and expertise to plan and enable the highest levels and standards in the delivery of work across either a specialist area(s) or an entire service
Have a comprehensive knowledge of local, regional and national issues, which influence the city and council strategy, practice and services and you maintain up to date knowledge of current thinking and developments and use this to evaluate and assess business practice to influence ways of working within the professional and technical areas of your expertise

Leadership & strategic planning

Demonstrate strong leadership and management skills to develop a high performance culture across the service where everyone can achieve their potential and ‘feel they count’ and where there is a drive to deliver the most effective and efficient solutions. Show that there is evidence of a high performing, engaged and productive workforce along with effective leadership and management that leads to solution focussed and quality outcomes
Contribute to and influence the strategic direction of the service area working with a range of internal and external partners and stakeholders. Identify clear objectives for service delivery and develop and performance manage service action plans. Ensure Business plans are in place for the service and contingencies are identified so that plan objectives can be met

Collaboration & innovation

Lead, develop and manage partnerships and/or complex programme/project/change environments with a variety of stakeholders that challenges and looks beyond the obvious.
Working effectively with partners to deliver cross service projects, thinking and acting creatively to facilitate the delivery of innovative change and new ways of working
Ensure the capacity to respond positively to change is enhanced, ‘traditional thinking’ is challenged and innovative solutions are pursued throughout the service area.
You are skilled in facilitating and encouraging collaboration and motivating teams to maximise performance. Creating a culture that promotes innovation and a ‘can do’ attitude.

Problem solving & decision making

take responsibility and are accountable for developing and implementing appropriate, proportionate and effective solutions to complex service delivery problems.
Demonstrate your experience in leading the development of governance structures and actively promoting them through personal decision making
Accurately analyse information and make timely well-judged decisions in order to achieve successful outcomes across a diverse range of related and unrelated issues balancing corporate orientation with operational responsibilities.
You understand the pressures facing public sector services and use this to inform decisions and promote best practice within political, legal, financial, governance and statutory control frameworks.

Deliver

develop and maintain constructive relationships with colleagues and other stakeholders to develop and deliver integrated, high quality, high standard, responsive services that have a positive impact for customers and citizens in the city and region, influencing the strategic direction of the service; identifying, agreeing and developing service improvement projects that reflect changing priorities
Lead and manage a number of complex and potentially conflicting strategic and operational issues/priorities and develop and implement solutions as part of a fully integrated approach to delivering required service outcomes.
Influencing the strategic direction of the service using effective consultation and a commitment to the engagement of stakeholders ensuring services support and deliver outcomes that reflect the diverse, multi-cultural needs of our city

People and resource management

use visible, effective and supportive leadership and management skills that engages, develops and encourages talent, supports adaptable ways of working and creates strong more flexible teams.
Review and monitor the performance of services, systems, budget, teams and individuals against standards and agreed outcomes in a cost effective and flexible way that is responsive to a dynamic local, political and national context
You use a coaching approach to empower, enable and motivate your team to be their best. Embedding a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement that ensures you have the right people with the right skills.
Ensure plans are in place to ensure there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed and budgets are maximised

The role profile and specification are an outline only and may vary from time to time without changing the character of the job or level of responsibility

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.