Team Leader, Housing, Perth Full Time

Team Leader, Housing PKC0970

£47,620 – £51,280

Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD

Based within the Locality Housing Teams an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Team Leader to support the Housing Service in delivering our approach to income maximisation and our support to our 7,900 tenants throughout Perth and Kinross. You will have direct management responsibility for a small revenue and court team based within our main office. In addition, you will also have lead responsibility for the day-to-day management of one of our Locality Housing Teams based in Letham, Perth in which you will be supported by a Locality Co-ordinator. As Team Leader you will take a lead role in: 

Shaping and developing the Service’s approach to rent collection, arrears and income maximisation 

Shaping our approach to ensuring that our tenants are supported wherever possible through effective advice and assistance

Developing, monitoring and reviewing policies and procedures to ensure that they are effective, streamlined and meet relevant legislation or any new guidance

Establishing and maintaining effective working internal and external relationships (eg Welfare Rights, Citizens Advice Bureau)

Supporting the ongoing development of our Housing Management System

Development of an effective Performance Management Framework

As a Team Leader, you will report to the Service Manager for Locality Teams and Income Maximisation and will work closely and be guided and take direction from the Senior Project Officer. You will work in collaboration with colleagues across the Housing Service as well as other internal teams. 

You will generally be required to work Monday to Friday from 8.45 to 5pm but due to the nature of the role and remit, there will be an expectation that you will work flexibly, and this could include evenings and weekends, especially for attending public meetings and carrying out surveys and consultation with community members. In addition you will be expected to take part in our Emergency Standby on a rotational basis.

To support and deliver on the role and remit of this post, the key areas of focus will be to:

Assist the Service Manager in leading and managing the Council’s approach to rent collection

Prepare reports as required on the areas in which you lead for Housing Management Team and Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee

Develop and oversee procedures and policies which will ensure:

The opportunity for rent arrears to occur is minimised and where not possible that early intervention is undertaken

Wraparound support is provided to our tenants which focuses on maximising a tenant’s income including accessing other avenues of funding

Ensure that eviction is a “last resort” and all other avenues have been considered

Lead the multi-agency Eviction Prevention Panel to ensure no other support can be provided and prepare reports requesting approval for eviction

Assist the Service Manager with performance management and quality assurance to ensure outcomes are achieved 

Manage the performance of both your teams ensuring their services maintain high service standards and show commitment to sustainable and continuous improvement

Ensure completion of all required reports and documentation to meet all corporate and internal governance arrangements 

Engage and work with tenants and other customers to pursue opportunities to shape and develop services within Housing  

Have a clear oversight of the delivery of tenancy management within your Locality Team supported by your Locality Co-ordinator and to provide leadership and direction in order to meet their outcomes

Communicate and consult with tenants, owner-occupiers and others on improvement and energy efficient projects and liaise with other Council services and external agencies    

Create and develop team plans, ensuring your team are equipped with the skills and knowledge to deliver the outcomes under your control and liaise with other Team Leaders in relation to areas outwith your control

Develop with support a Training Plan for all Locality Teams in consultation with other Team Leaders in relation to rent collection and income maximisation

Support the development of Training Plans for other areas of service which impact on Locality Teams

Assist the Service Manager in delivering key outcomes as required within both the Corporate Plan and Business Management Improvement Plan.

To help in the delivery of this role, we are looking for a highly organised and motivated individual who is enthusiastic, innovative and creative.  You should be able to lead by example and have a clear vision and direction on the way forward. We are working in a challenging environment in relation to the ongoing cost of living crisis, in ensuring we support our tenants to be financially included and that our frontline teams embrace and a deliver a Rent 1st Culture. However, it also provides an exciting and a unique opportunity for someone to look for new opportunities, challenge and change the way in which we deliver services and really put their mark on Perth and Kinross Council’s approach. You will work across Council services and with Elected Members, community planning to deliver our key strategic priorities. Working with Health and Social Care partners and local representatives, your focus will be on achieving key strategic priorities. Although you will have a specific responsibility for these areas, all our Team Leaders work to a generic Job Profile and there may be development opportunities in other areas of the service. You must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to translate strategy and policy into clear messages which can be easily understood at all levels. You must be receptive to new ideas and welcome change and new approaches and take positive steps to carry out improvements in service delivery. You must also have the ability to manage and prioritise constant and often conflicting demands and be able to manage a number of workstreams simultaneously whilst responding to complex issues – with a “think YES approach” but still ensuring compliance with regulation, policy and legislation. Having excellent decision-making skills and the ability to use innovative approaches and resolve problems independently will be essential for dealing with and resolving complex problems and complaints in this role. We are looking for a person who sets high standards for self and others and is able to demonstrate the importance of working well with service partners in other departments and external agencies and who can build positive working relationships. Importantly, you should have a non-judgemental attitude, be empathetic and sensitive to tenants and residents’ needs. 

You should be able to drive and hold a current UK driving licence.

If you need more information about this exciting project and position, please contact Michelle Dow, Service Manager at [email protected]

When completing your application for this post, please ensure you provide current contact details (including e-mail addresses) for two referees, one should be your present or most recent employer. However, if you are an existing employee of Perth & Kinross Council, you are only required to provide reference details for your current employer.

At PKC our values and behaviours  influence our work and support us in the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Offer. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about PKC and you could soon be joining our team!

Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public libraries in Perth and Kinross. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments, please call 01738 475555 to discuss.

As part of our safer recruitment measures, Perth & Kinross Council carries out rigorous checks on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, employment history, including references, and fitness to undertake the post.

Some jobs may have been traditionally carried out predominately by one gender, but we would encourage you to apply if you meet the requirements, irrespective of your gender.

A healthy work life balance is important to Perth & Kinross Council and we provide supportive management and flexible working arrangements to help you achieve a healthy work life balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

Perth & Kinross Council welcomes applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.