Overview

Team Leader – East Kent Housing Support Service – East Kent

Permanent

£32,470

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Housing Support Team Leader to join our East Kent Housing Support team.

You will be responsible for line managing a team of Housing Support Workers and supporting the Service Manager in the effective leadership and delivery of the service. The overarching aim of the project is to increase the proportion of people entering structured treatment and support them to maintain stable and secure housing.

The service works with people experiencing housing-related needs alongside drug and alcohol issues, helping them access appropriate support, engage with treatment and secure and sustain suitable accommodation.

Key outcomes for the service include:

  • Improving successful recovery outcomes for people engaged in structured drug and alcohol treatment.
  • Reducing unplanned discharges from treatment for people with housing-related needs.
  • Supporting people in temporary accommodation who have substance misuse support needs and signposting them into appropriate local services.
  • Reducing the number of people losing temporary accommodation due to substance misuse or associated behaviours.
  • Improving access to, and sustainment of, suitable accommodation for people engaging in structured drug treatment.
  • Reducing unmet housing need among people engaged in structured drug and alcohol treatment.
  • Contributing to the development of an evidence base around housing-related needs for people dependent on drugs and alcohol and the most effective interventions.

On a day-to-day basis, you will allocate caseloads, manage a small number of complex cases, support and develop your team, and ensure that deadlines, performance targets and quality standards are consistently met.

You will be responsible for contributing to performance targets set by Forward and local Grant Funding Commissioners. You will also support the Service Manager to ensure that data is accurate, recorded appropriately and submitted within required timescales.

At times, you will be the most senior representative on site and will be required to deputise for the Service Manager, ensuring the smooth and effective running of the service.

This is a position of trust, requiring strong communication, sound judgement and a collaborative approach. You will build an effective working relationship with the Service Manager and work closely with other Forward departments and external partner agencies, particularly Local Authority Housing Teams, to achieve positive outcomes for the people we support.

Flexibility is essential, as the role will involve travelling to other projects across the East Kent region where required. This will help ensure continuity of care and support for the client group.

About You

We are looking for an experienced professional who is passionate about supporting people affected by homelessness, substance misuse and other complex needs. You will have experience of working within housing, homelessness, substance misuse, health, social care or a related environment, alongside the ability to lead, motivate and develop a team.

You will be confident managing competing priorities, supporting staff with complex cases and ensuring that services meet performance, quality and contractual requirements.

You will have:

Qualifications and Experience

  • A qualification in management or relevant management experience.
  • Accreditation, qualification or relevant experience in homelessness, substance misuse, health, social care or a related field.
  • A housing qualification, or a willingness to work towards one.
  • Experience of supporting people with complex needs and/or experience within housing or support services.

Knowledge

  • Knowledge of community support and housing services.
  • Knowledge of key housing and homelessness legislation.
  • An understanding of the factors that contribute to homelessness.
  • Awareness of the criminal justice sector and its impact on individuals and their housing and support needs.
  • An understanding of substance misuse and the challenges faced by people accessing structured treatment.

Skills and Approach

  • Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to support and develop a team.
  • Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
  • The ability to manage complex cases effectively and provide appropriate support and guidance to staff.
  • Strong communication and partnership-working skills.
  • The ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external agencies, particularly Local Authority Housing Teams.
  • The ability to work towards performance targets and maintain high standards of service delivery.
  • Confidence in making decisions and deputising for the Service Manager when required.
  • A flexible approach and willingness to travel across East Kent to meet service needs.

About Us

We are The Forward Trust, the social enterprise with charitable status that empowers people to break the often interlinked cycles of crime and addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years we have been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. We believe that anyone is capable of lasting change. Our services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits – 

  • Flexible working
  •  Support for Families – We support our employees through every stage of family life by offering enhanced maternity and paternity pay for eligible employees who have completed 26 weeks’ continuous service, alongside family-friendly policies and a supportive, inclusive workplace. If you’d like more information about our family-friendly benefits, please contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@forwardtrust.org.uk 
  • Training and development opportunities
    • Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
    • Season Ticket Loan Scheme 
    • Cycle to work scheme
    • Crisis Loan Scheme
    • Electric Car Scheme
    • 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata’d for part time employees)
    • Access to Blue Light Card
    • 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays 
    • Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter 
    • Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary) 
    • Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
    Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
    Please note that remote roles may require occasional travel for site visits, training and meetings.
     
    Diversity at Forward Trust
    The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness. Some of our roles may require a minimum period of sustained recovery (normally around 3 years). This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and exceptions may be considered depending on the role and individual circumstances.

    When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.

    To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here.  

    We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know.
     
    Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work
    Dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

    If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.

    Our Commitment to Safeguarding
    We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk. Forward Trust follow safer recruitment practices and support a culture of openness and accountability.

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