Purpose of the Post.
Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
Lead the Housing Commissioning Team, ensuring there are effective and efficient arrangements and policies in place to optimise the housing opportunities and services offered to residents of the county, particularly in the area of homelessness.
Lead on the areas of the Housing Support Grant (HSG) £8.5m revenue per annum, and the Social Housing Grant (SHG) which is around £13m capital per annum, ensuring there are effective and efficient arrangements and policies in place to optimise the housing opportunities and services offered to the county's residents, particularly in the area of homelessness.
Responsibility for providing the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP), a £5m capital grant per annum.
Responsibility for functions. e.g. staff, budgets, equipment
Staff of the Housing Commissioning Unit Team x 5 – (2x Business and Commissioning Officer, 1x Projects Officer, 1 x Rapid Rehousing Officer, 1 x Payments Officer)
The revenue budgets of the teams the post-holder is responsible for
Personal work equipment (over £500).
Main Duties
Lead a team within the Housing Commissioning Unit including officers involved in the Housing Support Grant (HSG) and the Social Housing Grant (SHG).
Undertake work on housing policies at a regional and local level, prepare guidance and implement them on behalf of Cyngor Gwynedd and in cooperation with other partners.
Contribute to the development and implementation of procedures and protocols to achieve the goals of the Housing Department's delivery plans and strategies and ensure statutory compliance.
Coordinate with the Council's other service areas, statutory organisations and voluntary agencies as necessary to develop appropriate policies, working practices or partnership agreements relating to the housing strategic role in the Council.
Make recommendations for change or development through evaluation and research, to ensure that the housing strategic role is fulfilled based on the latest developments in housing practice and policy.
Contribute to research, development, assessment and implementation of housing needs assessments and housing delivery programmes.
Develop and coordinate applications and other development opportunities and liaise with a range of agencies and organisations to make the most of resources for affordable or supported housing.
Contribute to the response on behalf of the Authority to a consultation on proposals from the Government or other agencies and develop good communication methods with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including Elected Members and Government Agencies.
Be responsible for the preparation of strategic plans such as Rapid Rehousing, the Housing Support Grant and other equivalent documents within the field.
Responsibility for coordinating and managing applications for the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP), a capital scheme worth over £5m per annum to purchase and refurbish properties.
Coordinate the process of creating, renewing and monitoring the Housing Prospectus, to include preparing any reports that must be submitted to the Council's forums.
Responsibility for chairing meetings with external stakeholders to agree the plans and priorities of the Housing Prospectus.
Work as part of multi-disciplinary teams, which includes working with internal colleagues, partners and stakeholders to ensure that the housing needs of Gwynedd residents are met.
Develop effective frameworks for effective partnership working arrangements with a range of organisations to address strategic priorities for housing.
Act as the Lead Officer in relation to the Housing Support Grant on behalf of the Council on local, regional and national groups as required.
Ensure that the Team's Contractual and Payment systems work effectively and in accordance with the Council's Standing Regulations and that there is effective overall control of the Housing Support Grant spending.
Be responsible for ensuring that there are robust arrangements in place to review agreements commissioned as part of the Housing Support Grant.
Be responsible for the accreditation of new providers associated with the Housing Support Grant.
Be responsible for evaluating staff and transferring staff training and development needs in accordance with the Council's arrangements.
Represent the Team on corporate groups as required.
Ensure that grant funding activity aligns with the Housing Support Grant funding criteria and Cyngor Gwynedd's strategic needs.
Lead the work of monitoring the outputs and results of the activity and provide regular reports to the Senior Managers, evaluating risks and providing clear, timely and accurate information.
Lead on the procurement and commissioning of contracts within the Housing Support Grant projects portfolio, managing and coordinating tenders and potential suppliers as required.
Provide technical and professional guidance on matters of Homelessness, Accommodation and Strategic Projects to officers within the team, the Senior Manager, Head of Department and Members as required.
Provide guidance to the Housing Options Team so that Cyngor Gwynedd operates in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations, guidance and policies.
Share good practice from other Authorities and consider if there are lessons to be learned in Gwynedd.
Attend meetings, Committees, Sub-Committees or Working Groups as required, including liaising with other agencies and councils.
Contribute to regularly developing and reviewing the Allocation Policy, ensuring that it meets statutory requirements and adopts good practice.
Responsibility for preparing information on the progress and strategic direction of the Social Housing Grant (SHG) for senior managers and elected members. This Grant funds a large proportion of Social Housing applications across the county.
Ensure that projects that receive a budget from the main housing grants such as the SHG and TACP (over £15 million) comply with the specific terms including expenditure by partners who are part of Service Level Agreements or the Housing Partnership.
Ensure that Council applications can be prepared at short notice to take advantage of opportunities to attract additional Welsh Government underspend (this often means bids of over £3 million).
Establish and maintain a system for capturing data relating to housing needs in Gwynedd and reporting the results, contributing to the strategies and action plans of the Department and the Council.
Responsibility for self-development.
Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Special Circumstances. e.g. the need to work unsociable hours, special working arrangements etc.
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