Housing Strategy Manager

Service:	Housing and Social Work Services
Job Title:	Housing Strategy Manager
Post Reference:	HSW/07-08/117
Grade:	NLC14 £34,284 - £41,145
Closing Date:	Friday 18 July 2008

Based within the Development Section, Motherwell and reporting to the Development Manager, you will lead a small staff team with responsibility for developing the council's housing strategy and contributing to wider corporate planning and partnership arrangements. This will include developing and overseeing the implementation of the council's Local Housing Strategy, Homelessness Strategy and Tenant Participation Strategy, as well as working in partnership with others to identify and meet the housing requirements of the area.

You should be educated to HND level or above and be experienced in strategic planning with at least 3 years experience in housing or a related field.

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Pamela Humphries, Development Manager, 01698 274174.

Job Description

Job Outline:

Reporting to the Development Manager and managing a small staff team the postholder will be responsible for the assessment of housing needs and the development of the Council's housing strategy including its contribution to the Council's wider strategic objectives.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. To supervise and manage staff within the section including development and monitoring of work priorities and identification of development and training needs.

2. To develop and maintain appropriate information systems to assess local housing requirements, inform development of housing strategy and respond to relevant information requests.

3. To commission and manage research projects as required to inform the council's housing strategy and development of the housing service, including stock condition surveys and housing needs assessment.

4. To develop, review and monitor the impact of the Council's Local Housing Strategy (LHS) and ensure relevant stakeholder consultation and involvement.

5. To ensure local housing needs assessments are undertaken to help identify investment priorities

6. To work in partnership with other services and agencies to help secure the necessary investment to implement the housing strategy, including preparation of funding bids as appropriate.

7. To co-ordinate the development of the council's annual Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for submission to the Scottish Government to identify investment priorities for the Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

8. To work closely with Planning to ensure consistency between LHS and land use planning, and contribute to the development of the local Development Plan to help identify housing requirements and achieve strategic housing objectives.

9. To lead the development of an Affordable Housing Policy in North Lanarkshire including identification of housing need/ shortfall and development of policy and procedures for its implementation.

10. To contribute to, and develop the council's response to new or proposed legislation or national housing policy

11. To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of corporate strategies and objectives, including the Corporate Plan; Community Plan and Local Outcome Agreement.

12. To contribute to the Joint Future and Community Care agendas and work closely with Social Work, Health and other housing providers to develop appropriate accommodation and support services to help people with particular needs live as independently as possible in the community.

13. To develop, review and monitor the implementation of the Council's Homelessness Strategy and Temporary Accommodation Strategy, including production of monitoring information as required to the Scottish Government and management of related budgets.

14. To lead on the development and commissioning of appropriate temporary accommodation and related housing support services, including independent sector providers.

15. To develop, review and monitor the implementation of the Council's Tenant Participation Strategy.

16. To manage Tenant Participation budget, including arrangements to provide support to tenants groups and the North Lanarkshire Tenants Federation.

17. To co-ordinate regular monitoring of tenant/service user satisfaction to inform development of housing services and housing strategy; including commissioning of surveys/ focus groups etc.

18. To develop, review and monitor the Council's Private Sector Housing Strategy.

19. To lead on the preparation of the council's section 72 statement under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 outlining the Scheme of Assistance to enable owners to maintain; repair and adapt their properties.

20. As part of the Local Housing Strategy, develop strategy for identifying and addressing Below Tolerable Standard housing and Housing Renewal Areas.

21. To co-ordinate the development and monitoring of the Service Plan for Housing & Social Work Services.

22. To ensure the effective promotion of the Housing Service, in liaison with Corporate Communications, including development of high quality promotional and information material; production of newsletters and press releases, and updating web site.

23. To actively promote the Equalities agenda, co-ordinate Housing Services' response to Equalities legislation, contribute to wider corporate equalities strategies and ensure all housing strategies have been equality impact assessed.

24. To contribute to national policy development as required, including responses to consultation documents; participation in external working groups and briefing of elected members/ senior management.

25. Ensure services are tendered for and controlled in accordance with council standing orders and financial regulations

26. Undertake such duties and responsibilities as may be required in terms of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

27. Represent the council as necessary including attendance at conferences, seminars, meetings, working groups, public enquiries and tribunals.