Project Manager - Housing and Homelessness at Changing Lives

Contract Type: Permanent

Role Type: Employment

Hours: Full time

Application deadline:

Based: Durham

Salary: £30,150 Per Annum

Salary Type: Fixed Salary

Location: County Durham

Role description: Project Support

About us

Changing Lives is a nationwide charity helping people facing the most challenging of circumstances to make positive change - for good. We believe that everyone deserves a safe home, a rewarding job and a life free from addiction or abuse. We know that given the right support, anyone can change their life for the better.

Our services across the country help thousands of people each year who are experiencing a wide range of complicated challenges, including homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, involvement with the criminal justice system, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. By focusing on their strengths, potential and opportunities, we support the people we work with to overcome their problems and live safe, successful, independent lives.

Our charity is powered by over 600 passionate colleagues who bring a diverse and inclusive environment for our colleagues to grow. We are proud to say that many have actual lived experience of the challenges faced by those we support. We are looking for committed and compassionate professionals to join our team, who share our enthusiasm for changing lives.

About the Service - Housing & Homelessness Services

A safe home is the solid base from which you build your life. We support people who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless, as well as providing specialist accommodation and outreach services for rough sleepers, veterans, survivors of domestic abuse, women and young people.

Accommodation to us doesn’t just mean a roof over your head and shelter from the elements. It needs to be a welcoming and flourishing environment, offering opportunities for all those we support to feel comfortable and develop. You can make a difference and support people on their journey towards a brighter future. At Changing Lives, we offer a home rather than just a shelter.

About the Job

We are looking for someone with management experience to manage the Durham Dispersed housing in County Durham. This is a service with 30 properties which are available to house people of County Durham who are assessed via the Durham County housing and homeless team. The properties are made up of 15 assessment centre places and 15 longer term supported placements. The team is made up of 3 dedicated support staff who provide the support and housing management to the residents. As part of the team, you will lead them and assist with the running of the service and ensure that high quality support and high-quality housing is given, with support from the areas Service Manager and Operational Lead.

Project Management:

Deliver and manage the project to the agreed quality standards and good practice protocols, ensuring a creative learning environment is developed.

Provide robust and effective line management to the team, ensuring appropriate line management, supervision and performance management and that staff operate in accordance with the appropriate models of service and policies / procedures

Ensure that all team members adhere to the required training standards and are equipped to undertake their duties to a high standard.

Ensure all staff maintain high quality case notes, records and all core documentation are completed in a timely manner.

Undertake caseload audits on a regular basis to ensure that records are robust, adhere to a high level of case recording and are compliant with organisational requirements.

Be responsible for all recruitment and selection for the team.

Ensure that the team benefit from professional and personal development opportunities; are engaged, and highly motivated towards their own development and professional practice.

The Project Lead will be responsible and will ensure that all staff comply with HR policies and procedures; where there is any infraction, they will be responsible for investigations and disciplinary proceedings.

Work alongside the team to allocate housing, collecting personal service charge, organise repairs, enforcing tenancy rules, addressing anti-social behaviour, assisting with benefits, maintaining property standards, and ensuring tenant safety and well-being.

Manage a team who will:

Support people to make the best use of local resources and amenities to meet their health and welfare needs.

Support residents to obtain/sustain tenancies in the wider community and support residents to progress to appropriate accommodation suitable for their needs.

Ensure that the voids and placement are responded to and actioned within the time scales set via the contract and service level agreement.

Finances:

Be responsible for purchase orders, petty cash, and Barclay card purchases.

Be responsible for the audit and sign off staff expenses, in line with policies and procedures.

Deliver the project on budget and adhere to all organisational expectations.

Contract management:

Provide information and reports on the operational performance to inform future decision making and informing appropriate stakeholders.

Be responsible for operational performance and report directly in writing to the Service Manager on a quarterly basis.

Be accountable for all areas of governance, including safeguarding adults, children and serious incidents.

In conjunction with the Service Manager, be responsible for operational contract management and taking pro-active measures to address any areas of contract non-compliance.

Ensure all contractual requirements are adhered to and reports completed on a timely basis when requested.

Strategic position:

Represent Changing Lives strategically at appropriate local forums.

Improve outcomes for people who are experience homelessness and who are in crisis.

Responsible for implementing your element of the Housing and Homelessness strategic plan. This will include the meaningful involvement of people who use this project, and this will be embedded in delivery and development.

Develop a working relationship with the community and other local partnerships.

Actively engage and communicate with appropriate organisations to maximise routes into safe housing, training, education, and employment.