Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Head of Service - Housing and Inclusion
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About the Company
Blackburn with Darwen is seeking an outstanding leader to join the Adults & Health Directorate as Head of Housing and Inclusion. This is a key senior leadership role, leading services that help residents live safe, independent and fulfilling lives.
About the Role
You will lead a broad portfolio across housing needs, homelessness, inclusion, prevention and community support, ensuring the Council meets its statutory duties while improving outcomes for residents and communities.
Responsibilities
- Lead homelessness and housing needs services.
- Prevent homelessness and reduce rough sleeping.
- Improve access to safe and sustainable accommodation.
- Develop effective responses to growing demand.
- Oversee support for asylum seekers, refugees and newly arrived communities.
- Manage the First Point of Contact for Adult Services.
- Oversee social prescribing and community connector services.
- Lead the Complex Lives Partnership and the Crisis Resilience Fund.
- Promote timely advice, strengths-based practice, trauma-informed support, co-production, effective partnership working and targeted help for residents facing hardship, housing instability or multiple disadvantage.
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Qualifications
- Senior leadership experience in housing, health, social care, community services or a related field.
- Degree in relevant discipline
Required Skills
- Strong knowledge of homelessness, housing needs, inclusion, prevention and community wellbeing.
- Experience of leading transformation, managing budgets and performance, and improving services.
- A strong track record of partnership working across councils, health, housing and the voluntary sector.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a commitment to co-production, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Preferred Skills
This is an opportunity to shape services that make a real difference to residents, working within an ambitious leadership team focused on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
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Pay range and compensation package
37 hours, permanent
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome candidates from all backgrounds who can support inclusive, respectful and anti-discriminatory practice.
If you are a strategic leader with a passion for housing, prevention, inclusion and community wellbeing, we would love to hear from you.
Visit our Senior Leadership page on our website to hear more from our Assistant Director and to learn more about our authority: Senior leadership opportunities | Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Brendan Gray, Assistant Director – Social Work & Housing Needs, via email at brendan.gray@blackburn.gov.uk and a convenient time will be arranged.
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