Job Description
Community Led Housing Development Officer
2 year Fixed Term Contract
Scale H
Responsible To:
Housing Development Manager
Responsible For:
N/A
Job Purpose
The Community led Housing Development Officer will play a key role in working with
communities, individuals and groups to inspire, mobilise and empower them to deliver a
range of housing options and create strong communities where it can be difficult to achieve
through mainstream housing.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
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To support the Housing Development Manager in facilitating the delivery and set up
of community led housing to ensure that housing policy is delivered (including
planning policy) and having due regard where appropriate to viability.
Encourage communities where individuals or groups can play a leading and lasting
role and mobilise groups/communities in solving local housing problems, in Allerdale.
This may include some evening working.
Provide advice and support on a range of approaches to meet housing need and
establish community groups such as Community Land Trusts who are able to have
greater local accountability and control over the housing management of homes in
their community.
Act as the key contact between the Council and Communities in establish community
led housing.
Directly support existing community land trust(s) in housing development
opportunities
Work with individuals or groups of individuals who are interested in self-build
Work with colleagues to tackle empty properties that can be brought back into use for
community led housing.
Monitor the Council’s self-build custom build register.
Work with developers, and communities to identify new development opportunities
Support the creation of genuinely affordable homes and strong communities to
ensure that affordable housing provision is available in areas where there is a greater
prevalence of second homes.
Support the delivery of a range of genuinely affordable housing in perpetuity and in
ways that are difficult to achieve through mainstream housing.
Work with colleagues to identify housing needs and support an evidence base in rural
areas.
Support the Housing Development Manager to unlock stalled sites
Promote community cohesion through community led housing
Contribute to the development of S106 obligations for affordable housing.
Monitor and report to the Housing Development Manager on the risks associated with
community led housing development and delivery
Job Profile Community Led Housing Officer - Final Feb 2017
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Develop effective and dynamic partnerships working with a full range of community
groups to secure a range of housing that helps meet the needs of all members of the
community
Assist in the development and delivery of housing related strategies and policies
produced by the Council and other agencies.
Maintain an awareness of policies and procedures which impact on how the
community led housing projects are delivered
Proactively seek opportunities to utilise other community assets for development of
housing.
Promote and market Community led Housing in Allerdale
To assist in developing and prepare written reports and briefing papers
To gather and report relevant data in order to provide performance management
information for the department’s delivery plan
Job Profile Community Led Housing Officer - Final Feb 2017
Person Specification
Experience of managing projects
High level communication, negotiation and
interpersonal skills with the ability to deal with a
variety of internal and external stakeholders
including elected Members
Ability to proactively manage a challenging
workload under pressure and to deadlines, using
own initiative and demonstrating skills in work
prioritisation, organisation and time
management
Excellent facilitation and presentation skills in a
community development context
Ability to adopt an effective approach to problem
solving, adapting to changes in circumstance or
information
Ability to inspire trust within the community,
helping others to understand the priorities of the
Council and how we may build capacity and
strong communities.
Ability to support the development and learning
of residents engaged in community development
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How
assessed
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Good computer skills with a knowledge of
Microsoft office
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An understanding and knowledge of housing
legislation and guidance
Knowledge of the pressures facing local
government
Knowledge of partnership practices and
principles
Willing to work flexibly in accordance with
policies and procedures to meet the operational
needs of the council.
Willing to undertake training and continuous
professional development in connection with the
post.
Work in accordance with the council's vision and
values.
Able to undertake any travel in connection with
the post.
Have an understanding of investment models for
housing and develop innovative options for
financing and delivering affordable housing.
Work across a range of Parish and Ward
Council’s in Allerdale to promote key aspects of
Job Related Skills and Experience
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Job Profile Community Led Housing Officer - Final Feb 2017
Essential
Desirable
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the housing strategy and in particular community
led housing, (which may include evening
working.)
Attend meetings with key partners/members and
parish council’s to promote affordable housing
delivery, and with a particular focus on
community led housing
Work on your own initiative and have a sense of
creativity and enthusiasm to help communities
deliver housing
Education
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Relevant qualification to degree or HND/HNC
level or similar
Evidence of Community Development training
Project Management and Development
Membership of a relevant professional body
I = interview
A = application
Job Profile Community Led Housing Officer - Final Feb 2017
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Essential
Desirable
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How
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