Breckland Council Application Pack for the post of
Housing Strategy and Enabling Officer 33-17
Closing date: Friday 17th March @ 17:00
Thank you for your interest in working for Breckland Council. Within this pack
you will find the following:
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Conditions of service
Job Description
Person Specification
Please ensure that you read the job description and person specification
before completing the application form.
Please use the application form to provide us with full details of your
experience and qualifications in support of your application. Applicants will be
selected for interview based upon the information they provide on their
application form and how this meets the criteria in the job description and
person specification.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please e-mail your completed
application form to [email protected] or send the completed
application form to:
Human Resources
Elizabeth House
Walpole Loke
Dereham
Norfolk
NR19 1EE
Please mark the envelope “JOB APPLICATION”.
All application forms must arrive at Human Resources by 1700 hours on the
closing date.
If you have any queries or would like further information, please do not
hesitate to contact us on the E-mail address above.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The Terms and Conditions at Breckland Council are in accordance with collective
agreements negotiated from time to time by the National Joint Council for Local
Government Services Administrative, Professional, Technical & Clerical Services
(APT & C), with the exception of those conditions affecting salary, which are subject
to a locally negotiated salary structure. Other Terms and Conditions may be
implemented following collective agreements negotiated and agreed with the Trade
Union recognised by Breckland Council for collective local bargaining purposes. The
Principal conditions are set out below:Grade:
8
Salary Scale:
posts)
£26,177 - £31,410 per annum (pro rata for part time
Hours:
14.5 hours per week
Period of Notice to be
given by the postholder:
2 month(s) notice.
Probationary Period:
The appointment of every new entrant to the Local
Government Service with this Authority is subject to a
term of probation which, at the moment, is six months.
Subject to satisfactory service, the employee is
transferred to the established staff at the end of the
period of probation. During the probationary service
the employee will be expected to establish his/her
suitability for the post.
Sickness Payments:
Will be in accordance with the National Scheme of
Conditions of Service relevant to APT & C staff.
Annual Leave:
For full time posts the annual leave entitlement is 22
working days, increased by five days after five years’
continuous Local Authority service, plus eight public
holidays. For part time posts the entitlement is pro rata.
Flex time Scheme:
A flex time scheme operates within Breckland Council.
Car User Status:
This post attracts essential car user status.
Relocation Expenses:
A relocation package of up to £4500 is applicable to all
new appointees who are required by the Council to
relocate to the area.
Please note that all offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory
references and satisfactory medical clearance. In some instances, offers
of employment may also be subject to satisfactory criminal record
checks.
Job Description
POST NO.
TBC
DATE ISSUED
February 2016
JOB TITLE
Housing Strategy and Enabling Officer
GRADE
Grade 8
PORTFOLIO
Growth
SERVICE/FUNCTION
AREA
Strategic Housing
CONTEXT OF WORK
This post will be form part of a shared Housing Strategy
and Enabling team, servicing both Breckland Council
and the Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West
Norfolk. The post will be employed by Breckland
Council, based in Dereham, but involve an element of
travel between the two authorities.
JOB PURPOSE
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To work in partnership with others to attract investment,
identify opportunities and work to ‘enable’ the provision of
housing designed to meet the need for different types of
housing in the district.
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To assist in commissioning research designed to
ascertain the need and demand for different types of
housing provision in the district
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To develop policy and strategies designed to ensure that
the need and demand for different types of housing in the
district is met
RESPONSIBLE TO
Strategic Housing Manager. Breckland Council
Strategic Housing Officer at Borough Council of King's
Lynn & West Norfolk
RESPONSIBLE FOR
n/a
LIAISON WITH
Other Council departments, members of the public,
elected councillors, Registered Providers, developers,
other public bodies, and statutory and voluntary
organisations.
MAIN
To work with a range of partners to identify and
RESPONSIBILITIES
proactively seek out opportunities to support the
delivery of market, affordable and specialist housing in
the district. Such partners include, but are not exclusive
to, the following:
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Registered Providers
Large housing developers
Small house builders
Private and public sector land owners
The Homes and Communities Agency
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Commissioning bodies, such as Clinical
Commissioning Groups and Health and Wellbeing
Boards
To lead complex negotiations with housing developers,
Registered Providers and other partners in order to
secure the appropriate supply, level, mix and quality of
affordable housing within new developments including
reviewing and commenting on the affordable housing
provision within s106 agreements, including those with
project viability issues.
To work closely with internal colleagues in Development
Management, Legal and Assets to undertake work
designed to support housing growth. This includes, but
is not exclusive to, the following:
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Bringing forward sites for development, including
those in the council’s control
Supporting the council’s Development Management
team in the determination of planning applications
Ensure that legal mechanisms used by the council to
secure housing development (i.e. s.106 agreements)
suitably support the council’s strategic housing
function
To assist in, and where necessary lead on, the
development of policy and strategies designed to ensure
that need and demand for different types of housing
provision within the district is met
To assist in, and where necessary lead on, the
commissioning and delivery of research designed to
ascertain the need and demand for different types of
housing provision in the district. This includes, but is not
exclusive to, the following:
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Strategic Housing Market Assessments (SHMAs)
Housing need studies
Gyspy and Traveller Needs Assessments
Gap analysis of specialist housing provision, such as
accommodation for older persons, those with
disabilities and homeless households
To assist in, and where necessary lead on, the
commissioning and delivery of research designed to
support the development of housing and planning
policy.
To maintain an up-to-date understanding and awareness
of different available opportunities designed to support
housing growth and the delivery of the council’s housing
strategy. To promote these opportunities to key partners
as a means of supporting housing delivery.
To assist in, and where necessary lead on, work relating
to the growth of housing stock owned by the council and
any of its associated delivery vehicles. This may include,
but is not exclusive to, the following:
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Assisting in the appraisal of sites, including guidance
on appropriate tenure mix
Identifying sources of funding, and formulating bids
Contributing toward the development of partnerships
and models designed to deliver new housing
Organisational Awareness
 Contributes in activities to deliver organisational objectives
by looking at the wider picture and events outside their
own environment.
 Maintains a broad understanding of the political
environment and the Council’s organisational structure.
 Supports an environment to improve quality of
performance, leading to excellent customer service.
Effective Communication
 Convey clear and concise information in relation to
research on housing data covering a wide range of
communication methods.
 To share specialist knowledge with other team members
and staff, as well as external partners and agencies where
appropriate.
 Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of
customer.
Customer Focus
 Develop good working relations with internal and external
customers, by supporting and encouraging others and
taking personal responsibility to ensure the delivery of
results.
 Ensure information is delivered to meet the needs of the
Council, community and stakeholders which enhances the
customer experience.
 Promote the work of the Council through the development
and improvement of partnerships with existing partners,
customers, and external agencies.
Team Work
 Work with the team, colleagues, elected members and
external partners to accomplish overall objectives for
the housing team.
 Develop and maintain open, honest and constructive
relationships.
 Openly encourage cross-functional working to deliver
customer service improvements.
 Encourage information to be exchanged and shared
between team members, other Council departments
and external partners and agencies.
Continuous Improvement and Quality
 Prepare, research, analyse and present relevant data for
Housing and other relevant services.
 Assist in the management and maintenance of the
appropriate databases in Housing intelligence.
 To provide a comprehensive research, strategy and
enabling service to Breckland Council, and such other
strategic partners as may be determined.
 Undertake any other tasks appropriate to the post, as
required by the Strategic Housing Manager
Breckland Council is committed to develop all staff to their full
potential and to widen career opportunities for all.
The post holder will have fundamental skills in the following:
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Negotiation, research & analytical skills.
Presentation skills in a wide range of mediums.
Time management skills.
All employees must comply with the Health & Safety Policy
and attend the compulsory Health & Safety training as and
when requested.
All employees are required to follow the Breckland Race
Equality Scheme to ensure that services are delivered in a
manner which is fair for all sectors of the community.
All employees are required to make themselves aware of,
and work within, the Data Protection Policy.
Employees are required to undertake any necessary training
to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
OTHER CONDITIONS
The appointment is subject to the scheme of conditions
of service as agreed by the National Joint Council for
Local Government Services as amended by local
collective agreements.
SALARY
Grade 8
LEAVE
22 days per year (increasing to 27 days after 5 years’
service) plus 8 bank holidays
WORKING HOURS
14.5 hours per week. Working pattern to be negotiated
with the successful candidate
CAR ALLOWANCE
Essential
PENSION
The post holder would be eligible to join the Local
Government Pension Scheme.
Person Specification
Attributes
EXPERIENCE
Essential Qualities
Desirable Qualities
Experience of working in Experience of working
partnership to achieve
in a housing and/or
common goals.
policy development
and/or research-based
Experience of gathering, role
analysing and
interpreting complex
Experience of working
data
in partnership across
the public and private
Experience of
sector
undertaking research
activity
Proven track record of
delivery of new housing
schemes and projects in
an enabling role.
Experience of
developing and
negotiating S106
agreements.
Experience of working
in a political
environment
Experience of working
in residential property
investment
QUALIFICATIONS
Educated to degree level
(or equivalent relevant
experience)
Educated to degree
level (or equivalent) in a
housing or development
related discipline.
Membership of the
Institute of Housing.
A qualification in project
management.
KNOWLEDGE
An understanding of the
activity that local
authorities conduct in
relation to housing, both
at a strategic and
operational level
A working knowledge of
research methods.
An understanding of the
housing market, and the
challenges in meeting
the diverse housing
needs of residents.
A broad understanding
of the planning system
in relation to housing
development
SKILLS
An ability to interpret
and apply complex law
and policy
Excellent problem
solving skills
Excellent written and
verbal communication
skills
Excellent numerical
skills
A working knowledge of
the statutory planning
system, including the
use of s106 legal
agreements.
A working knowledge of
relevant funding
regimes that support
housing delivery,
including affordable
housing
An understanding of the
housing development
process and issues
relating to the provision
of affordable housing.
An understanding of the
principles concerning
residential property
investment.
Proactive approach to
continuous
improvement within
area of work.
Excellent project
management skills
Excellent negotiation
skills
Excellent analytical
skills
Excellent time
management skills
Excellent presentation
skills
The ability to analyse
data, and present it in a
meaningful form.
Ability to use IT
packages including MS
Office suite.
Good political
awareness
ATTITUDE
Proactive and highly
self-motivated
A ‘can-do’ and
entrepreneurial attitude
to addressing
challenges and solving
problems
A strong commitment to
continuous personal
and professional
development
A strong commitment to
public service
An organised and
methodical approach to
work
A methodical approach
to maintaining
information.
An ability to work with a
minimum of day to day
supervision
A flexible approach to
working practices.
Enthusiasm to work with
a wide range of
partners.
Able to adapt to a
variety of situation and
changing priorities
SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES
Willingness to travel and
access to suitable
transport.
Willingness to work
outside of office hours,
including attending
public meetings, as and
when required