Adaptations Team Manager

About The Home Adaptations Service

We have an exciting opportunity to expand our delivery of adaptations in Southampton and join the Council’s newly formed Home Adaptation Service.

The role of Home Adaptation Team Manager is to be a pro‑active, enthusiastic, self‑motivated and solution‑focused person to lead the service. The primary role is to make a real difference to people’s lives.

The Team Manager’s role will be to help direct, lead and manage all services, across all tenures relating to Adaptations in Southampton and help provide a multi‑agency, strengths‑based approach to work undertaken through statutory support and the services provided.

The Team Manager will take a lead role in developing the interface across internal and external agencies to provide an approach that maximises independence and provides quality access to adaptations and related services.

This role will ensure the team have the right conversations, have access to the best information and knowledge of what is available in communities and provides high‑quality information, advice, and guidance to disabled residents.

This is an excellent time to join our team as we continue to innovate and develop our Home Adaptation Service as part of a wider transformation programme of expansion and promotion and provide a more robust foundation from which we can expand the reach of the service whilst also seeking more innovative, preventative and personalised applications from the available funding.

The Home Adaptations Team Manager will help lead the Home Adaptation Service in a range of duties primarily relating to the delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants and the Council’s new Discretionary Assistance Policy including the new SCC Social Housing Adaptations Policy.

• Lead and manage a full administrative service to deliver the Disabled Facilities Grant and the Council’s Discretionary Housing Programme in its entirety, ensuring the service is appropriate for individual needs and that relevant support is offered to customers by Grant Law.
• Lead on all enquiries and referrals from customers or professional contacts, ensuring that the Occupational Therapist (OTs) and that the Home Adaptation Team referral is acceptable and be responsible for liaison with all relevant internal and external organisations.
• Lead the management of customer expectations and work in partnership with the Housing OT service, housing surveyors and outsourced contractors for all building works, and administer the team’s cases effectively.
• Demonstrate strong and motivational leadership to ensure all staff are informed and understand their roles, creating an environment where staff can excel and are committed to providing high standards to the public as the first point of contact.
• Work closely with wider Council teams including Finance, Adult Social Care, Procurement, I.T. and external partners as required such as the Better Care Board.
• Help manage delegated budgets, financial and performance monitoring, and relevant reporting, including setting targets for staff. Report accordingly on performance to Home Adaptations Service Manager and Senior Management.
• Lead and manage the team, undertaking regular 1:1s and appraisals and support training and team development to help drive change including Diversity, Inclusion and Equalities.
• Prepare briefing/cabinet papers working with the Home Adaptation Service Manager and relevant reports for Head of Housing Needs and Support, Executive Directors and Council Members, and also attend internal and external management meetings as required.

Our Home Adaptation Service supports both children and adult residents of Southampton who require an adaptation in their home to help access essential facilities and to maximise independence.

We complete home visits across the city and make recommendations for:

• Major and minor adaptations funded via the Disabled Facilities Grant/ Discretionary Financial Assistance Policy
• Adaptations delivered through Southampton City Council Housing Revenue Account
• Specialist equipment and other minor works when required

You will be part of a supportive, collaborative team with strong links…