Decision details

The council’s statutory homelessness service, along with the management of the council’s housing register, returned in-house from an external provider on 1st July. Renamed as the Housing Options Team, the service has since been embedding and developing itself whilst overcoming a number of operational challenges.
One of these challenges was a number of vacancies which had been held by the external provider for several months prior to the service returning in-house. These vacancies were all within the homelessness section of the service.
The majority of these staffing vacancies have now been filled, or are in the process of being. However since the TUPE transfer took place members of those staff have also taken secondments elsewhere within the Council, or requested flexible working arrangements. This has left the service with further gaps to fill, but also an opportunity to remodel how the service currently operates ahead of a full review planned for later in 2019/20. This report therefore makes recommendations about how the remaining vacancies can be utilised to deliver an improved frontline service.

RESOLVED - That:
Two fixed term (until 31st July 2021) Homelessness Pathway Advisors are recruited, utilising the current fixed term TRO vacancy and the reduced hours requested by an existing HPA.

Option 1 - Recruit two fixed term (until 31st July 2021) Homelessness Pathway Advisors, utilising the current fixed term TRO vacancy and the reduced hours requested by an existing HPA.

2.Recruit to the fixed term TRO vacancy and consider job-share for the reduced HPA hours: Whilst this would reinstate the original staffing structure of the service prior to vacancies at the provider and TUPE transfer, it is not seen to be best use of resources. The TRO role, whilst valuable, does not perform as many aspects of the statutory function as an HPA, or work with as wide a range of people. It is therefore not recommended that this option is pursued.
3.Do nothing: Whilst temporary savings may be generated from this option, it would have a detrimental effect on service quality and staff morale. Where the service cannot be operated to an adequate level of capacity and quality, the council is also open to legal challenge as well as increased staff turnover. It is therefore not recommended that this option is pursued.

Consultation undertaken with Principal and Senior Officers within the housing service. Consultation not undertaken with public or elected members due to being an internal staffing matter.