Decision Maker: Executive Director for Place & Economic Growth
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
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.
Other reasons / organisations consulted
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.
Contact: Fiona Carr, Principal Homelessness Strategy Officer Email: fiona.carr@oldham.gov.uk / 5163 Email: fiona.carr@oldham.gov.uk.
Publication date: 12/11/2019
Date of decision: 07/11/2019
Accompanying Documents: