Patch Manager
Salary £32,682 to £34,974 pa inc
Grade PO 4
Division/Section Housing Management

This is a challenging position in which you will think laterally in your approach to maintenance and regeneration. You will look at the way estates are managed as a whole, initiating change if necessary and pulling together different services to manage the estates as effectively as possible. Working in partnership with residents you will raise expectations amongst residents as to what can be achieved, whilst offering direction to staff at ground level and overseeing the caretaking service in your area to ensure the best possible services are provided.

A background in Housing Management is not essential, however you will need to be a skilled communicator, able to speak effectively both one to one and when faced with an audience. You will be able to compile complex written reports, manage a budget, deal with personnel matters, manage staff and organise training.


To receive further information and an application form please telephone the Housing recruitment line (24 hours) on 020 7974 6115, Minicom 020 7974 5859, E-mail your name and postal address to advertising@camden.gov.uk or write to Camden Advertising, Room 19, Town Hall, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE.


Salary £32,682 to £34,974 pa inc
Hours Fixed term for a period of one year.
Reference: JGP 7/1339/IN
Closing date: 10.5.2004


Section A Basic Objectives of post

Patch Managers are established to improve the environment and quality of life for residents on estates (approx. 1500 to 3000 properties) taking a holistic approach to all the factors involved, working with a wide variety of agencies and sections both within and outside the Council. While other sections will deal with individual tenancy management casework Patch Managers will be responsible for matters affecting groups or areas - physical environment and community issues. The post holder must be self-motivated and willing to take the initiative to identify and manage projects. Key concerns will be:

o Resident consultation and development of local regeneration initiatives

o Improving the environment, security and other resident priorities

o Maintenance of communal areas and open spaces

o Caretaking and cleaning

o Identifying opportunities for regeneration and investment

Seek to establish and maintain excellent standards and raise expectations amongst residents about what can be achieved.

The post-holder is responsible for the Caretaking service for their estates acting as a line manager for Caretaking supervisor(s) who will directly manage Caretaking and cleaning staff. The post-holder will be delegated all budgets related to Caretaking, communal repairs and community safety and will be expected to consult with local residents on priorities for the service and a variety of options including changing its hours and alternative ways of supplying the service.
The post has been established to unify the Caretaking service with housing management and technical services, and as such the post-holder must play their part in ensuring that information is shared between those sections and residents as appropriate.

SECTION B Reporting To

District Manager
GRADE PO 7

SECTION C Staff supervised:
On site supervisor


SECTION D: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES/ FUNCTIONAL LINKS

A. DUTIES

1. Work as part of a District Management team and contribute to decision making, presenting its decisions in a positive light both to staff and the public.


2. Have delegated responsibility for an estate(s) budget for communal repairs, community safety and Caretaking.


3. Take overall responsibility for the Caretaking and cleaning service and supervise one or more on site caretaking supervisors assigning tasks, setting targets and monitoring the results, taking appropriate and timely action when required.

4. Set up effective means to supervise contractors (in house or private) carrying out maintenance, cleaning, Caretaking, building or any other type of communal work (e.g. general maintenance) liasing with other Council departments or sections in the District as appropriate.

5. Organise comprehensive and thorough estate inspections, fully documented and responsibilities assigned for action ensuring that it happens.

6. Liase with all appropriate Council departments including those responsible for grounds maintenance, parking and clamping, lettings, social services and external agencies like the police.

7 Initiate and manage projects to meet problems on the estate(s) to improve security, youth problems, facilities, parking, income generation, appearance, working with the District's tenancy management teams and technical teams, and the Department's Renewals staff having consulted residents.

8. Represent the District in regeneration and associated schemes (eg PACE) in respect of properties within a designated patch.

9. Take the lead in resident consultation and involvement in the management of their estates in accordance with Camden's Tenant Compact working with others in the Department and Camden Federation of Tenants and Residents to promote the participation of black and ethnic minority residents, those with a disability, the elderly and young people - to become "community champions" for their estates.

10. Provide statistics and reports, both oral and written, as required, attending evening meetings with the public on a regular basis.

11. Participate in service development as requested.

12. To play a leading and proactive role in the implementation of the Council's Equal Opportunities at Work Policy.

13. TO comply with the Council's Health and Safety policies and also with the Council's Tobacco Policy.

SECTION D
B FUNCTIONAL LINKS

Close liaison with the relevant housing management, technical and other district based teams will be essential, as will working with the Renewals Division staff and resident groups in identifying improvements. The post-holder must also develop an effective working relationship with the Council's Leisure, Environment and Social Services Departments.

SECTION E OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS:
Post-holders are appointed to the designation and not to any particular venue and may therefore be required to carry out their duties on any of the departments estates as directed.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Patch Manager
PO 4
Housing
Tenancy Services\

Housing Management

CRITERIA:

Applicants must have:

1. Excellent communication skills: able to compile and draft complex written reports and letters using own initiative,

2. Able to speak fluently and coherently to a large audience on housing management matters.

3.Ability to encourage good working relationships with residents and community groups.

4. Able to collect and analyse numerical and graphical data to monitor performance.

5. Able to deal with and take decisive and supporting action as required when dealing with personnel matters.

6. Ability to attain a perspective on the service from the residents standpoint and set priorities accordingly.

7 Demonstrate a constructive and practical approach to working with a wide variety of people and to work as a part of a team.

8. Ability to manage a budget and work within the Council's procedures and standing orders.

9. Ability to manage and motivate staff to achieve continuous improvement especially as it relates to caretaking and cleaning.

10 Ability to identify training needs and deliver training solutions.

11. A good knowledge of current legislation and Government policy and innovation in housing and related areas.

12. A good understanding of the issues involved in managing local authority residential property for the benefit of both leaseholders and tenants.

13. Demonstrate an understanding of health and safety issues as they affect the management of housing estates and the obligations of an employer.

14. Show an understanding and commitment to the Council's Equal Opportunities and Valuing Diversity policies and how they apply to the management of council housing in a multi-cultural area.

15. Abide by the Council's Tobacco Policy.