Local Link Lead - Independent Living

At Southern Housing, our vision is to create communities where everyone has a safe home in a place where they’re proud to live. We’re one of the largest housing providers in the UK, but being big doesn’t stop us being local. We put residents at the heart of everything we do and use our influence to create positive change across the communities we serve.

We're now looking for an experienced and inspiring Local Link Lead - Independent Living to lead the delivery of high-quality services across our Independent Living portfolio across Berkshire, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

About the role

Reporting to the Head of Local Link, you'll provide operational leadership for Independent Living services across your region, ensuring residents receive a safe, responsive and resident-focused service that promotes independence, wellbeing and community connection.

Our Independent Living services include sheltered housing, extra care schemes and over-55s housing across London, the Midlands, Kent, Sussex, Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

You'll lead and develop teams, drive service improvements, oversee performance and compliance, and work collaboratively with internal and external partners to deliver excellent outcomes for residents. You'll also play a key role in shaping the future of Independent Living services, using data, customer insight and regulatory requirements to continually improve service delivery.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the operational delivery of Independent Living services across your region.
• Ensuring residents are at the heart of service design, decision-making and delivery.
• Driving performance against KPIs, customer satisfaction measures and regulatory standards.
• Providing leadership, coaching and development support to colleagues and managers.
• Managing budgets, service charge-funded services and ensuring value for money.
• Improving occupancy levels, tenancy sustainment, income collection and resident outcomes.
• Building strong partnerships with local agencies, stakeholders and service providers.
• Leading service improvement initiatives and contributing to digital transformation projects.
• Monitoring compliance, safeguarding, health and safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Preparing and presenting reports using performance and customer data to inform decision making. 

About you

We're looking for a passionate leader who is committed to delivering outstanding services for older residents and creating thriving Independent Living communities.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience managing Independent Living, sheltered housing and/or extra care services.
• Strong knowledge of best practice, legislation and policy affecting housing for older people.
• Experience leading teams through change and delivering measurable service improvements.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire high performance.
• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding for adults and children.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• A resident-first mindset and commitment to exceptional customer service.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment. 

Qualifications

• Relevant degree (or equivalent qualification) or significant experience demonstrating equivalent knowledge and expertise.
• Evidence of continuing professional development. 

Additional requirements

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Willingness to travel across Southern Housing locations, with occasional overnight stays.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rota.
• Enhanced DBS and Adult Barred List checks will be required.