Role Profile

Job Description (JD)
HMPPS Band 6
Directorate: Reducing Reoffending, Partnerships &
Accommodation
Job Description - Strategic Housing Specialist

Document Ref.
HQ-JES-2999 Strategic Housing Specialist v1.0
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
23 May 2022
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence

HQ-JES-2999 Strategic Housing Specialist v1.0

Job Description
Job Title
Strategic Housing Specialist
Directorate
Reducing Reoffending, Partnerships & Accommodation
Band
6

Overview of the job
This is a permanent, non-operational role with no prisoner case-level
responsibilities.

The role will sit within Prison Group Director (PGD) management structures,
however, a heavy focus on and presence in establishments will be required (usually
with time split between 1-3 prisons depending on complexity and demand at each
establishment and local housing landscape) with the expectation that post holders
will travel as and when required.

There are no line management responsibilities as part of this role, and we do not
expect the post holder to have operational experience, although this may be
advantageous when working within the establishment.
Summary
This role is an exciting opportunity to contribute towards the Government’s
commitment to eliminate rough sleeping by the end of 2023/24. The post holder will
be responsible for a cluster of 1-3 prisons, splitting their time flexibly between the
prisons in their portfolio. Prisons that release low numbers to the UK will fall under
the ‘consultancy’ category; for these, post holders will be expected to offer ad-hoc
housing advice but these prisons will not form part of their cluster.

The post holder will identify areas for improvement with respect to access to
accommodation for prison leavers and will work in partnership with key strategic
housing stakeholders, probation commissioned rehabilitative services (CRS), and
Homelessness Prevention Teams (HPTs) to implement sustainable change. You will
ensure that work between each prison and relevant HPTs continues to integrate, and
that senior leaders across the agency are supported to improve the quality and use
of data.

In order to offer informed support and guidance to Governors and their teams, the
Strategic Housing Specialist will be required to understand, amongst other aspects,
the security category of their base prison and the geographical locations to which
prisoners will be released. Prison familiarisation training will be provided to ensure
successful candidates have the fundamental knowledge they need to be effective in
their roles.

For roles across the women's prison estate, post holders should adopt a trauma-
informed and gender specific approach to their role. Post holders should ensure that
all activities reflect and embrace the diverse nature of prison populations, including
the individual resettlement needs of the female prison population.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:

•  The Strategic Housing Specialist will be responsible for co-ordinating the
strategic response of 1-3 prisons to improve housing outcomes for prison
leavers and people in prison. They shall strengthen and support partnership
working between the prison, all relevant housing stakeholders and other key
resettlement agencies.  They will identify existing structures/partnership
working to address homelessness from custody in the region, and work to
develop new solutions to homelessness from custody.
•  They will champion delivery of the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) and Duty
to Refer (DtR), Offender Pathway (Wales) within the prison. This to include:
o  Working with partners to ensure referrals under the DtR are as efficient and
effective as possible.
HQ-JES-2999 Strategic Housing Specialist v1.0

o  Design and deliver (or coordinate the delivery of) training related to
homelessness within the prison and relevant statutory criminal justice
agencies, so staff understand accommodation issues, increase their
knowledge around the HRA and DtR, can identify related needs and have
the knowledge to respond appropriately.
o  Promote the HRA and DtR amongst prisoners to address unhelpful myths,
set realistic housing expectations and encourage engagement with the
commissioned rehabilitation service, prison housing stakeholders, and local
authorities.
o  Developing pre-release assessments with Local Authorities in response to
DTRs, through telephone, video and in-person assessments.
•  Promote the work of the Accommodation Commissioned Rehabilitative Services
(CRS) within the prison and support these services by representing the prison on
any joint engagement with external partners, such as local authorities or HPTs
or local homelessness board. Contribute towards Accommodation
CRS becoming successfully embedded into the prison and promote their work to
the prison’s Senior Leadership Team. Help to find solutions to issues that arise in
relation to practical challenges in service delivery and an understanding of the
role of CRS with all relevant staff groups. This role will act as an enabler and will
not manage, or duplicate efforts of, the Accommodation CRS.
•  When working within a Probation Region delivering the Community
Accommodation Service - Tier 3(CAS3) temporary accommodation provision:
o  Ensure processes are in place to make sure the Duty to Refer has been
discharged appropriately and that all other accommodation options have
been fully explored before a CAS3 referral is made.
o  Work with the Regional Probation team and their Homelessness Prevention
Taskforce to maximise use of the accommodation offer for those at risk of
homelessness, so that they can access interim accommodation at the point
of release.
o  When working within a Probation Region which is not delivering the
Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS Tier 3) work with the prison
and in particular the Heads of Reducing Reoffending and the Resettlement
Team to support them in ensuring that strategic and operational links are
made with the relevant Regional Homelessness Prevention Team.
•  Support and upskill staff across the agency (including CPPs and POMs) to ensure
accommodation needs are identified and addressed appropriately, to
understand relevant referrals and troubleshoot any issues which may arise.
•  Promote work within the prison to help prepare prison leavers to sustain
accommodation in the community, in line with the Prime Minister’s
accommodation target, such as developing and delivering training solutions on
tenancy readiness or prisoner’s housing rights.
•  Support prisons, PGDs, and relevant partner agencies (such as HPTs) to improve
the quality and use of data where it relates to prisoners and housing outcomes,
including the use for research and service design and provision.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours
•  Changing and Improving
•  Working Together
•  Making Effective Decisions
•  Seeing the Big Picture
•  Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
HQ-JES-2999 Strategic Housing Specialist v1.0

Experience
The  Candidate  is  required  to  have  some  experience  of  supporting  delivery  of  the
Homelessness Reduction Act, such as:
•  Worked within the field of housing and/or homelessness, particularly
supporting those at risk of homelessness into accommodation within the
region.
•  Worked with prisoners or those engaged in the criminal justice system.
•  Worked with key related agencies, including prisons, probation and local
authorities.
•  History of developing partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
•  Worked in a multi-agency operational setting to achieve mutual outcomes.

The Candidate is required to have some understanding of:
•  The Justice System, including the roles and responsibilities of prisons and
probation.
•  Housing legislation, particularly the Homelessness Reduction Act and the
Duty to Refer.
•  Accommodation options for those leaving prison.
•  Benefit system and Universal Credit.
•  Resettlement pathways and potential related accommodation needs of
prison leavers.
Technical

Requirements
Ability

Minimum Eligibility
•  All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.
•  All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation.  Internal candidates are
subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within
HMPPS.
•  All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.

Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only

HQ-JES-2999 Strategic Housing Specialist v1.0

Success Profile

Strengths

Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical

are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8

Changing and Improving

Experience - Supporting delivery of the

Homelessness Reduction Act:
Working Together

Worked within the field of housing and/or

homelessness, particularly supporting those at
risk of homelessness into accommodation
within the region.
Making Effective Decisions

Worked with prisoners or those engaged in the

criminal justice system.
Seeing the Big Picture

Worked with key, related agencies including

prisons, probation and local authorities.
Communicating and Influencing

History of developing partnerships with internal
and external stakeholders.

Worked in a multi-agency operational setting to
achieve mutual outcomes.

The Candidate is required to have some

understanding of:

The Justice System, including the roles and

responsibilities of prisons and probation.

Housing legislation, particularly the

Homelessness Reduction Act and the Duty to
Refer.

Accommodation options for those leaving

prison.

Benefit system and Universal Credit.

Resettlement pathways and potential related

accommodation needs of prison leavers.
HQ-JES-2999 Strategic Housing Specialist v1.0