We are Local Space, a 2,700-home registered provider of social housing operating in East London & Essex. We are a G1 V1 rated RP (Registered Provider). We are Investors in People accredited and are the only housing association to hold the sector’s highest credit rating, AA-.

Originally formed by the London Borough of Newham as an innovative and independent vehicle for the acquisition and refurbishment of temporary accommodation. We work in 8 London boroughs and across a variety of districts in Essex. We continue to buy and refurbish properties and added 300 homes to our stock last year. We also offer intermediate rented homes for local key workers.

We know that one of the best ways we can achieve greater quality of life for customers is to provide them with a home they can be proud of and deliver cutting-edge services that are a pleasure to use. That’s why we’ve tripled the size of our component replacement and planned works programmes and are making a major investment in the development of our repairs and online services over the next 4 years.

Reporting to: Property Services Manager

Location: Stratford, London

Salary: £43,000 per annum

Permanent, full time, 35hrs per week.

The Team

You will be working within the Property Services Team (6 staff). The team are responsible for the day-to-day delivery of our responsive repairs, voids, planned maintenance, component replacement, statutory compliance and some facilities management services.

The Role

Your role will be to ensure that Local Space is compliant with legislation, health and safety regulations ensuring we provide homes that are safe for our customers to live in.

• Responsibility for the 6 main areas of compliance; Gas, Electric, Water Hygiene, Fire, Lifts, and Asbestos.

• Manage, support and design the implementation of compliance contracts and works.

• Manage and monitor service contracts with external providers and be a first point of contact for contractors.

• Monitor and report on the performance of contractors engaged on service contracts and works related to statutory compliance.

• Evaluate, approve or reject claims and invoices received from contractors in accordance with the terms of contracts and with Local Space’s financial rules. Issue variation orders and further instructions as required.

• Carry out pre and post inspections, issue orders to contractors, address substandard works by contractors as set out in contracts.

• Investigate and respond to customer queries in a timely manner in accordance with service standards.

• Investigate feedback and complaints received by customers and take immediate action to remedy dissatisfaction or resolve any issues identified.

You

Are you committed to improving the safety of homes?

Have you got experience covering areas of compliance in a social housing setting for either a client or contractor?

Have you experience managing suppliers and delivering improved services?

If you want to work for an organisation that is passionate about ensuring customers' homes are safe and you have experience in managing statutory compliance, we want to meet you!

We’re looking for someone with experience in compliance and health and safety and someone who understand the value of ensuring excellent communication with residents is maintained at all times.

Key Tasks

• To ensure that the association complies with its legal and other obligations and requirements in relation to the properties it owns with reference to annual gas servicing records, periodic servicing of electrical installations, fire safety inspections and other statutory or regulatory requirements such as the asbestos register, lift maintenance, FSE (this list is not exhaustive)
• To develop and oversee control systems to manage risk, ensure Local Space complies with relevant health & safety requirements and actively pursues progressive improvement in health & safety performance.
• Knowledge of contractual conditions and liaising with external consultants to ensure contractual obligations are being met by our preferred providers, providing appropriate controls to deliver services efficiently.

Job Purpose

• To be the named officer having specific responsibility for ensuring all properties in the association’s ownership have in place a valid CP12 gas safety certificate and a valid electrical certificate and appropriate records are kept across all areas of compliance.
• Monitoring and addressing management & performance information, service delivery and contract compliance perspective to drive improvements in service delivery.
• To manage and administer the gas, fire safety, asbestos surveying and register, & electrical installation certification contracts ensuring appropriate levels of performance, and collaborative partnerships are achieved. Monitoring a budget of up to £1m, meeting all deadlines as agreed at the start of the financial year start for both Capital and Revenue budget streams
• To ensure that Local Space establishes and maintains accurate records and databases internally, utilising Keystone KSI & KAM and Civica CX, liaison with external consultants and contractors, internal technical specialist colleagues and with tenants and residents.
• Monitor completions and satisfaction levels for works delivered for the Property Services Team across all work streams.
• Manage compliance related contracts establishing collaborative relationships, achieving compliance under the terms of the relevant contract, attending monthly contract meetings and monitoring performance and H&S issues in relation to each of our compliance contracts.
• Assist the Property Services Manager in maintaining Regulatory Compliance records for the RSH & other statutory bodies.
• As required to assist the Property Services Manager and other colleagues with the production & maintenance of records for Quality Assurance Initiatives, Service Excellence Plans and customer feedback vehicles etc.
• To manage the Local Space Approved Contractors scheme ensuring all insurances and accreditation certificates are valid and current, appropriate to the banding of the contractor for works approved.
• To be the lead officer on alerting the Property Services Manager and directly where necessary the Senior Management Team and the Chief Executive of any areas where the association is at risk of non-compliance.
• To assist in the preparation of statistical returns, assessments and monitoring reports for the Local Space Board – relative to Gas and Components
• To assist the Property Services Manager in the preparation (and if required presentation) of reports for EMT and Local Space Board.
• To liaise with various Council Officers, Housing Association staff, Government Departments, The HCA, and other housing and property agencies as appropriate.

Educational Achievements, Qualifications, Training

• GCSE English and Maths
• A recognised Building/Technical qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience of using data management and analytical skills

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience of collaborating with external partners and stakeholders.
• Have a good solid understanding of Social Housing Landlord Compliance – Gas Servicing, Asbestos, Electrical testing and Fire Safety.
• Evidence of recent and continuing professional development with compliance topics
• The ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining records systems and information systems

Job Related Aptitude and Skills

• Ability to analyse and understand data and information quickly
• Creates and maintains good work relationships
• MS Office experience, including spreadsheets, databases
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills including influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage competing demands on time.
• Ability to work autonomously and flexibly.

Additional Requirements

• Full, clean current driving licence and access to own transport.
• High levels of self-motivation and commitment to personal service delivery.
• A willingness and ability to embrace change, including changing service demands.
• Resilience and determination in achieving standards.
• The ability to build constructive relationships and demonstrate and encourage a ‘can do’ mentality.

Equalities and Diversity

In line with the organisation’s Equalities Act 2010 Local Space Staff must to ensure that no users of its services, its employees or job applicants are unfairly discriminated against because of their identifies the following protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or criminal record nor disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justified. Local Space is committed to ensuring and promoting the rights of all people to equality of opportunity and all staff are required to abide by these principles.

Budgetary responsibilities

No budgetary responsibilities

Customer experience (Internal and external)

1. Local Space directly managed tenants
2. LBN tenants under current management arrangement
3. External Contractors

Stakeholders and Partners

1. Local Space directly managed tenants
2. LBN tenants under current management arrangement
3. External Contractors

Health and Safety

It is the duty of all employees to ensure that a safe working environment and safe working practices are maintained at all times. It is also the responsibility of management to do so.

Data Protection

The post holder’s personal data will be processed in a fair and lawful way, in accordance the Data Protection Act 2018 and with the Privacy Notice.

Local Space attaches the greatest importance to data protection for its tenants, staff, and contractors. Employees must act in accordance with Local Space’s Data Protection Policy, and in particular in accordance with the employee obligations set out in that policy.

Employment conditions and benefits - this is for information only and does not form part of any contractual obligation.

• Local Space operates a 35-hour week.
• New staff are subject to a probationary period, after probation sick pay above statutory sick pay is provided.
• The full holiday year starts on 1st January and ends on 31st December each year. Staff get 27 days annual leave. Note all staff are required to ensure that two days are reserved for Local Space Christmas close down, Local Space gifts the third day.
• Staff get an additional annual leave day on the anniversary of their second year at Local Space, bringing their annual entitlement to 28 days. Staff get an additional two days annual leave on the anniversary of their fifth year at Local Space, bringing their annual entitlement to 30 days.
• Staff who have passed their probation are eligible to apply for annual qualification support.
• Local Space support training both corporately and departmentally.
• Local Space is legally required to auto enrol staff on the pension scheme, new staff will need to confirm in writing on an annual basis if they do not wish to be part of the pension scheme. Local Space operates the 1/80ths TPT Retirement Solutions of the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS). Local Space contributes 7.7% and the employee contributes 4.9%, any changes to contribution will be notified in writing.
• Staff who are not enrolled on to the pension scheme, on commencement of employment will be included on the Company’s Group Life Assurance Scheme under which the Death in Service Benefit is two times annual salary. The Scheme is non-contributory.
• Local Space offer the gold healthcare cash plan run by BHSF employee benefits. The benefit is tax deductible and staff need to opt into the scheme. There is a wide range of benefits available from cash back for prescription glasses and dental appointments to reduced rates for gym membership.
• For staff who do not join BHSF, Local Space will pay for eyesight tests and a contribution for prescription glasses in the first year.
• Salaries are paid on the 20th of each month, meaning the remainder of the month’s salary is paid in advance.

New benefits being introduced later in 2021:

• Additional annual leave purchase scheme.
• Online wellbeing sessions with WhiteCalm.
• Day off for child’s first day at school.
• Annual view of your salary and benefits in your total reward statement.
• A review of flexible working is taking place.
• Staff can choose from one of the following loans options:
  • Season ticket loan
  • Cycle scheme
  • Car loan
  • Qualification loan separate from the annual qualification bidding round