Head Of Community Services: Community Services at The Passage are delivered from our Resource Centre in Victoria, which provides a single, accessible entry point for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Resource Centre acts as a central hub, enabling people to be assessed once and supported to access the most appropriate accommodation, services or onward referrals based on their individual needs.
People are supported by skilled client facing staff who work with them to understand their circumstances and identify the right pathway of support. Alongside assessment and casework, the Resource Centre provides immediate welfare services to help meet urgent needs and stabilise people at times of crisis.
Following assessment, Community Services deliver a range of specialist and preventative interventions, including rapid rehousing for those at imminent risk of homelessness, advice and advocacy, employment and skills support, housing-related casework delivered in partnership with the local authority, and assertive engagement for people less able to access services independently. The overall aim is to prevent homelessness wherever possible and to support people to move quickly into safe, stable accommodation.
Strategic Leadership and Service Development
Lead delivery of The Passage’s 3-year strategy as it relates to Community Services, ensuring services are preventative, trauma-informed, and outcomes-focused.
Develop, implement and monitor an annual Community Services business plan, reporting to the Quality & Services Committee and Board as required.
Provide strategic leadership for No Night Out, ensuring it continues to deliver rapid, effective interventions aligned to Westminster’s homelessness strategy and wider system reform.
The post holder will be responsible for embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across Community Services, ensuring services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of people we support, and that inclusive practice is reflected in service delivery, staff development and partnership working.
Identify, develop and lead new service opportunities, including bid development and commissioner engagement for Community Services.
Lead planning and operational delivery for Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) and other system-wide responses.
Safeguarding, Risk and Community Impact
Act as Safeguarding Lead for Community Services, ensuring robust policies, training, escalation pathways and safe practice across all services.
Maintain oversight of risk management, incident reporting, and health & safety compliance within Community Services.
Lead locality management across services, including proactive management of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and community impact in a dense residential environment.
Hold responsibility for security provision within Community Services, ensuring appropriate deployment, escalation and alignment with The Passage’s values and legal responsibilities.
Work closely with local residents, businesses, the local authority and other stakeholders to manage concerns, maintain confidence, and protect The Passage’s reputation.
Operational Leadership and People Management
Provide clear leadership and direction to Community Services managers and teams, fostering a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
Recruit, develop and retain high-performing teams, ensuring robust supervision, appraisal and development planning.
Ensure consistent application of people policies, including performance management, grievance, disciplinary and absence processes.
Support managers to define clear roles and responsibilities aligned to service objectives and contractual requirements.
Champion co-production and lived experience involvement in service design and delivery, working closely with the Lived Experience Project Manager.
Primary Services and Resource Centre Operations
Hold strategic and operational responsibility for Primary Services, including the catering function within the Resource Centre.
Ensure full compliance with food hygiene, health & safety, and all relevant regulatory and legal requirements.
Work closely with Fundraising to support corporate volunteering and “Kitchen Takeover” initiatives, ensuring safe, high-quality delivery that enhances supporter engagement while protecting service users and staff.
Balance operational integrity, safeguarding and service quality with supporter and volunteer experience.
Financial Management and Funding Stewardship
Set and manage realistic budgets and forecasts across Community Services, working closely with Finance and Fundraising.
Oversee multiple funding streams, including large trusts, grant-giving bodies and commissioned services, ensuring full compliance with funding conditions and reporting requirements.
Support managers to understand and deliver against budgetary and income-related targets.
Contribute to the development of funding proposals and service models that align with organisational strategy and funder priorities.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact
Strengthen monitoring, evaluation and learning across Community Services, supporting teams to evidence impact and improve practice.
Analyse service data (e.g. In-Form) to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
Produce high-quality narrative and impact reporting for funders, commissioners and supporters, demonstrating both quantitative outcomes and qualitative change.
Work with Fundraising to showcase frontline work through supporter communications, social media and events.
External Relations and Partnerships
Develop and maintain strong strategic and operational partnerships across Westminster and the wider homelessness sector.
Work closely with Fundraising colleagues to steward corporate partners, major donors and trusts, including hosting visits and events.
Represent The Passage in multi-agency forums, contributing to system-wide solutions and best practice.
Organisational Leadership
Actively contribute as a member of the Senior Management Group, supporting organisational planning, innovation and culture.
Provide reports to, and attend, Board and Committee meetings as required.
Deputise for the Director of Housing & Services when appropriate.
Role-model The Passage’s values and commitment to dignity, respect and excellence.
Work flexibly in line with organisational needs.
Note: The details contained in this Job Description summarise the main expectations of the role at the date it was prepared. The nature of individual roles will evolve and change as service, service users and commissioner needs change. Consequently, The Passage will review and revise this Job Description as required in consultation with post holders.
THE DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE – DISCLOSURE
The Passage aims to promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. The Passage welcomes and encourages applications from diverse candidates. Criminal records will be considered for requirement purposes only when the conviction is relevant.
As The Passage meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198’. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.
