Total 6 customer service job vacancies in Others category in taunton ta1 2px

Team Leader

On-months contract

Somerset

Role purpose
Supervise a multi-disciplinary team of Planning Technicians to deliver an efficient, high quality, continuously improving service across a wide range of service requests from general enquiries to the validation, registration and processing of planning applications, ensuring legal requirements are met and legislation and local or national policies are complied with.
To act as the site systems administrator and to work with other systems administrators to develop and manage the relevant planning software system to ensure it remains up to date with regard legislative changes and to enhance the efficiency of the Service to ultimately achieve a better quality of service to the public.

Qualification
Essential
* Educated to A-level standard or equivalent experience.
* GCSE in English and Mathematics or equivalent experience.

Desirable
* Business Administration/IT Level 3 Qualification
* ECDL

Knowledge
Essential
* Knowledge of planning legislation to provide detailed advice with regard validation of planning applications including process and procedural matters.
* Knowledge of democratic processes

Desirable
* Thorough knowledge of IT packages in particular Microsoft Office, planning software, document management systems, public facing planning solutions, Sharepoint and GIS. Covering all modules for Development Management, Enforcement, Appeals and TPO's.
* Knowledge of Access/Crystal Reporting and Database Administration

If interested in the role, please contact me at moeez.muhammed@servicecare.org.uk

Conservation Officer

On-going contract - Inside IR35

Taunton

About the role

To support the Council's delivery of the development management service through the effective handling of planning and heritage casework, provide technical advice to customers and the Council in all aspects of the conservation of the historic environment, encompassing historic buildings and conservation areas, archaeology and the wider historic environment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, organisational policy, and professional codes of conduct to uphold standards of best practise.
• Deliver the aims of the council's equality, diversity and inclusion policies; health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and Organisational values in everything you do, ensuring team members are also aware of their responsibilities and maintaining their understanding that Equality and Diversity practice covers both interaction with staff, service users and communities and includes challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all.
• To evaluate and make recommendations on applications relating to planning and historic buildings and/or affecting conservation areas, parks and gardens and other applications, provide specialist advice to professional colleagues, contribute to in-house education and training events, appeals, enforcement cases/complaints and other work as may be allocated.
• To provide planning and heritage advice to those visiting, writing to or telephoning the team efficiently and courteously on planning matters, historic building repair and maintenance. Provide advice in relation to enquiries from Members, various interest groups and individuals on planning and heritage proposals, whilst always having regard to the implications of advice given.
• To provide evidence for appeals and attend Hearings and Public Inquiries as the Council's professional witness.
• To review conservation areas and produce proposals for their designation and amendment, to include the production of Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans.
• To assist with the promotion and administration of the production of a register of locally listed buildings for Mendip District
• To work with Mendip's communities on projects related to the conservation of the historic environment, for example, Village Design Statements, Parish Surveys etc

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or experience
• Eligibility for Chartered Membership of the RTPI or IHBC
• Corporate Membership of the RTPI (desirable)

If interested in the role, please contact me at moeez.muhammed@servicecare.org.uk or give me a call on 01772208967.

Asset Lead

On- going contract Inside IR35

Somerset

About the role

Lead a team of Asset Surveying professionals and data analyst(s), who undertake condition and compliance surveys to the Council's housing stock, ensuring the housing landlord stock portfolio meets regulatory and legislative requirements and maintains value of its asset base.

Responsibilities

• Manage the provision of building surveying and asset management activities for the HRA Housing Assets including Client leadership, project feasibility, scoping, design, and component specification for a wide range of building construction workstreams.
• Ensure stock condition surveys and validation surveys are undertaken to facilitate accurate work programmes to be produced, and updated Business plans to be developed and approved. Management of the stock condition survey process, including the collection, identification and measuring of building attributes, assessing remaining life and checking the accuracy of existing stock condition data.
• Technical subject matter expert for building surveying activities (e.g. building pathology, stock condition and validation surveys, wayleaves, option appraisals, permissions, land ownership, etc.).
• Manage risks relating to building fabric or structural failure through diagnosis and response to emerging issues (e.g. fire or storm damage to buildings, observed deterioration of fabric or structural components).
• Lead the options appraisal of assets to ensure they represent VfM (Value for Money), identifying options for potential disposal.
• Undertake Energy Assessments ensuring data is accurately recorded, and energy performance certificates are made available

Requirements

• HNC in Building Surveying or equivalent qualification.
• Evidence of continuing development of professional skills.

If interested in the role, please contact me at moeez.muhammed@servicecare.org.uk

Lettings Manager
Taunton, Somerset
Temporary, 3 Month Contract (Cover for absence - possibility for extension)
Full Time, 37 hours a week, 0800-16:30
Hybrid Working Available - 3 Days Per Week in Office
Basic DBS Required

We are seeking an experienced Lettings Manager to lead the Housing Lettings Service. The organisation owns and manages approximately 5,600 tenancies. There are four members of staff in the lettings team (including the manager). The annual staffing budget is £203K along with is circa. £70K of annual revenue expenditure. This role is crucial in ensuring timely relets of void council homes, managing around 400 properties annually, and minimizing rent loss through efficient processes. You will ensure compliance with the Homefinder Somerset Policy and Allocations and Lettings Policy, adhering to CORE requirements and the Regulator of Housing's Consumer Standards on lettings and voids.

Key Responsibilities:

• Uphold and promote the council's equality, diversity, and inclusion policies; ensure health, safety, and wellbeing; and embody organizational values.
• Manage a team of letting officers, provide technical advice, and ensure performance targets are met. Coordinate the voids and letting process, manage transfers between council properties, and liaise with the Sheltered Housing and Extra Care Specialist.
• Develop and implement compliant Lettings policies and procedures, and oversee the Lettings Service improvement plan.
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators, analyse data for ongoing improvements, and present findings to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Ensure effective procurement and contract management, manage specific projects, and deliver a downsizing program.
• Engage with applicants, represent the Housing Service at various meetings, and lead cross-departmental collaboration for efficient lettings and voids processes.
• Oversee the Lettings Service budget, including staffing and grants.
• Coach and mentor teams, ensure workforce planning, and motivate employees to reach their full potential.
• Ensure legal compliance, stay updated on sector developments, and identify organisational impacts.

Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of Lettings Management and substantial experience in a senior role within a Lettings Service, ideally in social housing. Proven ability to lead and motivate staff, implement policies, monitor and exceed targets, and contribute to service improvements.
• Experience of monitoring, achieving, and exceeding individual targets.
• Experience of contributing to service improvements that takes account of the needs of diverse stakeholder groups.
• Detailed knowledge of relevant housing acts and codes of guidance, with experience in social housing or community-focused environments, especially working with vulnerable customers.
• Positive, outcome-focused approach; ability to develop effective working relationships; excellent written and verbal communication skills.

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration. If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Alex at Service Care Solutions on 01772 208 966 or send an E-Mail to alex.yates@servicecare.org.uk

Senior Ecologist

3 months, Inside IR35

Somerset

About the role

The Senior Ecologist will provide professional ecological advice to the Council on planning and other ecological matters and ensure statutory duties under international, national and/or local legislation and policy are maintained. The position holder will assist the Principal Ecologist in the day-to-day management of the team and provide vital mentoring to junior Team members.

The Senior Ecologist will be a key advisor and assessor to at least one Planning Area of Somerset on all relevant environmental legislation and shall also regularly partake and occasionally lead on ecological field work.

Responsibilities

• Assisting the Principal Ecologist in the day-to-day management of the team, support the supervision as well as mentoring and the review and approval of work undertaken by Team members.
• Review planning applications, proposed plans, e.g. Minerals, Waste, Transport, Local, Neighbourhood, etc and provide professional ecological advice to the Council and ensure they maintain their statutory duties under international, national and/or local legislation and policy. Review submitted ecological information and assessed ecological impacts of proposed developments and plans against legislation, policy and best-practice guidance and appropriate planning conditions and recommend alterations to policies as necessary.
• Undertake Habitats Regulations Assessments and Ecological Impact Assessments (in accordance with Regulation 9 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 as amended) of plans, e.g. Minerals, Waste, Transport, Local, Neighbourhood, etc and projects, e.g. planning applications or Council schemes where required
• Assess the ecological impacts of plans and projects alone and in-combination upon the integrity of European and Ramsar sites and their qualifying features and in-combination upon the 'Favourable Conservation Status' of populations of European Protected Species (which are not a qualifying feature of a European site), eg impacts on species populations and their habitats, and ecologically support factors such as soils, air/water quality and landscape connectivity and structure.
• Recommend alternative strategies to projects or alterations to policies for plans as a result of the assessment.
• Consult with and obtain agreement from Natural England.
• Develop baseline environmental data, indicators, and targets for monitoring ecological impacts of plans or projects including innovative systems such as baseline modelling and ecological mapping to support Habitats Regulations and Ecological Impact Assessments.
• Develop procedures and processes as part of pilot projects for Government departments.

Qualifications Essential

• A degree in Ecology or a related subject or equivalent experience
• Holder of at least one Protected Species Licence, or able to demonstrate that they are working towards one.
• Professional membership of CIEEM or equivalent

Experience

• Significant experience in the Ecology industry, specifically in consultancy and Local Government.
• Experience using QGIS, MapInfo, MAGIG, Ordnance Survey Maps, The Natural England and Joint Nature Conservancy Council website and others.
• Analysing, scrutinising and evaluating a range of ecology reports.
• Experience undertaking a range of protected species surveys.
• FISC Accredited and experience in undertaking habitat surveys based on UKHab definitions.

If interested in the role, please contact me at moeez.muhammed@servicecare.org.uk

Housing Options Officer
Taunton, Somerset
4 week contract
Hybrid - 2 days a Week in Office
Full - Time, 37 hours, 09;00-17:30

My client is looking for an experienced Housing Options Officer to start immediately. The client has stressed that driving and access to a vehicle is essential, as is a basic DBS and experience with housing I.T systems Locata/HP2.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide housing office and assistance to customers in line with current legislation and the organisation's policy, providing a professional, sensitive and confidential service
• To take proactive steps to comply with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and be responsible for the decision making process under act.
• To meet the organisation's obligations under the prevent and relief duties of the act, in order to prevent homelessness by engaging in effective partnership working, negotiating and/or mediating, and providing accurate advice and assistance
• Act as a caseworker to customers who approach the organisation with a housing need and assist them where appropriate, to retain their existing accommodation or advise them of the full range of alternative housing options available
• If the customer is threatened with homelessness or becomes homeless, to complete a personalised housing plan in writing, giving details of the advice and options and regularly review individual plans

Essential Requirements

• Awareness of the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and its implementation
• Housing experience/experience of Homelessness legislation and practice, and providing housing advice
• Experience and knowledge of areas related to homelessness prevention such as employment and relationship issues
• Experience of working with Locata/HP2 housing systems

If you are interested in this position and meet the above criteria, please send your CV now for consideration. If you require any additional information regarding the position, please call Alex at Service Care Solutions on 01772 208 966 or send an E-Mail to alex.yates@servicecare.org.uk

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