Supported Housing Regulatory and Compliance Lead Officer


Company:	West Northamptonshire Council
Salary:	£44,276 to £47,833 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Northampton, NN1 1ED
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	7 Oct 2026
Closing date:	5 Nov 2026

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Summary

The future of supported housing is changing, and West Northamptonshire Council is at the forefront of that change. As our

Supported Housing Regulatory Compliance Lead Officer, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping how supported, specified and temporary accommodation operates across West Northamptonshire, ensuring vulnerable residents receive the right support in high-quality accommodation that meets regulatory standards.

This is a specialist role within our Revenues & Benefits service, providing technical leadership on complex Housing Benefit, Care Act and supported housing regulations. Working across Housing, Homelessness, Adult Social Care, Children's Services and external providers, you'll be a trusted expert, helping services navigate a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape while protecting public funds and supporting positive outcomes for residents.

With the implementation of the new Supported Housing regulatory framework in 2027, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape the Council's approach, influence policy and practice, and establish yourself as a recognised subject matter expert in a highly specialised and growing area of local government.

Our benefits

You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here:

Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.

What will you be doing?

You'll provide senior technical leadership on supported housing and Housing Benefit compliance, ensuring providers, schemes and claims meet legislative and regulatory requirements. Working closely with internal services, landlords, housing providers and partner organisations, you'll review accommodation models, analyse rent structures and support arrangements, assess Housing Benefit implications and provide guidance on compliance, quality and value for money.

A key aspect of the role will involve interpreting complex Housing Benefit legislation, Housing Law and Care Act requirements and translating them into practical operational guidance. You'll review cases and schemes, support colleagues with technical decision-making, help ensure claims are assessed correctly and act as a bridge between assessment teams and service leadership.

You'll represent the Council at regional and national forums, networks and focus groups, helping to strengthen relationships and share best practice across the sector. Alongside this, you'll play a leading role in preparing for the introduction of the Supported Housing Regulatory Oversight framework, helping to develop governance arrangements, compliance standards and quality assurance processes that support future service delivery.

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About you

You're an experienced Housing Benefit, Supported Housing or Revenues & Benefits professional with a strong technical understanding of Housing Benefit legislation and its application within supported, specified or temporary accommodation settings. You may currently be operating at Team Leader, Technical Officer, Senior Assessment Officer or specialist Supported Housing level and be looking for an opportunity to further develop your expertise and influence.

You have the ability to interpret complex legislation and guidance, assess the implications of regulatory changes and provide clear, practical advice to colleagues, providers and stakeholders. Experience working with Housing, Homelessness, Adult Social Care or temporary accommodation services would be highly beneficial, as would experience reviewing supported housing schemes, subsidy issues, rent structures or provider compliance.

You'll be a confident communicator who enjoys building relationships, influencing decision-making and working collaboratively across services. Most importantly, you'll be motivated by making a difference, improving standards and helping ensure some of the most vulnerable people in our communities receive the right support in the right accommodation. You'll share our THRIVE values and our commitment to delivering excellent services for the residents of West Northamptonshire.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. Hear from our Chief Executive, Martin Henry, about

building a career at WNC.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain

what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email

careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

Please note we reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.

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