Marie Gerald
Maidstone,Kent
Summary
I have over twenty years’ experience in all aspects of housing but with a particular focus on strategic homelessness. I am passionate in delivering change and bringing excellence to under performing areas as well as bringing together strategic partnerships to working together deliver joint outcomes and keeping those with lived experience at the heart of service delivery.
For the last three years I have been a Homelessness Adviser for the Department for Levelling Up ,Housing & Communities, supporting local authorities to deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and being the bridge between Central and Local Government. Notably I was also part of the Everyone In government response to covid and bringing in rough sleepers from the street and also informed and support the changes to the Domestic Abuse Act as well as taking a specialist lead for work around ex-offenders. Other strong areas include supporting local authorities to bid and deliver capital programmes and ensuring that local authorities are maximising resources by using and understanding published data.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work history
Homelessness Adviser
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
, London
09.2019 - Current
- Support Local Authorities with delivery of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
- Capital and revenue delivery
- Inform Government policy
- Lead on offender policy and liaise with the Ministry of Justice
- Supporting local authorities with funding applications and being part of moderation process which is the decision making process for bids
- Reducing rough sleeping and delivering on national Rough Sleeping Strategy
- Reviewing of data and utilising this to maximise outcomes
Housing Solutions & Private Sector Manager
Dartford Borough Council
Dartford, Kent
06.2011 - 09.2019
- Restructured the service in response to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
- Improved performance and delivery across the board
- Line managed the Housing Solutions & Private Sector Team including setting relevant targets and managing the supervisory process
- Developed and implemented new policies and procedures for the service
- Developed and implemented a multi-agency hub
- Developed and implemented a One Stop Shop for Domestic Abuse
- Domestic Abuse Champion
- Improved relations with external agencies
- Implemented program for Kent Police on homelessness and domestic abuse
- Chair of the regional Kent Housing Options Group
Transformation Manager
Pinnacle
Islington, City of London
06.2007 - 06.2011
- Based in Dartford Borough Council
- Changed the service to a prevention focused service
- Restructured the service
- Improved performance across the board
- Line managed the Housing Options Team including setting relevant targets
- Developed and implemented new policies and procedures for the service
- Developed and implemented a One Stop Shop for Domestic Abuse
- Mortgage Rescue Champion
- Manage the team through an Audit Commission Inspection
- Domestic Abuse Champion
- Improved relations with external agencies
- Attend external meetings, including Police liaison
Head of Lettings
Ujima Housing Association
Wembley, London
08.2004 - 06.2007
- Line managed staff in accordance with the Organisation’s policies and procedures setting targets for the staff in accordance with the Group’s Performance Development Review process.
- Manage the Associations decant and disposal strategy.
- Responding to complaints and correspondence in relation to Lettings
- ·Liaison with the development department regarding housing need and future programmes ensuring effective handover of customer homes when new properties are completed.
- Managing the launch of Internal Choice Based Lettings Scheme, including liaison with Home Connections, arrangement of focus groups and overseeing the IT.
- Management of voids monitoring that includes production of Voids Monitoring Sheet and provide information on all voids for the Association through liaison with other departments.
Estate Manager (and other)
Ealing Council
Ealing, London
01.2000 - 08.2004
- Housing officer (south Acton Estate)
- Anti-Social Behaviour Officer (Acton Area)
- Voids and Lettings Officer
- Additionally, I was part of an emergency team and dealt with a major gas leak in a tower block and a fire in a tower block.
Education
GCSEs - Various
St Simon Stock Catholic School
Maidstone 09.1989 - 06.1994
Skills
- Strategic homelessness delivery
- Capital and revenue delivery
- Building and establishing partnerships
- Transformation of services
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Knowledge of all Windows programmes
- Team building
- Communication skills
Languages
English
Native
Timeline
Homelessness Adviser
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
09.2019 - Current
Housing Solutions & Private Sector Manager
Dartford Borough Council
06.2011 - 09.2019
Transformation Manager
Pinnacle
06.2007 - 06.2011
Head of Lettings
Ujima Housing Association
08.2004 - 06.2007
Estate Manager (and other)
Ealing Council
01.2000 - 08.2004
GCSEs - Various
St Simon Stock Catholic School
09.1989 - 06.1994
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