Grade J
- Location: Gateshead Civic Centre and Shearlegs Road
- Service: Customers and Communities
- Line Manager: Service Manager – Adaptations and Grants
- Car user status: Casual
Job purpose
To provide building surveying services across all tenures, including Gateshead Council and private properties. To carry out property inspections, interpret the recommendations of occupational therapists, and provide practical and reasonable solutions.
The key roles of this post will include:
- To ensure conduct and behaviour demonstrates a commitment to the core company values and promotes cross service working to achieve excellent customer service and outcomes
- To be proactive in all aspects of health & safety management to comply with current legislation, including CDM regulations; promote a culture of good health and safety practice within the working environment, ensuring personal responsibilities to yourself and others are discharged in line with company policies and procedures
- To demonstrate a positive, diverse and inclusive attitude to both internal and external customers and colleagues
- To actively participate in the evaluation, development and continuous improvement of the service, keeping up to date with policies and procedures and participating in meetings and training as necessary
- To work as part of a team, collaborating and sharing knowledge openly to enhance service delivery, ensuring both individual and team objectives are met
- To carry out inspections and, after occupational therapists’ assessments and recommendations, produce person-centred and cost-effective solutions
- To produce full working drawings using AutoCAD
- To evaluate manufacturer and subcontractor proposals to remedy building defects
- To prepare estimates for planned works, including budget and life-cycle costs
- To produce reports, and develop specifications and suitable scope of works packages following analysis of relevant assessment reports, health and safety risk assessments and survey data
- To undertake research and development of, and consequently promote, maintenance solutions
- To procure in accordance with The Gateshead Housing Company’s contract procedural rules and construction protocol
- To support and update standard specifications for home adaptations
- To undertake inspections of works in progress and completed works, to ensure they are completed to a satisfactory standard and in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions
- To liaise with interested stakeholders and contractors to ensure compliance with health and safety and CDM legislation, and any other statutory contractual obligations, such as planning or building control consent etc.
- To fulfil the role of Principal Designer
- To work with members of the public; effectively negotiate and adopt a problem-solving approach with all interested stakeholders and partners so that those requiring adaptations can be safe and independent in their home
- To work closely with external architects where necessary i.e. during complex schemes to ensure home adaptations are designed and completed in a timely manner
- Such other responsibilities allocated which are appropriate to the grade of the post.
Criteria
Essential
Qualifications
- HNC in Building Studies, or equivalent relevant qualification
- Full driving license, or ability to meet the transport requirements of the role
- Evidence of continual professional development and a willingness to undertake any additional corporate or trade training as required
Experience
- Delivering building surveying services
- Preparing detailed plans and schedules of works
- Preparing specifications
- Defect diagnosis
- Contractor engagement and management
- Working to Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015)
Knowledge
- Excellent written and verbal communication and customer care skills
- IT skills, with working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and competent in the use of AutoCAD
- A sound knowledge of current building regulations and technical guidance
- A good understanding of equality and diversity and how this is demonstrated in a work environment
Desirable
Qualifications
- Certification as a competent person for the purposes of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
Experience
- Interpreting the Decent Homes Standard and recommendations of occupational therapists’ reports to design home adaptations
- Experience within construction
- Delivering and managing in a changing environment
- Working with procurement
Knowledge
- Microsoft Project skills
- Working as part of a diverse and inclusive workforce
Competency definitions
Deciding and Initiating Action
Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people; takes initiative and works under own direction; initiates and generates activity and introduces changes into work processes; makes quick, clear decisions, which may include tough choices or considered risks
Working with People
Shows respect for the views and contributions of other team members; shows empathy; listens, supports and cares for others; consults others and shares information and expertise with them; builds team spirit and reconciles conflict; adapts to the team and fits in well
Relating and Networking
Easily establishes good relationships with customers and staff; relates well to people at all levels; builds wide and effective networks of contacts; uses humour appropriately to bring warmth to relationships with others
Persuading and Influencing
Gains clear agreement and commitment from others by persuading, convincing and negotiating; makes effective use of political processes to influence and persuade others; promotes ideas on behalf of oneself or others; makes a strong personal impact on others; takes care to manage one’s impression on others
Writing and Reporting
Writes convincingly; writes clearly, succinctly and correctly; avoids the unnecessary use of jargon or complicated language; writes in a well-structured and logical way; structures information to meet the needs and understanding of the intended audience
Applying Expertise and Technology
Applies specialist and detailed technical expertise; uses technology to achieve work objectives; develops job knowledge and expertise (theoretical and practical) through continual professional development; demonstrates an understanding of different organisational departments and functions
Planning and Organising
Sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; identifies and organises resources needed to accomplish tasks; manages time effectively; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones
