ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA

2 job(s) at ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA

ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA Kensington And Chelsea, London
Dec 04, 2025
Full time
Director of Law and Governance Building trust. Strengthening governance. Putting residents first. At the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, we're all in - committed to learning, growing, and delivering for our communities together. "We're all in" means we act with integrity, value every voice, and work collaboratively to make a positive difference for our residents every day. In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, we continue to listen, learn, and evolve - ensuring that residents' voices shape every decision. Our focus is on accountability, compassion, and community trust: principles that guide how we govern, how we lead, and how we serve. Our Council has a proud record of sound legal and governance leadership, and we know that strong, transparent governance is essential to earning and maintaining the confidence of our residents. We are now seeking a Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) - the Council's Principal Legal Adviser who will lead us on the next stage of this journey, embedding integrity, openness, and community partnership at the heart of everything we do. A council learning and growing with its community The Grenfell tragedy remains a defining moment for our borough; one that has changed how we work, how we listen, and how we serve. As we continue to engage with survivors, the bereaved, and the wider community through the ongoing Inquiry and our long-term commitments, we are determined to ensure that our governance and legal practices reflect the highest standards of empathy, responsibility, and care. Our values - putting communities first, integrity, respect, and working together - underpin everything we do. They are central to our We're all in ethos, shaping a culture that welcomes scrutiny, encourages learning, and places residents at the centre of decision-making. This is about more than compliance; it's about co-production, compassion, and rebuilding trust through consistent, transparent action. About the role As Director of Law and Governance and the Council's Principal Legal Adviser, you will shape a culture of modern, resident-focused governance. Acting as the Council's Monitoring Officer, you'll ensure that our legal and governance functions are effective, trusted, and responsive to our diverse communities. You will lead the Statutory Officers group and work with the Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer to maintain the highest standards of integrity and assurance across the organisation. You'll also work with the Director of Law at Westminster City Council to lead the bi-borough legal service, and collaborate with Monitoring Officers across London to ensure we remain at the forefront of best practice. You'll inspire and develop a capable, inclusive legal and governance team - championing professional growth, collaboration, and equality, and ensuring every team member feels valued and connected to our shared purpose. You will also lead our continuing legal response to the Grenfell tragedy, benefiting from the corporate memory of the current postholder, who has been retained for specific legal advice. You will lead in upholding the commitments of the Hillsborough Charter by acting with transparency, candour, balance, and integrity. You'll be supported by a skilled team and an organisation that shares your sense of purpose and accountability. About you You will be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister admitted in England and Wales, authorised to undertake reserved activities under the Legal Services Act 2007, and possess a strong track record of achievement in local government or public sector law. You'll bring deep expertise in governance and the experience to act as the Council's principal source of legal and constitutional advice. You should have extensive expertise in governance, with the capability to inspire confidence, manage complexity, and drive cultural transformation. Equally important will be your emotional intelligence, empathy, and commitment to your belief in the law as a tool for service, fairness, and justice. Join us, and be part of a council where we're all in - listening, learning, and leading with integrity for our residents and communities. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA Kensington And Chelsea, London
Oct 04, 2025
Seasonal
Be the face of frontline support-connecting communities with quality housing services. Fixed Term Contract until January 2027. As a Resident Services Officer you will provide front-line support across housing and neighbourhood services, ensuring residents receive timely, high-quality assistance through face-to-face, phone, email, and virtual channels, while upholding the Council's values and working collaboratively with internal teams. Working Style In this Fixed-Term Contract until January 2027, you'll be based in the Borough five days a week, playing a key front-line role in serving the local community. Whether you're supporting residents face-to-face at reception, handling tenancy queries, or coordinating essential services like mutual exchanges and Right to Buy applications, you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to delivering responsive, respectful and high-quality support. This is a varied and people-focused role where your ability to listen, act with empathy, and work collaboratively will help ensure residents feel heard, supported and connected to the services they need. What you'll be doing As a Resident Services Officer, you'll be at the heart of neighbourhood housing services, providing a welcoming and responsive first point of contact for residents. Whether face-to-face at reception, over the phone, or via email, your role is to ensure that every resident receives a high standard of service with empathy, efficiency and professionalism. You'll support a wide range of housing management functions-from mutual exchanges and tenancy visits to Right to Buy applications-ensuring that residents are guided through processes clearly and confidently. Day-to-day, you can expect a varied workload. You'll manage reception services, triage enquiries, coordinate estate inspections, estate parking queries and support tenancy sign-ups. You'll also handle administrative tasks such as processing post, managing CRM queues, and preparing data for subject access or court requests. Your role will involve close collaboration with Neighbourhood Management teams, helping to monitor performance, escalate issues, and support new starters. You'll also play a key role in maintaining estate information, managing parking queries, and ensuring compliance with safety and housing standards. This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, resident-facing environment and is passionate about delivering services that reflect the Council's values of respect, integrity, and community focus. You'll be part of a team that works together to make a real difference in the lives of local residents, ensuring they feel heard, supported, and connected to the services they need. For further information on the role, please take a look at the Job Description and Person Specification. What you'll bring The ideal candidate for the Resident Services Officer role will have a strong foundation in customer service and administrative support, ideally within a housing or public service environment. They should be confident working independently as well as collaboratively within a team. A proactive attitude, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced setting are essential. Key skills include excellent written and verbal communication, proficiency in using technology, and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Candidates should be approachable, adaptable to change, and capable of supporting and maintaining administrative systems. Experience in minute-taking, handling enquiries, and delivering services with empathy and professionalism is highly valued. The role also requires a commitment to the Council's values-putting communities first, respect, integrity, and working together-and an understanding of equal opportunities and inclusive service delivery. About Us The Neighbourhood Management team plays a vital role in delivering frontline housing services across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. As part of Housing Management Services, the team is responsible for ensuring that residents receive high-quality, responsive support in all aspects of their tenancy and neighbourhood experience. This includes managing reception services, coordinating tenancy processes such as mutual exchanges and Right to Buy applications, and handling enquiries with empathy and efficiency. The team acts as a bridge between residents and the wider Council, ensuring that queries are triaged effectively and services are delivered in line with the Council's values of respect, integrity, and community focus. The importance of this service lies in its direct impact on residents' daily lives. By maintaining clear communication, prompt service delivery, and collaborative working across departments, the team helps foster trust and satisfaction within the community. Their work supports tenancy sustainment, estate safety, and access to essential services, contributing to the overall wellbeing of residents and the smooth operation of housing across the Borough. In doing so, the team embodies the Council's commitment to putting communities first and ensuring that every resident feels heard, respected and supported. Interview and Position Requirements This is a Fixed Term Contract position until January 2027 . This role requires an Enhanced DBS check . Interviews will be conducted in person only, during week commencing 13th October 2025. Ready to join us? We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range. Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises. We're all in - are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description. We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.