Team Manager for Homelessness and Access

The position

The Team Manager for Homelessness and Access ensures that staff can fulfill their operational and advisory roles in cases involving the care of vulnerable individuals. The team consists of 50 full-time equivalents. Together with three coordinators who provide functional guidance to staff, a policy officer, and several senior staff members, you will oversee day-to-day operations, actively steer development, and contribute to shaping policy and improving implementation practices. You will serve as a key point of contact for partners in the social sector and colleagues within the municipality.

The team includes field coordinators and access staff. Field coordinators work at the case and process levels to provide appropriate care, support, and shelter for vulnerable clients or client groups. They focus specifically on the most vulnerable individuals to prevent deterioration and harm to their health. In addition, field coordinators perform coordinating tasks within the winter shelter, infirmary, or emergency beds, and they manage the registration desk for homeless individuals.

Intake staff are responsible for assessing eligibility for “Supported Living” and “Sheltered Housing” in accordance with the applicable WMO criteria. If necessary, they refer clients to other appropriate care. The team focuses on adults, youth, and families, with the family team also providing access to emergency shelter. In addition, the intake team serves as a consultation and advisory resource for professionals and offers an Information Desk for questions and advice, as well as a consultation hour for clients. This is a complex field of work, where shortages and dilemmas surrounding shelter are a daily reality.

Historically, the Access Team has consisted of staff members from various organizations who have been assigned to the GGD. The work of these teams has changed significantly over the past year due to a shift in their mandate. The continued implementation of these changes and the promotion of cohesion and collaboration within the Homelessness and Access units represent a major challenge.

Here's what you do on an average day

• Leading efforts to optimize and standardize work processes within the team, while anticipating new tasks and developments.
• Directly supervising coordinators and a policy officer.
• Be responsible for budget monitoring, human resources, and contributing to department-wide development initiatives such as training, quality, and experiential expertise.
• Representing the Homelessness and Access Team in various internal and external meetings, and contributing to policy development.
• Play an active role in urban consultation processes regarding strategies to address homelessness, coordination with housing, employment, and income support, and the development of the social sector.
• Monitoring internal and external developments, identifying opportunities for the organization, and making recommendations to improve service delivery.
• Creating a stimulating work environment where professionals can perform at their best.
• As a core team leader in psychosocial support (PSH, a core function of the GGD), you will participate in on-call duty for at least one week every six weeks. In this role, you will be responsible for leading a team directly involved in crisis response, specific care pathways, or other essential tasks within the field.

This is where you get started

We strive to be a great employer that ensures all our colleagues feel seen and valued. We embrace the differences among our colleagues; these differences lead to better results for both our organization and our city. We aim to build a workforce that reflects Amsterdam’s diverse population. So, whoever you are, you’re more than welcome here!

Community Mental Health Services (MGGZ), a division of the Municipal Health Service (GGD), provides social and medical care to people with mental health issues who neglect themselves and often cause disturbances. MGGZ identifies vulnerable individuals, refers them to care or support when necessary, and serves as a safety net for those who do not fit into the standard healthcare system.

The department consists of the following teams:

• Care & Nuisance: Provides 24-hour care and handles reports of care-related and nuisance issues received from sources such as the Care and Housing Nuisance hotlines, the police, and neighborhood care networks.

• Migration & Security: Conducts screenings and coordinates care pathways for clients within programs such as the Top 600, Top 400, and the Amsterdam Approach to Radicalization and Status Holders.

• Integrated services (substance abuse treatment): Locations in Amsterdam City Center, Southeast, and West, where MGGZ provides medical care and support to patients—many of whom are homeless—with complex substance abuse and psychiatric issues.

• Dr. Valckenier: A general practice for people with substance use disorders and those who are homeless.

The department is also responsible for providing psychosocial support (PSH) during crises and disasters, is actively involved in scientific research, and plays a role in identifying trends in social psychiatry.

What you bring

For this position as Team Manager for Homelessness and Access, you must have:

• At least 5 years of demonstrable experience managing professionals in the social services sector or social welfare.
• At least 5 years of experience leading change initiatives in organizations with multiple departments and complex processes.
• At least 2 years of knowledge of or experience with the issues relevant to the field of social services. For example, you may have worked with one of these issues or dealt with them in some other way. Please describe this in your cover letter.

You should have the following skills:

• Inclusive thinking and action: As a leader in an inclusive organization, you think and act inclusively, are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work environment, and foster a socially safe environment while caring for employees regardless of their identity. You ensure equality in the workplace and are open, empathetic, and approachable. You are a good listener, reliable, and predictable, and you build trust by embracing vulnerability in yourself and others. You recognize employees’ talents and understand the importance of talent development.
• Political and administrative sensitivity:In this role, you will work within a complex and dynamic political landscape involving a variety of interests. You must be able to collaborate effectively with various partners, both within and outside the municipality, and deal effectively with the political aspects of homelessness and shelter services.
• Decisive: In this role, you will be responsible for making decisions and taking action in an often dynamic and fast-paced environment. You must be able to act quickly and have the confidence to make decisions that serve the interests of people experiencing homelessness, especially when it comes to politically sensitive issues such as winter shelter.
• Collaborative: You will work closely with various stakeholders, both internally (within the City of Amsterdam) and externally (partners in the social sector). You are able to build and maintain effective relationships in order to jointly develop and implement policies that benefit vulnerable people.
• Aware of the broader context: You have demonstrated the ability to operate effectively within a broad and changing context, including the political and administrative landscape. Winter shelter is a politically charged issue every year, where decisions such as who is or is not admitted are often subject to pressure. You have demonstrated that you are capable of defending your position, developing a vision, and standing your ground. This requires not only strategic insight but also the ability to perform under pressure and effectively navigate conflicting interests and viewpoints.
• People-centered leadership: You are able to create a supportive and stimulating work environment where the well-being and development of your team are central. You build trust, encourage open communication, and recognize the diversity within the team. By fostering a culture of appreciation, you ensure that employees feel valued, can grow in their roles, and are able to cope with the high pressure that the job entails, both emotionally and during peak workloads.

What we offer you

As the Homelessness and Access Team Manager, you will join our team for 32–36 hours per week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary between €5,008 and €6,777 (pay scale 12) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• A one-year employment contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract thereafter, if you do not currently have an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary one.
• If you already have a permanent employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, you will retain it and be transferred.
• Professional Development: You will grow professionally by collaborating with other departments and expanding your knowledge on various topics.
• Opportunities for professional development and training. Our in-house training center, the Amsterdam School, offers a variety of training programs, development tracks, and on-the-job coaching to help you continue to challenge yourself.
• An individual flexible budget (IKB) equal to 17.05% of your salary, which you can use for things like additional pension contributions or extra days off.
• A pension plan with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer for travel by car, €0.15 per kilometer for travel by bicycle, and €0.21 per kilometer for travel by public transportation. This applies to a one-way commute of up to 45 kilometers and for the number of days you work in the office.
• For days you work from home, you will receive a work-from-home allowance of €3 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.
• Hybrid work: In this role, you can work from home part-time. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.
• A cell phone and/or laptop.
• An office space in downtown Amsterdam, overlooking the canals.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out the City of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations (PGA).

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by August 18, 2024, using the “Apply Now” button.
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain—in no more than one A4 page—why your work experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process. If your resume and cover letter meet the job requirements, we will be happy to invite you for an interview.

• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a CV/cover letter review and two rounds of interviews.
• The interviews will take place in person during week 35 at our office located at Nieuwe Achtergracht 100 in Amsterdam.
• This job opening is being advertised internally and externally at the same time. Employees of the City of Amsterdam will be given priority in the hiring process.

• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not review these resumes.