How did you first hear about jobs in housing?
Having moved around a lot and grown up in housing provided by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive I was aware from a young age of the need for social housing. I wasn't aware however of the broad spectrum of work available within this sector until I came to work with Ark Housing Association. Until then I was never really aware of what working in housing meant or what that entailed.
How did you find further information about a career in housing?
From working at Ark and gaining my knowledge of housing careers from here and from meeting employees of other Associations at training days etc. Also from my own research on websites.
What was it that appealed to you when you were thinking about a job in housing?
The job at Ark's Homeless Services Unit appealed to me as I would be working closely with families experiencing homelessness and living in difficult circumstances. The job looked rewarding and challenging and seemed like something I could do well, even with little knowledge of housing. I have learnt all that I know on the job within my time here.
How did you get your first job in housing?
I applied to work as Locum staff at Roseville House and started working night shifts. From here I volunteered for any shifts going, holiday cover for Housing Support Officers and Christmas cover. I was always keen to be involved with the day to day running of the centre and volunteered to help out with residents' activities too. From here I was encouraged by my manager to apply for the full time post of Homeless Support Officer, attended the interview and was successful. Ark remains my first and only job in housing.
What personal skills and qualifications did you have that helped you secure your first job in housing?
I had no formal qualifications in housing or experience in the field when I started at Ark. Since joining as Locum staff in September 2007 I have built up a lot of experience and knowledge in housing, even more so since taking on the full time post in November 2008.
I feel that my strengths in starting this job were my personal skills. I believe I can put a lot of my personality into the job; it is more of a vocational job to me than an academic one. My professional development from here has all been down to my experience working for Ark and the training and investment they have given me.
What skills & training have you gained since you have had your job in housing?
I have received numerous training courses both internally and externally through my employer since I joined including:
Staff development through bespoke training is very important to Ark and I have benefited a lot from this during my time here.
I have also gained a lot of confidence in my administration skills, making phone calls, supporting residents with any needs they have, dealing with difficult/confrontational situations and my knowledge in housing and social needs.
Describe a typical day?
No two days are the same in Roseville House. With 24 units housing up to 24 families temporarily, we work in an environment of constant change and must be prepared for anything. We can receive a referral at a moment's notice and need to provide a bed for the night in some cases, or a little bit longer in others. Some days can be very quiet, others can be very challenging, but I find that as a team we work well in all situations as each member of our team brings different skills and experience to the table.
Our main aim here is to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families until they are rehoused by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or another Housing Association. During their stay we provide support and signpost them to relevant organisations for further help should their needs be complex. Our area of expertise is homelessness and working with a family to ensure that when they leave our support service they are going to a secure and permanent home in the community. However the role of a Homeless Support Officer is extremely varied. I could be helping a resident complete a form for Tax Credits, making phone calls and writing letters, attending a Case Conference or doctor's appointment, as well as carrying out health & safety checks on our properties, fire drills or getting messy with paints and glitter at Parent & Toddler Group!
As well as our support work with the families assigned to us, I also oversee the Residents Meetings and we all help to organise fun days or activities in the centre that encourage positive relations and keep the atmosphere family friendly; examples of which would be our recent Neighbours Day and Parenting Week.
What would you tell people who are interested in a housing career?
I believe working in Homeless Services to be the most diverse and rewarding area of housing to work in. However you have to be prepared for changing shift patterns, getting your hands dirty and always expecting the unexpected. It is by no means a glamorous job, (apart from once a year at the NI Housing Awards!), but working on the 'front line' as it is said with those who are actually experiencing homelessness is a job to be proud of. The people who come and go through our centre are the statistics you see in the annual reports; but what we hope to see is their progress through the system to a successful outcome, breaking the cycle of recurring homelessness. To be a part of that and bridge the gap for someone to get their life back on track is a privilege.
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