How did you first hear about jobs in housing?
I was working in a care home and had always worked with elderly people in the community who lived in social housing. I was also a Housing Executive tenant myself and knew of the services that they provided. It was only after I started working for Oaklee that I became aware of all the opportunities that exist within housing.
How did you find further information about a career in housing?
There wasn't the opportunity to find out a lot of information about the job before attending my interview as there weren't the same resources that exist now, such as searching the internet for more information.
It was only during the interview that I learned more about social housing and what the job would entail. In those day's Sheltered Housing was a new concept and there were only a few schemes in operation in Northern Ireland. There was very little information available about James Butcher Housing Association and how the organisation had started out.
What was it that appealed to you when you were thinking about a job in housing?
I was looking for a job with security and the idea of helping elderly people live in their own home for as long as possible appealed to me. The job as Residential Warden also meant that I would have to live within the scheme and at that time the offer of a home with the job suited my circumstances. It also meant that I wouldn't have to travel to work.
How did you get your first job in housing?
I saw the job advertised in the local newspaper and felt that it was a job that I could do well. I attended an interview with the Chief Executive, a Housing Officer, (the only one!), and a member of the Board. I was pleased to learn shortly after that I got the job.
What personal skills and qualifications did you have that helped you secure your first job in housing?
I had already been working with the elderly for a number of years as a care worker within the community.
I had learned a lot from life about people and having lost my father at a very early age I had a lot of responsibility and had to grow up quickly. This made me very independent and turned me into a hard worker. It also gave me the drive to provide a stable and happy life for my children.
My upbringing also helped me understand people and gave me a desire to help them live a happier and more independent life.
What skills & training have you gained since you have had your job in housing?
Times have changed dramatically since I first started and with that the job has changed. I have learned how to use a computer and have gained life skills and an understanding of people. I can communicate with other agencies and arrange care packages for people. All of this has been learned on the job.
Oaklee offer a lot of formal training and I have attended numerous courses to include:
Describe a typical day?
My day starts at 8.30 when I switch on site and take messages about incidents that have taken place overnight. I use the first hour before my tenants get up to complete my admin duties.
I usually start calling the tenants around 8.30 and check that they are up and about and feeling well. There are 46 tenants in my scheme at the moment so this can take around an hour and a half depending on the topic of the day and how much they feel like talking! I then visit tenants who are unwell or housebound and make them a cup of tea and have a chat.
Every Thursday a fire alarm drill takes place and I carry out an internal health and safety check of the scheme to assess risks. I also carry out a grounds inspection on a daily basis to check for broken tiles/steps and report any maintenance issues. I make sure that the repairs of carried out satisfactorily.
Once a week I cook a hot meal for the tenants and serve it in the communal lounge. If anyone is feeling unwell I take their meal up to them in their home.
I also organise social events such as coffee mornings, bingo and supper nights, tea nights, musical evenings and once a month I organise a celebration of all the birthdays that have taken place that month. I also ask the tenants for ideas for social events and organise them if possible, having said that most of them just love the bingo nights!
Every tenant in the scheme has a support plan and I have to liaise with other agencies, including care managers and social workers, to ensure that the plan is relevant and addresses their individual needs.
What would you tell people who are interested in a housing career?
From the first day I started 28 years ago I loved my job and I still do!
I have got great satisfaction from my job and it has given me the opportunity to learn new skills. Although I live at the scheme I am never away from the job, I love the fact that my tenants know that I am always there for them. I am not just their co-ordinator; I am their neighbour and friend as well.
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