Role: Housing Officer
Company: Helm Housing
Track Record:
In her role as a housing officer, Anne Marie helps provide homes and a sense of security for those who need it most while also helping build vibrant communities
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I joined the Housing Executive about 25 years ago and my first position was as a clerk/typist. I was made permanent and moved to the Projects Services department as an administrative assistant to the structural engineers, planners and landscape architects. I then became a counter assistant in one of the district offices, which was my first introduction to meeting the public. After nine years I left the Housing Executive and joined Helm Housing, where I’ve since been employed as a housing officer. At first my role was quite generic, but recently housing officer teams have become more specialised. I’m now with the neighbourhood team, dealing with day-to-day tenancy issues, transfer requests, anti-social issues and a range of other issues.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I enjoyed Maths and Computer Studies, but my favourite subject was Art. That’s not to say that I was great at it, but it was the subject I enjoyed the most. I also liked Textiles.
Did you go on to further/ higher education? If so, what did you study and where?
I went to the College of Business Studies, Brunswick Street, Belfast, where I completed a BTEC National in Business Studies.
How did you get into your area of work?
After college I applied for different jobs and the Housing Executive post came up. It was temporary to begin with, but then I was made permanent. I suppose I fell into it, but 25 years later, I’m still working in housing and still enjoying it.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
I completed a degree in Housing Studies at Ulster University, which unfortunately longer exists. It’s a real shame as it was a good pathway to becoming a housing officer and helped equip you with the necessary skills.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
You have to be a good listener and you have to be empathetic. Supporting people in their homes and neighbourhoods can be a delicate task and you have to be a good people person and have a lot of tolerance and patience.
What does a typical day entail?
No two days are alike. I could arrange my diary for the day, take one phone call and plans could change completely. It’s a very reactive job; we deal with people wanting transfers, anti-social behaviour issues and make annual visits to properties. We work with the Property Services section which looks after damage to property and attend multi-agency meetings with PSNI and social workers. We try to be out in the community as much as we can.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The part I really enjoy the most is when we go out to see a property we’ve allocated four to six weeks later and see the transformation from house to home. That’s a special moment, when we see someone settled in a place they are happy in. The most challenging aspect is when you can’t deliver on tenants’ expectations. There are so many people who need transfers; for example, someone who can no longer live in a house due to health problems and needs to be moved to a ground floor flat. The length of the waiting list however means these transfers don’t happen overnight. We see people who really need to be transferred, but we just can’t do it as quickly as they’d like.
Why is what you do important?
What we do has an impact on people’s lives. We’re hopefully giving them a home they’ll have for a long time and giving them a sense of security. We’re also helping to build vibrant communities and neighbourhoods.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow a similar career path?
I would encourage them to look for work experience or volunteer within a housing provider. We have had a few volunteers who have gone on to join Helm Housing as employees. Volunteering helps you to build up a whole wealth of experience and gives you a better understanding of the work housing providers do. At the moment we are working with Bryson to offer people the chance to take part in Journey2Jobs, encouraging them to come and get experience.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?
I would probably have been a teacher. I have a six-year-old daughter and I think that it would probably be quite nice to work in a primary school environment.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Have patience. Don’t expect to know everything straight away. Give yourself time to settle in and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Describe your ideal day off?
I would spend the day with my daughter and my husband. We would go off to the park, go swimming, or hit the shops. These days however, the shops of choice are Build A Bear or the Disney Store!