Barrie’s housing officer blog: “I loved the variety that the role offered and that no two days were ever the same.”

“I originally started in social housing in 2004 as a temporary agency worker for New Fylde Housing (NFH), with a general administrative role. I returned in 2005, and fortunately I managed to secure a permanent position in the same post during my second stint. Prior to this I had worked in several different civil service roles and whilst I enjoyed my time at the civil service, I found myself wanting something more fulfilling. It did not take long for me to discover that I absolutely loved working in housing and seeing the positive impact the organisation made to people’s lives.

Experience in a housing officer role

“My housing officer experience stretches across three officer posts. Including two specialised roles and one working more generically within supported living. NFH joined Progress Housing Group in 2009 and as part of an internal reorganisation I became a lettings officer in 2012, a role which I held for around 6 years. Following an internal opportunity in the Group’s supported living team, I took up a 12-month post as a supported living housing officer. Following this I was offered an officer’s role, specialising in void management for supported living, which I held for over 2 years before moving into my current post.

“I have been fortunate to gain experience of several areas of housing management, both for general needs and supported living. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in all three officer roles, and each had their own challenges.

“In my supported living housing officer (SLHO) role, the most satisfying part was simply seeing the positive difference we make to people who need help and support, by offering high-quality accommodation and enabling people with a wide range of needs to live independently.

“I loved the variety that the role offered and that no two days were ever the same. I was regularly presented with new challenges to consider and overcome, however there was always a strong focus on delivering positive outcomes for our tenants, which I found incredibly satisfying.   

Developing skills and training

"The SLHO role helped me to develop and build upon a wide range of skills and experience.  

"It also helped me better understand the diverse needs of our tenants and greatly develop my communication skills. The role requires you to effectively communicate with a variety of people from our tenants who may have additional communication needs to external stakeholders, such as support providers and local authority commissioning partners, and I feel I’ve benefitted massively from this experience.

"During my time with the Group, I have completed a NVQ Level 3 Certificate in Housing qualification with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)and completed other training opportunities in relation to coaching and leadership for example, which have certainly helped expand my overall skills and knowledge. 

“Following my role working within void management for supported living, I was fortunate to be appointed as Specialised Supported Housing Compliance Manager in May 2022 and I have been in post since.

“I feel that I have learned a lot from the experience working within the Group’s housing management teams. Many of the skills learned from my time as a housing officer have certainly been transferrable and have provided me with a solid foundation upon which to build my knowledge and expertise, particularly in relation to supported housing.  

“I intend on undertaking a Level 4 Housing qualification over the coming year and I am always looking to take on any additional learning or personal development opportunities that may be on offer.”