Glen HA Personal Statement

1222 Words5 Pages

My journey in the housing sector commenced in May 2014 when I was successfully selected to be on the PATH (Scotland) Housing Trainee-ship, Glen Housing Association (Glen HA) being my placement organization. Furthermore, my traineeship with PATH (Scotland) also enabled me to work towards gaining the Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Studies. Currently, studying part-time at University of Stirling, expecting to graduate in June this year and hold a student membership with Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) since commencing my studies in September 2014. The course has helped me to accumulate the awareness of governance and the relevant legislations in the sector, but most importantly my trainee-ship has enhanced my understanding of how to provide …show more content…

My role involved informing the tenant of their arrear as soon as payment is missed, the key being early intervention and supporting the tenant by working with internal staff (Debt Recovery Officer/ Tenancy Sustainment Officer) and external agencies such as the Council, to help the tenant access Housing Benefits or a Discretionary Housing Payment in order to help sustain their tenancy. I have also arranged setting up of repayment arrangements and recovering arrears through Arrears Direct on the ongoing benefits. Additionally, signposting tenants to access advice from the local Citizens Advice Bureau or other specialist agencies such as Money Advice Scotland and the Department of Work and Pensions are all worth pursuing. In extreme cases, I have been involved in filing for a Decree including working through the pre-action protocol on seeking possession. I have also recently been on a variety of the Universal Credit training courses and …show more content…

With the knowledge gained from the training, I gained confidence assisting tenants with any issues relating to the application form and explaining how the Fife Housing Register functions.
• In house IT system and policy training. This has helped me to navigate the IT system dealing with queries from our tenants. Additionally, the policy training re-enforces and updates me on how I deal with different policies in use.
• Nuts and Bolts Maintenance, (Share). The training enhanced my understanding of repairs legislation and how maintenance plays a vital role in keeping the housing stock in good condition. The experienced has helped me in carrying out void inspections along with post-repairs inspection ensuring that customer’s needs and quality standards are met as well as resolving any outstanding repair issues.
• Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) conference and Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) conference, in addition to some study visits through Stirling University.
• Additionally, PATH (Scotland) runs specialist training programs in partnership with the University of Glasgow, such as the Developing Management and Leadership Skills which I completed last