Comment
I have worked in the housing sector as a temp for many years. Most temps are offered permenant work after a while. I have found that most HA's do not really listen to experienced staff and seem to be oblivious to the frustration felt by many when strategies and procedures clearly do not work. For example, one organisation uses customer service staff to direct highly paid professional housing staff by way of work flows. The directions are frequently misguided and the CS staff have no idea what section 8 is for example. It should come as no suprise under these circumstances that staff leave and problems, such as high arrears, are not resolved. Also there is a real problem with managers not knowing their stuff and sometimes, it has to be said, stealing ideas and taking credit for the hard work of temps especially but also permenant staff. After many years in the sector, it is obvious to me that a real shake up needs to take place and problems faced squarely otherwise we are living in a fools paradise with ever escalating arrears and complaints. Please, feel free to ask staff what they really think and away from consequences their honesty might generate.
