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From the frontline - Angie Noble
Angie Noble, income management advisor at Axiom Housing Association, features in this week’s From the frontline
Tell us about your job.
My role is very diverse. I support some of our most vulnerable tenants with problematic and complex benefit claims. I also sit on several local advice forums. I ensure all staff and residents are kept abreast of key benefit changes and provide in-house training.
How did you get into housing?
At college, I studied health and social care. I initially started in social housing with Axiom in the 1990s. I then had a different career, before returning to social housing and Axiom 12 years ago.
What’s the biggest danger for vulnerable tenants in maintaining tenancies?
People not being able to get the appropriate help when they need it. This includes help claiming and sorting out benefit problems, mental health support and ongoing tenancy support. It can be very difficult for people to ask for help and often when they do, the help isn’t available, or it is but only for a limited time.
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What’s the best thing about your job?
Helping people. To see someone who was struggling and deciding between eating or heating eventually get the benefits they’re entitled to, and having enough money to do both, is very rewarding.
And the most challenging?
When you know the decision about a benefit is wrong and it takes months to get that changed. It can affect other benefits including housing benefit, putting someone’s home at risk, as well as having an impact on relationships, their mental health and self-confidence.
What does a good day look like?
Having time to think and achieving a good result for someone.
How about a bad one?
Going home feeling I have failed. I want everything to be right for everyone.
What’s the first thing you would do if you became prime minister?
Explain to those in charge of benefits how these actually affect people, then maybe they can implement some positive changes.
What would be your superpower and why?
I’d like to able to give everyone the gift of compassion and the ability to really see and listen to a person without judgement.
What’s the most private thing you’d be willing to admit to colleagues?
I think I’m a fairly open book, but I’d tell them that I wish I had children of my own. Although I’m lucky enough to be a godparent to 17 children!
