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From the frontline - Elaine Rixon
Elaine Rixon, employment and training officer at Paradigm, talks about helping people and her love of a purple Harley Davidson
What does your job involve?
I help residents who want to get into work, training or education. I will help anyone in the household who needs it.
It may be a young tenant who has finished education and wants an apprenticeship but doesn’t know where to start, or someone who wants to get back to work.
I give CV and interview tips, and sometimes suggest people try volunteering to get some experience.
The aim is to help residents get the best income and be able to sustain their tenancy. I will investigate the various training options in their local area and help them to apply and access funding.
How did you get into housing?
I was made redundant from my previous job at a charity and didn’t know which direction to take, so I applied for many jobs and was offered a role at Paradigm. I was happy that I could move within the company, and when this role became available I knew it was perfect as I had been a teacher for 20 years.
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What is the best part of your job?
Working with residents to help them achieve their goals. It’s amazing to see people – especially those who’d been struggling – get a job that will lead to their independence, increase their confidence and sustain their tenancy.
And the worst?
I’m not sure there is one, but if I had to pick something it would be when I arrange to visit a resident some distance away, spend an hour travelling and find they have forgotten and have gone out!
What would you change about the sector?
I’d make sure we built homes of sizes that are most needed in an area – but most importantly, I’d ensure the infrastructure was put in place.
I’ve worked with many residents who have been allocated a lovely new home, but if they need to find work or go shopping they have a very difficult journey that could take, in some cases, two hours on public transport.
If you could be prime minister for the day, what would you do?
I’d make sure more brownfield sites were redeveloped for much-needed housing.
You see so many of these empty factories or offices that could be converted into housing.
They often have a large amount of land with them as well, so could accommodate parking and a grass area.
There does seem to be a push to do this, but it is slow.
I would make a declaration and ensure it was done as part of a timely system.
What’s the most private thing you’re willing to admit to your colleagues?
The love of my life is my beautiful, purple, customised Harley-Davidson.
CIH Careers Week
What is CIH Careers Week?
- CIH Careers Week (#CIHCareersweek) is running all this week (5-9 March).
- This coincides with National Careers Week #NCW2018 which promotes careers guidance for young people
- Inside Housing will be running a series of pieces throughout the week about housing careers, from both junior and senior sector staff
- CIH Futures - a board of 15 CIH members under 40 - also has lots of activity planned
- It will be encouraging CIH members to use a #careerpledge template to pledge action to promote careers
- Follow the hashtag #CIHCareersweek to keep up to speed with the week's events, which include CIH Futures webinars and a live Q&A on Wednesday
Careers Week articles:
What are you doing to make a career in housing attractive? Faisal Butt challenges the sector on what its doing to attract and retain talent
Promoting housing careers beyond the sector's echo chamber We all have a role to play in making a career in housing more appealing, writes Adam Clark
Use the power of mentoring Why everybody in the sector should mentor a young person, by Elly Hoult
The apprenticeship game To mark the Chartered Institute of Housing’s #CIHCareersWeek, we are republish a piece looking at apprenticeships in the sector
Your #CIHCareersWeek videos Housing’s best and brightest have made Twitter videos this week to answer the question: why housing? Watch a selection of them below
