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From the frontline – neighbourhood operations manager Suzie Prothero
Suzie Prothero, neighbourhood operations manager at Moat, discusses property management, coaching staff and her “terrible taste” in TV
Tell us about your job.
I manage a frontline team that is responsible for all neighbourhood services in the West Kent area. I am responsible for a portfolio of around 3,650 homes and my customers are a mix of general needs tenants and homeowners. No two days are ever the same.
How did you get into housing?
By accident! I never had that calling from the cradle into a particular profession, so I applied for a variety of roles when I finished university, one of which was a neighbourhood officer at Notting Hill Housing Trust. I had no experience of the social housing sector, but I quickly fell in love with the job and all aspects of property management.
What is the best part of your job?
I love being a manager and ensuring the development of my team members. It is a pleasure to watch people grow in confidence and develop their skills. It brings me such pride. I recently completed an ILM qualification in coaching and mentoring, so I have the privilege of coaching staff across my organisation and I am a mentor for two pupils at a local school.
What’s the worst part?
I get too many emails – when did we all stop talking?
What would your superpower be?
I would like to have access to a pause button to freeze time. I could press pause whenever I wanted to take a break and could give myself more time to do the things I love.
What would you change about the housing sector?
I would introduce a mandatory code of practice that applies to both the social and private housing sectors. That way, we could all work in collaboration to the same high standard.
If you could be prime minister for the day, what would you do?
I wouldn’t know where to start at the moment, so I would have to take the day as annual leave!
What’s the most private thing you’d be willing to admit to your colleagues?
I have terrible taste in television programmes and I am currently binge-watching My 600lb Life and Dog Whisperer.
