Senior colleagues help equip next generation of housing professionals
In recent weeks, our senior colleagues have been back in the classroom, albeit virtually, to help deliver a University of Wolverhampton housing course.
Earlier this year, we were approached by the University of Wolverhampton to ask if we would be able to share our expertise with learners on their Undergraduate Higher Education Certificate in Housing programme.
Julianne Britton our Director of Customer Services, David Loon our Head of Localities and Elaine Moore our Head of Customer Voice volunteered their own time to share their knowledge and experience with tomorrow’s housing professionals.
David delivered a lecture which focussed on the possession process in relation to social housing and the key aspects of housing law and tenure, which students need to understand before starting a career in the sector.
While Julianne and Elaine gave a presentation which looked at effective customer service, the tenant involvement standard and the role of the Housing Ombudsman. The pair were also able to share some details about initiatives we use at GSA to measure, report on and improve the service we provide to our customers such as sharing our performance each month and our Voice of the Customer webinars.
Our Director of Customer Services, Julianne Britton, said: “It was a real privilege to work with Elaine to deliver our lecture to the students. I enjoyed engaging with the learners, who came from a wide variety of backgrounds including one who had been working in agriculture and others who were currently working in the housing sector but looking to upskill.
“As well as being an opportunity to pass on our knowledge to enthusiastic students, preparing to give the lecture was a chance to step back and reflect on all that we have achieved at GSA in two short years.
“We hope that by sharing insights from a housing association we are helping to equip the future workforce of our sector.”
The part-time Undergraduate Certificate in Higher Education Housing programme lasts for one year and is being delivered through distance learning.
The modules are drawn from the undergraduate degree (BA (Hons) Housing Management and Social Care) also delivered from the University of Wolverhampton which is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Once the students have completed the course, they will have several potential career paths opened to them such as housing and estates management, domestic abuse support work or homelessness outreach and prevention.
- Housing management
- Estate management
- Sheltered housing worker
- Carer for supported living for elderly residents
- Local authority work
- Youth/community involvement
- Neighbourhood coach
- Tenant involvement
- Advocacy/advice roles
- Policy research
- Community development
Anne-Marie Donovan, Module Lead and Programme Lead for Housing at the University of Wolverhampton said: “I recently had the pleasure of working with Julianne, Elaine, and David from GSA on the undergraduate Higher Education Certificate in Housing course. The course focuses on the legal and regulatory frameworks in housing. The students of the University of Wolverhampton and myself, as module lead, felt privileged to have Julianne, Elaine and David lead on their areas of expertise and share their knowledge and lived experiences in their delivery to our students. The students said that the sessions delivered by GSA were interesting and brought the subjects to life”.
You can find out more about the course here.
