What it’s Like to Work for Sapphire?

Sidi

Team Leader at Conway House

I started working as a Trainee Project Worker in April 2012. Before this I had been working as an Employment Training and Education Coordinator for a Jewish home in south London.

I was hired to work at Conway house but the new building had not been completed yet, so I started working in a reduced and decanted Conway House service based in Seven Sisters Road. It was a challenge learning to support and key work residents with complex needs, but the trainee programme with a reduced case load gave me the opportunity to learn on the job. I gained experience and confidence through a mix of shadowing colleagues, face to face and online training and day to day working with clients. The trainee role also gave me the opportunity to learn more about the housing management aspects of supported housing, which was something I had been interested in getting into.

I successfully completed my traineeship and was offered the role of a full time Supported Housing Officer. When an opportunity arose to temporarily cover the Team Leader position at Conway House in March 2020, after much positive encouragement from colleagues, I decided to go for it. I like that training and development for Sapphire staff is encouraged across the whole organisation and as part of my acting up period I was given specialised Team Leader training as someone who was new to management, which helped in my understanding and skills to manage a team of Supported Housing Officers. After six months, I applied for and was appointed the permanent Team Leader at Conway House.

In May 2021 I had the opportunity to act up as Housing Operations Manager covering a one year sabbatical.

This period was very interesting and presented me with new challenges and learning opportunities. I enjoyed learning the financial side of running Conway House, dealing with budgets as well as developing a good working relationship with Camden Commissioning Service who provide the funding for our supported housing contract.

I have now been in post as Team Leader at Conway house since June 2022 and I am enjoying the role. I like that the role offers different challenges and most days have something new. I feel my acting up period has given me better insight into various aspects of running Conway House from the finance side to supporting the staff team. I have been very fortunate to have been able to progress within Sapphire and to work in different roles within the organisation. I always encourage front line staff to apply for any opportunities within Sapphire if they are looking to develop new skills and gain more experience. Sapphire is a small organisation and opportunities may not come up as frequently as in bigger associations, but I like the fact that there is focus on giving staff the skills and knowledge through acting up roles, to progress in or outside of the organisation.

Joel

Housing Operations Manager, Conway House

Prior to joining Sapphire Independent Housing I worked in the social care sector since 1993 as a Support Worker and moved into management managing a team of eight staff in a residential care home when care in community was initially commissioned.

I joined Sapphire (previously known as Irish Centre Housing) in 2001 as a Support Worker after one year career break. Conway House was then a working men’s hostel and the residents and staff team were predominantly Irish. I fitted in well and was amazed to see how friendly the team was.

I applied for the post of Resettlement Worker in 2003 when London Borough of Camden commissioned the Pathway and joined a team of specialist workers to provide support and training to service users who have come to the end of their stay in hostels and who are ready for independent living. The excitement of seeing someone successfully fulfil that journey is very rewarding.

I became a Team Leader in 2005 and worked in various management role for over 18 years ensuring high quality services are delivered to our service users.

I was fortunate to have the training needed to develop my career and I was part of the management team tasked to plan and re-develop Conway House so that it was fit for purpose.

At that time, there were serious concerns about anti-social behaviour in the local area and the neighbours needed convincing that the re-development would not impact on them. This was achieved by setting up monthly meetings with Camden Council, the Street Service Team, the police and neighbours to reduce street activities.

As part of the re-development plan, capacity was reduced from 90 to 60 bed spaces. The existing residents were successfully decanted outside the borough for two years with their ongoing support needs being continued.

The re-developed Conway House is a modern self-contained structure where service to residents has improved and there is reduced anti-social behaviour.

During my time as Team Leader, I had the opportunity to step up to manage the maintenance team of six staff covering a period of maternity leave.

In my current position as Housing Operations Manager at Conway House, I have overall day to day operational responsibilities for the scheme which provides support services to residents experiencing poor mental health, homelessness, young people services, alcohol dependency amongst others.

Staff supervision remains the cornerstone of the provision of quality care and support services. I have provided structured and regular supervision, supported staff to work to high standards, monitored work performance, carried out appraisals, set achievable targets, and identified training needs to achieve organisational and personal development goals.

Managing care and support remains the main part of my duties and I have developed a good working partnership with the Camden Commissioning Team and we play a key role in the pathways structure to improve services. I have been involved in consultation processes, reviewed services funded by Supporting People and have been involved in service reviews and steady state contracts.

My leadership is based on sound judgement, a supportive and effective management style, clarity of staff roles, adherence to policies and procedures and regular review of performance targets using the supervision and appraisal systems.

I enjoy my role and always feel a great sense of achievement when the journey of a resident to live independently is successful. Sapphire has over the years championed the wellbeing of staff and have provided a good platform for staff welfare.

I am a sports enthusiast and currently hold a position as secretary with a charity supporting a group of ex-sports personalities to set up a project in Africa.

Aaron

Executive Team Assistant

My role as Executive Assistant has been an incredible journey, one that resonates deeply with my personal mission to serve our community.

Since January 2024, the experiences I've garnered through collaborations with housing associations and charities have been invaluable, further fuelling my dedication to make a real difference in peoples’ lives.

Sapphire has been a remarkable platform where my personal values and our collective goals are in perfect harmony. The dynamic nature of my role continues to keep me fully engaged and motivated. It's an honour to contribute to our shared vision, and the support and camaraderie within our team are truly exceptional. This environment not only fosters my passion but also reinforces my sense of belonging and purpose.

As we look to the future, I am filled with optimism and eagerness for the opportunities that lie ahead. I am committed to leveraging my skills and experiences to further our objectives and create a lasting impact on the communities we serve. Confident in our collective strength, I believe we are poised to achieve great things together.

I am proud to be part of an organisation that not only recognises but celebrates diversity, understanding the richness it brings to our workplace. Together, we stand not merely as a team but as a force for positive change, impacting lives and empowering individuals within our community. My own experiences have taught me the value of support and the significant impact it can have on one's ability to enact change in the world.

The guidance that I have received has been pivotal in my professional journey and I look forward to our continued collaboration and the remarkable achievements we will surely accomplish as a united team.

Taslima

Business Administration Apprentice

My journey with Sapphire started in June 2024 when I joined Sapphire as a Business Administration Apprentice. Previous to my employment at Sapphire I hadn’t had the best of luck at other organisations. I was slightly apprehensive in my first week, as I didn’t know what to expect. I shouldn’t have worried as Sapphire has supported me and made me feel a part of the team since day one. Working at Sapphire has allowed me to immerse myself into the world of the housing sector as I have always wanted to work in a role where I am able to support the community. Being a part of housing initiatives has allowed me to directly make an impact on our communities, which is super rewarding and gives me a sense of purpose in my work.

Sapphire has shown me a range of opportunities for growth and development. I have expanded my communication skills when collaborating with different stakeholders (like residents). I have been given the opportunity to work closely with the Repairs and Compliance team also, which has allowed me to think deeper when problem-solving as you often need to find solutions to issues that arise in housing projects or tenant relations.

I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I have here at Sapphire as this aligns perfectly with my people-person nature. This job allows me to make a positive impact on people’s lives. This is a field where you can see tangible results of your work when providing for those in need. Sapphire has given me the chance to develop a wide range of skills and grow both personally and professionally, which is a part that I am thankful for.