"I help make neighbourhoods better places to live in," says Richard Panter from Hackney council in east London. Neighbourhood coordinators like him are employed by councils to find ways to improve the standard of living in the area and devise strategies to address the concerns of tenants.
With the help of a team, they liaise between the estates they cover and different departments of the council and any corporate bodies or governmental departments that are involved. They will also work out how best to save money so departments will accept the coordinator's proposals.
Sounds like fun.
"The best part is the variety of work. And I can make a real difference to a neighbourhood," explains Panter.
Do they get out and about much?
A fair amount. Neighbourhood coordinators have to spend a lot of time talking to tenants and different departments as well as checking out where to implement changes.
"I have two bases because I'm backwards and forwards so much, one here and one over at the estate. There are also a lot of meetings, so you don't spend a lot of time stuck in the same place," says Panter.
What skills do they need?
"You have to be persuasive," he says.
I can be speaking to a tenant one day and a Cabinet minister the next
Richard Panter, Hackney council
"We have no budget so, in order for our schemes to come to fruition, we have to convince departments to take them on.
"You have to be up to the challenge of speaking to anyone no matter what their position. I can be speaking to a tenant who has lived in the neighbourhood for 50 years one day and a Cabinet minister the next."
A neighbourhood coordinator needs good communication skills, must be able to absorb information quickly and work to very tight deadlines.
A degree, masters or NVQ in housing can help but it is not a necessity. Usually, experience will count more and having expertise in a particular area, say health or environment, is essential.
What are the hours like?
Most neighbourhood coordinators will be expected to work more than 40 hours a week. "The evening meetings are hard," says Panter. "I will constantly be working late."
Source
Housing Today
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