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One to watch – Jade Holbein, housing officer, Queens Cross
Inside Housing this month launches a new series of Q&As with tomorrow’s leaders. The first exceptional housing professional is Jade Holbein, a housing officer at Queens Cross. She was suggested to Inside Housing by the chief executive of the association and others inside and outside the organisation
Tell us about your job.
I manage a patch of approximately 270 houses. This involves a variety of tasks, including monitoring rent accounts, providing tenants with general information about benefits and signposting to relevant agencies to ensure a tenant’s income is maximised. It also includes the allocation of empty properties, inspections tenancies, investigations into anti-social behaviour, complaints and estate management.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
From an early age I enjoyed engaging with and helping people. I worked in retail and hospitality from the age of 14 and continued for almost eight years.
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Tell us about how you first came to work in housing.
I left school at 16. Part of the reason for that decision was that I had come across a modern apprenticeship programme run by Glasgow North Regeneration Agency. After an application and an interview, I got a place to complete a Scottish Vocational Qualification in business and administration in a housing association. Having grown up in social rented accommodation, I knew it was something I was passionate about and I was keen to learn how the sector worked.
What’s your proudest work moment?
A colleague and I were leading a project group for the Year of Young People 2018, and part of that was to deliver a presentation to colleagues and board members. We had to talk about our career journey. I’m a very chatty person, but public speaking has always made me nervous. So standing up and delivering a speech in front of more than 60 people without tripping up has to be one of my proudest moments.
And what has been your hardest moment?
Leaving a role that I enjoyed, that was comfortable and that I had experience in to start again in a new department while still studying at university. When I applied for uni, I was working as the governance officer at Queens Cross. My role then was to support the board of management, the chief executive and the executive team. I made the decision to apply for housing officer after my first year at uni, to put the skills I was learning into practice, along with being in a public-facing role with more responsibility.
Who is the most important person who has helped your career so far – and why?
My previous manager Fiona Smith. Fiona gave me encouragement and guidance. At the same time she showed me how to be disciplined and professional at a young age. She taught me important skills like respecting confidentiality, following rules and policies and how to do my job to the best of my ability.
If you could change one thing about the housing sector, what would it be?
The stigma that can be attached to social rent, and the perception that it is a last resort or a stepping stone to the property ladder.
Do you know an outstanding professional who deserves to be featured? Email jess.mccabe@insidehousing.co.uk with your suggestions
