Louise Chester
Leicester
Summary
A strategic thinker with exceptional problem-solving and risk management skills, adept at transferring strategy into operational output. Demonstrates resourcefulness and digital literacy in fast-paced, evolving environments, consistently meeting targets and deadlines while managing a varied workload. Known for building strong relationships across teams and maintaining a customer-focused approach, with the ability to control difficult situations calmly and professionally. Career goals include leveraging financial awareness to drive impactful business decisions.
Overview
47
47
years of professional experience
12112
12112
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Regional Housing Officer
Advance Housing & Support Ltd
Witney, Oxfordshire
2019.07 - 2026.02
- Providing tenancy management and home ownership services to leasehold, shared ownership and tenants.
- Provision of a generic housing management service- Rent management, Void Management, Lettings, Anti-Social Behaviour, Complaints, Safeguarding
- Service charge setting
- Tenant engagement
- Management of nomination agreements, SLA’s, leases and management agreements.
- Attending court for ASB injunctions, Access injunctions and rent arrears and Possession Orders
- Multi-agency working- LA’s, Other Housing Providers, Police, Fire Service, Support Teams etc
- Highest performing Staff member for KPI’s
- Multiple Quarter and Annual awards for performance standards of service.
- Multiple Roles: Regional Housing Officer, Leicestershire, Birmingham, Warwickshire & Staffordshire
Housing Outreach Worker
Advance Housing & Support Ltd
2019.07 - 2023.10
- Signpost customer to appropriate services
- Complete void inspections
- Pre tenancy viewings and the sign up of new tenancies
- Manage tenant records on Open Housing
- Prompt customers pay the weekly rent and service charge
- Assist Senior Housing Officer with serving notices
- Assist and respond to anti-social behaviour complaints
- Encourage customer participation in all aspects of the running of their homes
- Assist customers to make claims for welfare benefits
- Regular tenancy visits to improve living conditions & sustain tenancies.
- Updated and maintain customer records within the prescribed timescales
- Work with customers at all levels to promote, develop and deliver Tenant Involvement and Community Investment initiatives/events.
- Management of all Fire Risk Assessment & water actions
- Carryout weekly fire and water checks have been recorded and are maintained safely on sites.
- Welfare checks
Support Coordinator
Stonham Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear December
2014.12 - 2019.06
- Interview and assess applicants for tenancy at hostel
- Providing tenancy management
- Tenancy sign-up
- Work with service user to move from homeless service to local council tenancy
- Housing benefit claims
- Develop client led support using person-centred approaches
- Ensure application of any agreed screening processes, and make eligibility, referral, allocations and assessment decisions based on risk and a client need
- Produce and review support and safety plans for individuals to ensure a high-quality standard of support that promotes independent living.
- Ensure high standards of service delivery are achieved by following policies and procedures, including safeguarding clients and other people at risk of abuse
- Deputies for Client Services Manager/Senior Client Services Manager
- Provide direct support to higher risk clients requiring more intensive support in specialist services
- Co-ordination and lead responsibility for engagement with formal panels and processes such as MARAC, Safeguarding, team around family, MAPPA and any multi-agency health meetings
- Co-ordination and development of level 1 and level 2 Support Workers
Community Support Worker
ASRA, Leicester
2007.06 - 2014.12
- Develop client led support using person-centred approaches
- Supporting service user to maintain their tenancy
- Produce and review support and safety plans for individuals to ensure a high-quality standard of support that promotes independent living.
- Ensure high standards of service delivery are achieved by following policies and procedures, including safeguarding clients and other people at risk of abuse
- Provide direct support to higher risk clients requiring more intensive support in specialist services
Nursing assistant
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust Leicester
2005.01 - 2007.06
- Assisting clients with personal care
- Administering medication
- Keyworker duties which include shopping for personal needs with clients, contact with family of service users, organising birthday presents, meals and party’s
- Writing nursing notes
- Handling of petty cash and services users money
Catering Manager
PPD Development Clinic, Leicester
1998.04 - 2004.12
- Review study protocols and provide input
- Line Management responsibilities including biannual performance reviews and training days
- Provide monthly performance metrics to senior management
- Staff rotas
- Ordering and maintaining stock
- Producing diets and menus for research studies according to the protocol requirements
- Fire warden
- Alarm and lock premises
Assistant Catering Manager
PPD Development Clinic Leicester
1993.11 - 1998.04
- Assisting catering manager to produce menus for research studies according to the protocol requirements
- Maintain and update kitchen equipment including temperature monitoring and
- Record-keeping in line with Good Clinical Practice requirements
- Ordering and maintaining stock
- Over saw day to day running of team in the absent of manager
Catering Assistant
PPD Development Clinic Leicester
1993.11 - 1996.11
- Maintain kitchen organisation
- General cleanliness in the cooking and service areas.
- Food preparation tasks
- Storeroom and stock duties
- Receiving deliveries and putting them away
- Serving meals
Bespoke Curtain Maker
Self-Employed
1987.03 - 1993.11
- Providing advice to customer on decoration and curtains for their home
- Suppling fabrics and wallpapers
- Making bespoke window coverings
- Fitting window coverings
- Meeting deadlines
- Keeping up to date financial records
Creche Worker
Chase Hotel, Leicester
1985.01 - 1987.03
- Supervising under 5’s
- Providing a safe environment
- Checking and maintaining safety mats and equipment
Trainee Hairdresser
Mr Stephen Hair Salon, Leicester
1979.06 - 1980.06
- Washing clients hair
- Colouring, perming hair
- Cash handling
- Booking appointments
- Cleaning and maintenance of salon
Education
Level 3 Diploma - Counselling Skills
NCFE Cache
Level 2 - Understating Tenant Support in Social Housing
NCFE
Level 2 Certificate - Counselling Skills
NCFE
Level 2 Certificate - Understanding Domestic Abuse
NCFE
BSc (Hons) - Health & Social Care
The Open University
Promoting Public Health Certificate -
The Open University
Health & Social Care Certificate -
The Open University
Level 2 NVQ - Team Leading
EDI
NVQ 3 - Health & Social Care (Adults)
Leicester College
NVQ 1 & 2 - Catering and Hospitality
Soft Furnishing and Interiors - undefined
Crownhills College Leicester
CSE’s - Maths, English, Biology, Home Economics
Mundella Girls School - Leicester
Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Resourcefulness
- Communication Skills
- Build Relationships with different teams and staff
- Customer focused
- Ability to work at pace in a continuously adapting and evolving environment quickly and easily
- Ability to meet targets and deadlines whilst managing a busy varied workload
- Financially aware
- Strategic Thinker
- Can transfer strategy into operational output
- Risk Management Skills
- Ability to control difficult situations in a calm and professional manner
- Digital Literacy
References
- Jacqueline, Russon, Customer Engagement Manager, jacqueline.russon@advanceuk.org, 07874871910, Advance Housing & Support Ltd, 2 Witan Way, Witney, Oxon, OX28 6FH
- Sasha Anderson, Operation Manager, sasha.anderson@housing21.org.uk, 0776541089
Timeline
Regional Housing Officer
Advance Housing & Support Ltd
2019.07 - 2026.02
Housing Outreach Worker
Advance Housing & Support Ltd
2019.07 - 2023.10
Support Coordinator
Stonham Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear December
2014.12 - 2019.06
Community Support Worker
ASRA, Leicester
2007.06 - 2014.12
Nursing assistant
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust Leicester
2005.01 - 2007.06
Catering Manager
PPD Development Clinic, Leicester
1998.04 - 2004.12
Assistant Catering Manager
PPD Development Clinic Leicester
1993.11 - 1998.04
Catering Assistant
PPD Development Clinic Leicester
1993.11 - 1996.11
Bespoke Curtain Maker
Self-Employed
1987.03 - 1993.11
Creche Worker
Chase Hotel, Leicester
1985.01 - 1987.03
Trainee Hairdresser
Mr Stephen Hair Salon, Leicester
1979.06 - 1980.06
BSc (Hons) - Health & Social Care
The Open University
Level 2 NVQ - Team Leading
EDI
NVQ 3 - Health & Social Care (Adults)
Leicester College
NVQ 1 & 2 - Catering and Hospitality
Soft Furnishing and Interiors - undefined
Crownhills College Leicester
CSE’s - Maths, English, Biology, Home Economics
Mundella Girls School - Leicester
Level 3 Diploma - Counselling Skills
NCFE Cache
Level 2 - Understating Tenant Support in Social Housing
NCFE
Level 2 Certificate - Counselling Skills
NCFE
Level 2 Certificate - Understanding Domestic Abuse
NCFE
Promoting Public Health Certificate -
The Open University
Health & Social Care Certificate -
The Open University