07.06.05 - Residents involved in new approach

Magna West Somerset has been taking a new approach to recruitment and it’s gone down a storm with their residents.

This week Magna’s community services department took resident involvement one step further and involved them in the recruitment of a support officer sheltered housing.

Community services are responsible for extra care’ projects, a meals service, lifeline, domestic abuse services and also sheltered and supported housing schemes. It was the residents of two of these schemes at Millets Close and Carantock Place in Carhampton, who met all the candidates being interviewed for the job of their new support officer.

Community services manager, Barbara Mullan, is delighted with the way the recruitment process has gone so far, “Involving the residents has worked really well. We approached them in the early stages and so they even had input into the recruitment advertisement.

We visited the residents to discuss how we would recruit and they were keen that we asked for someone who had ‘good community spirit’ was ‘reliable’ and ‘trustworthy’ but was also ‘professional’. We made sure that their requests were included when we advertised.”

Residents have been involved throughout the process and last week, after shortlisting, candidates met them during a coffee morning.

Neil Bliss, senior support officer, felt the session went well, “All of the residents were invited and it’s been really successful. Not only did they have the opportunity to talk informally to all the candidates over coffee but we also dedicated some time for a direct question and answer session.”

Barbara adds, “As this has been such a success and to continue improving the ways we involve residents, we hope to make this more common practice in our recruitment process, especially where the posts are more customer focused.”

Last updated 16.06.05

 

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