Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of Pineview Housing Association’s Chief Executive
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23rd October 2024 – Joyce Orr’s day blog
7.30am alarm goes off and the usual struggle to get up ensues – how I wish I was a morning person! Have a coffee, shower and get dressed.
8.30am leave the house and take Trevor (the most adorable border terrier in the world) to doggy day care – he goes each Wednesday more for a play session with all his furbag buddies. For a wee dog that normally wants to be with you at all times, on a Wednesday when we arrive at the daycare unit, he is like “see ya!” – but remember to come bac for me to take me home for my dinner (yes he is definitely my dog).
9.00am arrive at office. While we have hybrid working, Wednesday is the day of the week everyone has to be in the office. It is great to catch up and see all colleagues. When I get into the office there is much running around and hilarity – it is Wear it Pink day and there is a treasure hunt underway – great fun and for a fantastic cause (https://breastcancernow.org/wear-it-pink/about-wear-it-pink/).
This morning’s work relates mostly to planning and preparation for our quarterly staff review day that is due 30/10//2024. Following our 2024 Investors in People (IIP) reaccreditation we reviewed our staff meetings and changed from 2 hours each month to a full day event each quarter. The staff days involve reviews of performance and incorporate team learning. The staff team determined the proposed format and gave the suggestion to committee. Committee could see the benefit of the suggestions made and approved the closing of the office one day per quarter, and the hiring of a venue to facilitate the event. All team members have items to research and report on at the day and today I’m finalising the agenda with input from team.
At 10.00am I have a Teams meeting with Brian Glennie (Powered By) who will be undertaking the intent based leadership at the afternoon session of the staff event. An hour is spent discussing how to make the session interactive, enjoyable and useful to everyone and Pineview.
Meanwhile chaos still ensues around the office with the competition for the coin treasure hunt intensifying. Whilst the staff members working downstairs are approaching this in a team fashion, for the upstairs team apparently, for this task, there is “no i in Team” 😊.
12 noon – lunch – taking a longer lunch today as have an evening committee meeting tonight. As I had forgotten to wear pink to work today, I change into everything pink for returning to office – even my socks 😊.
Phone calls in the car to deal with matters relating to another organisation at which I am a volunteer, so a working lunch but a different work.
2.00pm Back to the office and the Wear it Pink lunch is coming to an end and everyone has had a great time raising funds and winning prizes.
One to one meeting with a department manager planned but didn’t happen due to another meeting for the manager running over, rearranged for tomorrow.
Continue with my update report and presentation for the staff day , covering staffing changes, committee updates and the IIP working group updates.
Review draft internal audit reports received on duty of care; anti-social behaviour; and reactive maintenance. Arrange meeting for 24/10/2024 to discuss findings and determine management responses with Housing Services Manager and Senior Housing Officer – great outcomes, although always learning and improvement to be gained, which is the great benefit achieve by undertaking independent internal audit.
5.00pm Review agenda and papers for tonight’s committee meeting – second strategic objectives session with Alison Smith, Allanpark.
6.15pm Committee meeting starts. Committee and senior staff work in teams to consider the outcomes from session1 of 09/10/2024 and develop the strategic goals further. Lots of discussion and debate and a great session to help shape and prepare Pineview’s strategic priorities for the 3 year period ahead.
7.40pm Leave the office, drop a colleague off and then home.
8.10pm Arrive home. Make some toast and pour a zero Guinness (it’s a school night 😊), sit by the fire and surf the internet and check personal e-mails for a bit.
11.00pm Bed with my current book – Richard Osman ’We Solve Murders’ – I do love a murder (fictional that is!).
11.50pm Light off for some sleep before starting again tomorrow.
All in all a great day spent with great staff and committee colleagues, all of whom are committed to contributing to the aim of Putting People 1st and improving the housing and living circumstances of our tenants and residents.
