Jobs and Careers Winter 2020/21 - 265

WINTER 2020

Here, three employees speak of their experiences of working at the emergency hotel...

Ishita Tahsin

Deniz Ugur
RECRUITMENT OFFICER
" When the opportunity to support
the emergency hotel came up, I
grabbed it with both hands. I took
on additional roles to support the
emergency service while continuing
my day-to-day role as a recruitment
officer through the week.
" Every Friday, I worked at
the hotel to support the service
manager with the coordination of
rotas, agency workers and staffing.
I did additional hours as a support
worker, dealing with support
needs, delivering food, providing
direction and processing referrals.
" As a member of the human
resources team, I feel so privileged
to have experienced working in
an emergency service, and really
feeling part of a team driven by
dedication and passion. It has
given me a true appreciation,
as well as a rounded view,
of the work that we do. "

JC Autumn 2020 Depaul jw4.indd 3

Jon Ellicott

TEAM LEADER

SERVICE MANAGER

" Following the opening of
the emergency hotel, I was
keen to step up into the role
of resettlement coordinator
alongside my role as team leader.
" I had the pleasure of working
with dedicated and hard-working
individuals. Our aim was not just
to house clients, but to ensure
that their accommodations
suited their needs, and that they
had the tools to prevent falling
back into homelessness.
" We also ensured they had
access to benefits, ID documents
and, when necessary, expert
immigration advice. It was a
very rewarding experience
supporting some of the most
vulnerable people in our society.
" Working in the hotel really
highlighted Depaul's wider role in
civil society. I had the opportunity
to work alongside the Greater
London Authority, St Mungo's, the
private sector and mental health
teams in order to achieve the
best outcomes for our clients.
" I am keen to continue
making contributions to society
through my work with Depaul
and external organisations. "

" Working at the hotel has been
a life-changing experience. I
have had the opportunity to
work with some inspirational and
truly caring staff members.
" It has given me the opportunity
to hone my personal skills
and support those with high
support needs, substance misuse
concerns, mental health issues
and challenges surrounding
immigration. Sometimes the job
can be challenging, fast-paced
and emotionally draining, but
the positives far outweigh the
challenges. When someone
finally receives a positive moveon, the team comes together to
celebrate our achievements.
" My involvement with the hotel
project helped me gain skills to
progress within the project itself. I
began as a shift leader within the
hotel and had the opportunity to
step up to service manager. It was
an incredible opportunity to step
up after such a short time at Depaul
and it is wonderful to work for an
organisation that truly rewards staff
for their hard work and passion.
" I'm unsure what my career will
bring once this project comes to
an end, but all the skills I have
learned during my time in this role
are priceless. I have found a true
purpose supporting those who
often don't have the opportunities
that many of us take for granted. "

01/12/2020 21:22
Jobs and Careers Winter 2020/21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jobs and Careers Winter 2020/21
