Lydia - Camden Careers

I’m like a gatekeeper. I work with some of the most vulnerable people in our borough.

Our tenants are aged 65 years and over, and many have issues such as health, mental health and alcohol dependency. Sometimes they don’t know where to go. But we look at each person as an individual to see how we can promote their independence. It’s so rewarding, because we always find new ways to help people who need support.  

I see Camden’s rebellious spirit in many of my tenants.

The people who work for Camden have that rebellious spirit, too. My colleagues always help each other and work together, because we’re working towards the same goal. As a lone worker, the digital innovations being brought in are helping. And management is always there to help.  

I joined Camden Council 24 years ago. As you can imagine, I’ve seen a lot of changes and a lot of challenges. But I always embrace them. It was actually the salary that brought me here. That, and the offices are only about 15-minute walk from where I live, which is so helpful as a mum. The overall flexibility is so beneficial and really enticed me to stay.  

I’ve experienced a lot of opportunities to develop, which Camden have paid for and given me time to do.

I can see how my knowledge and skills have improved with all the training. I’ve also had lots of support with my career, like my managers encouraging me to apply for a team leader position.  

But I want to focus on working with tenants. Knowing I’ve improved someone’s life is a great feeling. I can say I’m my own boss, and I’m able to use my own initiative. I can do this because I have close-knit communication with my managers and colleagues. You can call upon them when you need to.  

Camden’s values reflect my own.

There is a real togetherness with colleagues and residents. We’re encouraged to bring ideas that will help us meet tenants’ needs, to be very creative and innovative. Which is why we often have discussions with tenants about what they want.  

It’s not just box-ticking – these ideas are actually put into practice. Seeing that builds your confidence. Camden listens. You can see they care, and they always want to improve. That makes me want to stay.