We’re delighted to introduce Clare Beach, our new Director of Customer & Communities who talks us through her background and her key priorities for the next few months and how she will make an impact on our services for our residents.
Clare brings with her a wealth of experience in housing and talks us through her experience, her goals and what good customer experience looks like.
Hi Clare, welcome to the team. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to this role?
I started my housing career here at Teign Housing over 20 years ago, and I soon learned that making a difference to the lives of residents is something that motivates me. I spent the last 10 years at another housing association, building my experience and learning more about what great services mean to residents. When the opportunity came to return to Teign, I was keen to bring that experience back to an organisation that helped me develop earlier in my career.
What attracted you to the Director of Customer and Communities position, and what excites you most about joining us?
Teign is an organisation that genuinely cares about residents, and that matters to me. I’m excited to work with colleagues who share that commitment and to spend time getting to know residents, listening to their experiences and helping shape services that meet their needs.
What does great customer and community experience look like to you, and how do you want to make a difference?
For me it’s more about what it feels like rather than what it looks like. A great experience is one where residents feel heard, where they feel pride in their communities and homes. After any interaction with us they should feel that we care, and they can trust that we will do what we say we are going do.
As you settle into the role, what are your key priorities for your first few months?
Spending time with my colleagues, getting to know them and their roles. Getting out and about, meeting residents and hearing directly from them about their experiences. Understanding what’s working well and where we can do better will help us focus on the things that matter most.
How would you describe your leadership style, and what can colleagues expect from you?
Supportive and accountable. I believe in supporting people to be the best they can be, empowering them and giving them the tools and training to do their job well. I hold other people and myself accountable for delivering on what matters most – providing homes that people love, and services residents can trust.
What are you most looking forward to over the coming year?
Welcoming our Templer Home Build colleagues as part of our new Teign Homes. As we come together this is an exciting opportunity to learn from each other, to share our skills and knowledge, and work together to deliver even better services for our residents.
Finally, outside of work, what do you enjoy doing, or what’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I love to be out walking with my family which includes our little dog. Being in nature and learning new creative skills makes me happy. I try my hand at a lot of crafts, I recently took up painting, I’m not great at any of it but I enjoy giving it a go!