JAMES KING

22 Butts Crescent, Hanworth, Middlesex, TW136HQEmail: wjamesking@gmail.com

Mobile: 07545 80 5579

CURRENT ROLE

3 Years as the Team Leader of the London Borough of Hounslow’s Home Improvement Agency.

o A team of 12 (1 Occupational therapist, 4 Surveyors, 2.5 FTE Caseworkers, 3 Handy Persons, 3 Admin) Providing home adaptations and minor repairs for the elderly and disabled based on Occupational Therapists assessment and Surveyors designs through the administration of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

o The goal: to enable the elderly and disabled to live fuller and safer lives in their own homes.

Achievements while in this post Introduced a detailed customer and surveyor feedback form. Using this data I

have been able to stop poor performing contractors from receiving Invitations to tender. In addition as a result of site visits I have seen the general quality of the product we deliver improve.

Procurement changes to allow surveyors to prescribe specific items and brands

CDM compliance as the Client and Principle Designer. Aided the compliance of all contractors who produce Construction Phase Plans.

Full budget spend two years running. The second year even with surveyor numbers reduced by one. To accomplish this I took on a case load of my own (up to 40 lives cases at a time).

Handyperson service: As a result of networking and promoting the service to both internal and external agents I have seen the service become fully integrated as a key component of the Councils “joined up” approach to health and the Care Act.

Introduced a 22 point home safety check that is carried out by surveyors and Handypersons in every new property visited by the service. Enabling us to give focused advice provide mobility aids and make referrals to other agencies

Migrated the Handyperson service away from handling cash to safer methods of payment.

PERSONAL PROFILE

Having a broad range of professional experience with a skill set to match. A proactive and innovative Team Leader with extensive time management

and prioritisation experience Skilled problem solver who takes an objective overview then generates

solutions Wide range of experience within Local Government, the Private Sector, as a

business owner and sole trader Well organised, efficient and hardworking, willing to discover and accept new

ideas which can be put into practice effectively. A perceptive and supportive communicator who leads by example and

encourages personal development in others Energetic and dynamic, relishes a challenge and keenly applies skills in order

to meet goals Strong motivation to succeed coupled with the skill and experience to perform

exceptionally within a challenging and forward looking environment. As a sole trader and company owner developed a strong business acumen

with a great sense of responsibility

KEY SKILLS Management skills Team leader for the Home Improvement Service (Hounslow)

A team of 12. (1 Occupational therapist, 4 Surveyors), 2.5 FTE cases workers, 3 Handy persons, 3 Admin)

Ensuring day to day smooth running delivery of Recruitment/ interviewing PDA’s, One on ones Influencing, leading, and delegating abilities Technical knowledge and Background Budget Monitoring effective meetings and case reviews Planning and organizing – Organizational abilities Negotiating skills Conflict resolution Public speaking

Site Manager Delegation Project management Organisational skills to produce on time delivery Ordering of materials. Health and safety compliance Quality control

Liaison between clients, management, contractors, suppliers

Business owner Innovation SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Communication skillsI have a high degree of both written and oral communication skills (English).

Confident, articulate, I speak at public events on behalf of the council promoting the service

Lead on combined team meetings (Home Improvement/ Occupational Therapists)

Write reports for mid and upper management (research and assessment, justifications for funding projects over £30,000)

Write responses to letters of complaint and FOI’s Excellent networker. The link between my team and many other teams within

the council Interviewer in 2 grievance cases reporting to senior management on

suggested outcomes and policy changes School Teacher

Numerical skillsExcellent numerical skills

I oversee the Disabled Facilities Grant the Minor Works Grant and the Emergency Heating Grant (capital). Monitoring budget spend and fee generation

Manage two team budgets approving spend and salaries, monthly updates with finance

Analysis of raw data to report on current and future demands Report KPI’s Approve all grants and check the accuracy of submitted tender prices Assessing and approving extra site works claimed by contractors Managed the finances and accounting in small businesses I have owned Foreign currency trader

Analytical / Problem solving skillsConstruction/Adaptations

Plan interpretation and implementation Feasibility assessments Determining the right produce to meet the need of the situation

Business Assessment of risks and opportunities Recruitment

Team/People

Developed monitoring system for tracking caseloads of the technical officers in the HIS

Finding ways to bring team members on board with changeHome Improvement Service (problems solved)

Handy Persons handling cash Home safety checks for falls assessments Shortages of good contractors / too many poor contactors Introduction of Contractors to CDM regulations Recruitment

Developed Hounslow’s handy person service Gardening service, assessment of needs and selection of equipment Focus on Health and safety and how best to deliver the service

Customer complaints Combine patience, determination, and persistence to troubleshoot client

issues. Determine the core elements of the complaint and focus on how to reach a satisfactory outcome

Professional / Technical skills Team leader Property Surveying Ability to interpret and Implement legislation. Sound working knowledge of the

legislation relating to Home Improvement Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Trusted Assessor Draw and interpret working drawings for construction purposes Carpenter Tiler Handy Person Strong customer service skills  School teacher. Ability to work well under pressure

IT Skills

Microsoft Office – word, excel, power point, Project Daily user of databases Customised database to suit unique departmental needs AutoCAD, (plan drawing software). Aregsso (Hounslow’s Finance software package) Flare (records all data and customer information related to a case)

CAREER HISTORY

Handy Person London Borough of Hounslow 2009-2013

Self-employed carpenter and tiler 2005-2009 UK

Moved to the UK October 2005

Self-employed carpenter and tiler 2004-2005 NZ

Owner / Manager. Sterling Limousines Ltd NZ 2002-2004Private chauffeur service to Auckland NZ based politicians and business persons

Business development and marketing Recruitment and training of staff Ensuring the highest possible delivery service standards Financial controller

Site Manager GJ Gardiner Homes Ltd Auckland NZ 1999-2002Largest home building franchise in NZ

Management of all construction processes, contractors and materials onsite with appropriate timing

Up to 20 individual homes under construction at any one time across an area with a radius of 10 miles

Weekly reporting to management on construction progress, contractor’s performance, materials and supply issues, client feedback for each site.

Building standards compliance, quality control. On time delivery of completed homes within budget Occupational health and safety on each site, similar to UK CDM regulations

Flight Attendant Air New Zealand, Auckland NZ 1989-1999 Customer service Aviation Medicine Health and safety

Project Leader Creative Display Ltd, Auckland NZ 1987-1989 Employing and management of all part time staff Management of all projects, with a ruthless commitment to on time delivery Producing cost estimations for the design team Used Microsoft Project Product development and prototyping

Project estimator Creative display Ltd, Auckland NZ 1985- 1987 Interpreting in-house designs Finding suppliers Commissioning quotes

International voluntary work 1983-1985

Carpenter

I have picked up these skills over the years starting with holiday breaks while training as a school teacher. I have always been able to find work in construction. Intermingled throughout the listed work above has been times of picking up the tools.

School Teacher Training and first posting 1979-1983 Communication skills Planning Time management Multi-tasking Reporting, giving feedback, encouraging and inspiring

Born and raised in New Zealand. British passport holder. UK drivers licence