Involving customers in recruitment, across all levels of Hafod, ensures that candidates understand the importance we place on connection and community. It also helps us choose people who are not only skilled and experienced, but who genuinely share our commitment to putting customers first.
At Hafod, we believe that a good home and a strong community are crucial for wellbeing, and this is evident in our extra care schemes, where residents benefit from flexible support that adapts as their needs change.
Residents in our extra care schemes are not passive recipients of support or services; they are cocreators of their homes, shaping the places and communities they live in. At Ty Heulog, this is embedded in everyday life, from helping to choose new colour schemes for communal spaces to having a voice in decisions that affect their home.
When the job advert went out for a new scheme manager, it was clear to Michelle Holmes, Regional Lead for RCT and Merthyr Tydfil, that residents should also have the opportunity to be part of the recruitment process.
In stepped Alice, a well-known and much-loved member of the Ty Heulog community, who volunteered to welcome candidates on the day of their interviews.
Alice’s eagerness to help made her a natural fit for such an important role, and when Michelle approached her about taking part, Alice said she felt “honoured” to be asked.
Alice shared, “I dressed up smartly to meet the candidates and I welcomed them into Ty Heulog. I had two in the morning, and two in the afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to each of them, I told them about Ty Heulog and what we like in a manager… The conversations flowed so well that I felt at ease. I had the most fabulous time… Thank you so much for asking me, it meant the world to me.”
On interview day, Alice was the first-person candidates met as they arrived at the scheme. She provided a warm welcome and guided candidates to where they needed to be, helping them feel at ease before their interview began.
The successful candidate, Beki DeAngelis, who recently joined us as scheme manager at Ty Heulog, said:
“It was delightful to be greeted by Alice. She was so warm and friendly and had lots of information and insights to share as she showed me around. She introduced me to some of the tenants who call Ty Heulog their home and directed me to my interview.
“This kind of welcome really helped to settle those interview nerves and was a key part of my decision to accept the role as I felt that a company that encourages it’s customers to be involved in all aspects of their home life is a company with a positive culture for all. Thank you, Alice!”
At Hafod, extra care is more than a model of housing. It is a commitment to connection, and to creating vibrant communities where residents feel involved and empowered. By getting the basics right, connecting to build meaningful relationships and investing in the future, we aim to create homes where people can truly thrive. Alice’s involvement is a great example of what cocreation looks like in practice.