Meet Simon

Simon joined NCHA in early 2025 and – in a short space of time – has become a firm favourite with many of our care and support customers.

“I’d taken early retirement in January 2025, but it lasted three weeks!” he laughs. “I started at NCHA on a six‑month agency contract before I was invited to come on the books full‑time.”

Today, Simon plays a key role in our specialist repairs and maintenance service for care and support homes. His combination of practical skill, empathy and patience has made a real difference to the people we support.

A personal approach to repairs

“When I arrive at a site, the first thing I do is introduce myself and explain why I’m there,” he explains. “The customer or care and support colleague will tell me what the issue is – for example, a door that won’t lock – and I’ll carry out the usual checks, like looking at the hinges or making any necessary adjustments.”

Most of the time, Simon is able to resolve things straight away:

“Nine times out of ten, I’ll fix the issue on the spot. I don’t like walking away if a job isn’t done. If it’s more complex and needs wider work, I’ll do temporary repairs the same day so people aren’t left waiting.”

Being trauma‑informed and people‑focused

The care and support homes Simon visits vary hugely, and no two days are the same.

“I really enjoy visiting care and support services,” he says. “I’ll have a chinwag and a laugh with service users. There’s one particular customer who always wants to help me!”

Many of the people we support have physical or mental health needs, so every visit requires sensitivity, awareness and compassion.

“Even when there are tricky behaviours to navigate, sometimes all someone needs is a listening ear and a bit of time,” he says. “It’s important to treat our service users with the same respect we’d want for ourselves.”

And the rewards? For Simon, they’re immediate.

“Every job I’ve done has made me feel good. When you repair something, people are so grateful. Seeing my work bring a smile to someone’s face is a reward in itself.”

A colleague who “just gets it”

Tracey Ward, Head of Care and Support, has seen the impact first‑hand:

“Simon just ‘gets it’ when visiting some of our customers with complex needs. His empathy and demeanour have completely won over many customers, who simply adore him. He understands behaviours, and he treats every customer he meets with respect and dignity.”

‘A great working environment’

Alongside the warm feedback from customers, Simon says he receives just as much positivity from colleagues.

“We get a lot of word‑of‑mouth compliments – people saying they’re ‘ever so grateful’ or that something ‘looks brilliant’. When someone says my work looks amazing, it makes me feel better.”

“The way NCHA cares for colleagues is beyond me. The team always pulls together and it’s a great working environment. I’d say to anyone that if you get the opportunity to work for NCHA – grab it. I’ve worked with a few social housing companies, and this is the best I’ve ever worked for.”