This is our brand new and exciting section to the WERA Website.
Every Two weeks we will publish an EXCLUSIVE Interview with those who work with WERA and manage services to the estate and Lambeth. We will ask the questions that you may well of always wanted to ask whether they be at the Housing, in politics or the police as well as many more...
If you would like to make a suggestion for a Question or suggest a person for an
interview then Contact us.
Can you please tell us who you are and what your position is?
Richard
Rivers-
I have been employed by Lambeth since November
2004. Originally as a caretaker working in the Brixton Area. I moved to Clapham as
the Senior Handyperson in late 2006. I then changed to the Senior Caretaker in mid
2007 now known as the Senior Estate Services Officer
Can you please give a brief description
of what your role involves?
Between the Estate services Manager and
I, we are responsible for all aspects of the communal upkeep of all of the
estates and street properties managed by Lambeth Living in the Clapham Area.
This covers communal repairs, Grounds Maintenance, Estate Cleaning,
Graffiti Removal, Bulk Refuse Removal, Parking Enforcement, Tree Maintenance, Refuse
removal and managing the Estate services officers.
Please describe yourself in three
words?
Approachable, Helpful, Focused
What one thing do you think is the most important
about working with residents?
To be able to improve the environment in which we all
live and/or work.
In what way does your role help improve our estate/community?
By
keeping the estates clean, safe and maintained.
Do you think Lambeth services are
getting better or worse and why?
Better! There has been a recent job evaluation of
the Estate Services Team role and as a result the Estate Services Officers have now
been given more authority to arrange for works to be carried out on the estates they
cover. As a result there is not such a delay in communal improvements and repairs
being carried out.
If you could chose any other job other than the one you are doing,
what would you like to do?
Hmmm, So many choices! Maybe something involving Motorbikes
or some kind of engineering
Do you have any hobbies, if so what are they?
I am motorbike
mad, I love getting my hands dirty working on bikes. I am also in the Scout Association,
and love my weekends to go and let my hair down. I am also an avid Millwall Fan and
love music.
Do you think Weir Estate has improved?
Definitely! There have been vast
improvements to the road ways on Weir estate and I think the cleaning and grounds
maintenance have improved
What do you most like about living/working in London?
Its
got to be that there is always some where open if you fancy going out.
What does Community
mean to you?
In essence a 'community' is a group of people living in a common area
or a group of people share a common interest, In my opinion to make a proper community
that group of people work and socialise with each other to improve their area and
build relationships.
If you were in a TV programme, what character would you be?
I've
got No Idea, maybe Richard Hammond from Top Gear, WHAT A JOB!!!!!
What more do you
think can be done to improve relations between you and residents?
I feel I have a
good relationship with the residents on the estates and am always available to discuss
any issues
Who would you most like to meet and why?
The Beatles, They changed the way
music is thought of and are still now one of the biggest selling bands in history.
Do
you have a phrase that sums up your take on life?
Every Thing that has happened in
your life be it good, or bad makes you the person you are today.
What was the last
Movie you watched?
Being honest, unfortunately it was Bridget Jones with my Girlfriend.
I'm normally in to action adventures and thrillers, not Romantic Comedies.
What item
could you not leave home without?
My mobile phone!
What makes you happy?
Lots of things,
In the work sense I’m happy when I see the results of my work. Away from work, going
out and letting my hair down
Are residents able to contact you? If so when and how
should they do so?
I am available by phone or email. My email address
is RRiversSimpson@lambethliving.org.uk
I can be contacted between 9am
and 5pm Monday to Friday but would ask for all concerns or issues to be raised via
the Lambeth service centre in the first instance on 020 7926 6000.
Other Interviews:
Diana Morris... Click here to view
PCSO Karen Rose... Click here to view
Sabina Joseph... Click here to view
Steve Reed... Click here to view
Nick Ephgrave... Click here to view
Val Shawcross... Click here to view
Patrick Horgan... Click here to view
Lib Peck... Click here to view
Derrick Anderson... Click here to view
Cathy Deplessis... Click here to view
Chris Adamson... Click here to view
