Staff stories
Antony Chapman (He/Him) - Community engagement officer (Community safety)
Before working at TVBC I worked in care, first as a carer then as a care coordinator. I learned a lot about customer service while I worked there. When I became a care coordinator, I missed being out in the community so when it came time to find a new job I wanted something which would be rewarding and allow me to balance being in an office with being out in the communities I work with. I had no experience in community engagement or community safety when I joined, but my time in care gave me a strong safeguarding background and community focused mindset which I think helped me get the job.
It is a very supportive employer with a great ethos. All of the staff are friendly and departments actively support each other when it is needed. Although departments don’t work together every day, I have never felt like I am bothering anyone when I need advice or support for a project we are doing.
When I joined I had no experience in community safety. The council paid for me to do my level 3 qualification in Community Safety & Nuisance Management for Practitioners, I had my first lecture on my first day! The council has also just paid for me to do my level 5 Professional Award for Managers in Community Safety, which I passed in May. With that I am now qualified to be a community safety manager, the council has opened my career path and supported me to do it.