I always thought people were slightly deranged to start renovating their house just as they found out they were having a baby. Why would you start all that work, when a huge life-changing event is about to happen? Yet so many people do. In fact, I did. When I became pregnant with my son Fergus, I decided that was the time to overhaul the house I have been living in for 2 years, totally accepting I had denounced others for doing just that.
And, it was fine. It was stressful at times; messy; there were long hours and late nights; strong words with contractors; dwindling funds; and an enormous amount of tea drunk and biscuits scoffed. I went through 2 kettles. But in the end I was in the right place. I had a cosy, lovely home when I needed it most: with a new baby to look after.
March 23rd this year felt a bit like the time I called the joiner having just being to see the mid-wife 14 years ago.
Having been at Four Square for 18 months at the time, and having my Leadership Team in place, we had consulted on a re-structure, but the launch date was 13th April. We’d planned a fabulous day to re-launch with all the staff in one place for training, information, to get their new contracts and to discuss what the new Four Square looked like. By the end of the 23rd we had closed two charity shops; introduced single person rotas in our hostels; put a delay on recruitment; and sent everyone we could, home to work.
We could have found a plan B, but in the end we pushed through. We called the joiner. And, with a monumental effort from all our staff, we restructured during a pandemic. There were new things like home schooling; shielding; zooming; and furloughing. And there were the familiar things: it was stressful at times; messy; there were long hours and late nights; strong words with contractors; dwindling funds; and an enormous amount of tea drunk and biscuits scoffed. Just one kettle though.
And we got there. There is always, always more to do, but today I wrote to all my staff to say thank you. Our organisation is energised, more focussed; people have better terms and conditions; our residents report how much they’ve benefitted from the positive changes; our customers are returning in their droves (2m apart obvs); and it just feels good.
We have not benefitted from Covid. No one benefits from Covid. We made these changes in difficult circumstances, but we have, I think created a more robust organisation just when we need it most.
