ABUSED, understaffed, threatened with the sack and depressed.
Those are the descriptions of the working life of a Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing caretaker.
Now an inquiry has been promised into the concerns raised by caretaking staff working for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, who are responsible for the area's local authority housing.
The move follows allegations of serious problems.
A source has claimed caretakers working from the Newsome Housing Office are under immense pressure due to:
* Chronic staff shortages. There are nine caretakers covering Huddersfield South - at points there have only been three on duty.
* Staff claim they were told if they want to help residents by doing jobs outside of their description "You are on your own" or "You're not paid to think."
* The demeaning practice of having to sign-out a key to use a toilet.
* Foul language from managers too shocking to print in a family newspaper.
The source said the caretakers' stores didn't have a toilet, so they had to use the toilets in the main Housing Office.
Eventually KNH provided them with a portaloo on site, but because yobs target the loo, managers locked the toilet rolls in the stores building.
The source added: "Now the management staff have decided that caretakers can no longer hold keys to the stores and have said that if they need to go in there for any reason, be it lunch breaks, toilet use, cup of tea or to dry off they are to go to Newsome Housing Office to sign out a key, they are also timed for its return regardless of why they might need access to the store."
The sources said: "These guys are the ones who are the 'face' of KNH and they are treated with contempt and criticised for daring to complain or question anything."
The Examiner contacted KNH in October with the allegations and a spokesman for KNH said senior managers would be investigating the allegation. Yesterday a spokesman said: "We are currently investigating a complaint and will be taking appropriate action if necessary."
