Having spent the greater part of my stay in the United Kingdom engaged in my studies, getting to start work in a professional environment was always going to be daunting. The prospect of being a Case Manager in a new environment, adjusting to a different work culture and picking up on the nuances can be a huge challenge. However, I must say my experience at the company thus far has moulded me not only into a better professional but a human being with substance to add to society.
As an individual, I learn better when I am executing a task myself and not just by observing or theory. I was privileged to have colleagues that allowed me to learn as I worked, allowing me to develop in my new role through practical experiences. I have found my role to be special in that there is autonomy over how I manage my caseload and although as a team we try to maintain a certain level of quality, I am allowed to also put an imprint of my personality and skills on my work in a positive manner.
This is a special job that allows me to communicate and interact with professionals in local authorities and different sectors like banking, financial services and legal. However, there is the special part of communicating with the primary client who apart from a professional relationship, the substance and nature of the work may require me communicate with them in a humane and informal way. I have developed this flexibility to be a communicator with the ability to simplify complex material.
The research before the administration is always exciting. The various software systems we employ make it a better experience. I have been able to locate estate beneficiaries and make positive contact as far as Asia and the United States of America. I find this idea of having an international reach to be interesting given that I have also previously worked on another continent.
As a keen student of history, it is always an interesting experience visiting census records, travel records or even military documentation from over a century back and observing the entire situation and context from a vantage position. You almost get to visualise the experiences of the subjects of your research from several years back and having to communicate some of the information to their descendants, who most times will be having an abstract clue about their ancestral history, is very rewarding. At times the experience is thought-provoking as you have to justify the presence of someone somewhere or generally come with a correct explanation for why something was like that in a world you did not live in. However, you to pay attention to every detail as you cannot afford to be wrong. The fact that certificates are always available upon ordering makes it easier to corroborate and there is no better feeling than knowing you were right once the certificate comes in!
The administration aspect is always thorough as nothing can be left to chance especially with debts owed to government departments. I always try to be diligent with the financial investigations to avoid situations where an estate is distributed and DWP debt comes up through written communication with all departments possible. The deceased’s bank statements are also helpful not only to show the particular benefits that one was on but also to show other possible utilities related creditors and debtors who will have to confirm again in writing that there is nothing owing. We have safeguards we make use of that are approved by the Law Society and also observe statutory mechanisms like placing a section 27 notice in terms of the Trustee Act (1925) on the London Gazette and carrying out wills searches through Certainty National Will Register to avoid a situation of intestate administration where an estate actually has a will. We also extract insurance policies from reputable insurance companies at the end of the process always cover the estate.
In conclusion I am grateful to have joined a team of professionals that are always willing to help me become the best I can be. It is an added advantage being in a workplace with people from different work backgrounds who bring other skills that I can helpfully access. Professionally, I am pleased with how I am able to make the burden lighter for my clients and accord them a tailor- made service to the best of my abilities.
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