Care & Repair: Meet the Team

Della Butcher - Co-ordinator

My background is as a housing professional spending the past 20 years working for various local authorities including: Middlesbrough Council, Birmingham City Council and Warwick District Council within a variety of roles.

At Daventry District Council I was initially employed as a Community Projects Officer, delivering a variety of projects, events and campaigns to support and inform local communities, vulnerable people and the elderly. This included developing Daventry’s first ever Job Club, being the supporting Officer for the Daventry & District Over Fifties Forum (DOF), and more recently organising and partnering many of Daventry’s WWI Centenary Commemoration events.

I also planned and delivered an event which has become a true family favourite in Daventry - the annual Family Cinema Day at Daventry Country Park.  

I have been the Care and Repair Co-ordinator since May 2015 , a role that has seen me return to my housing roots. My hope is that Care & Repair Daventry District with continue to develop and evolve so we can help and assist even more of the district's residents to live in the comfort and security of their own homes for as long as possible and with as much support as possible.

Amy Waddingham - Caseworker

I joined Care & Repair as a Caseworker in 2010, having previously worked in the Customer Services Team at Daventry District Council as a Customer Advisor.

As a caseworker my main aim is to help people remain safe and secure in their own homes for as long as possible. As such I spend much of my working day visiting clients in their homes to discuss home adaptations and improvements, such as the installation of level-access showers, adapted bathrooms or home extensions to provide comfortable and safe downstairs living.

I also advise on the grants that are available to fund such work and can often refer clients to other agencies that can also offer them support. 

My work can be extremely challenging at times, but it is also very satisfying knowing I have made a positive difference to people's lives.

Lindsay Mayne - Caseworker

I have worked for Daventry District Council for 26 years, the last seven years as a Caseworker for Care & Repair. 

I love working with people and get great satisfaction from helping people access services available to them. I visit people in their homes to identify the problems they are experiencing and agree with the client which services are needed. I will then pursue the issues highlighted either by referring on to other agencies/organisations or by assisting with grant funded works.

Part of my role involves co-ordinating adaptations and building work. I have a good relationship with our contractors and work closely with the client and contractor to ensure work is carried out efficiently and to a good standard, but also ensuring the client feels comfortable with the process and happy with the outcome. 

Being a local girl born and bred, I know a lot of people in the area and am often out and about in Daventry. Even though I know a lot of local people I pride myself on maintaining confidentiality and respecting people’s privacy. 

Wendy Craven - Caseworker

I joined the Care and Repair team in May 2017. My background is as a housing professional, working mainly in Supported Housing. I have worked at Daventry District Council, Northamptonshire County Council and Orbit Housing Group.

I really enjoy meeting and talking to people and also to help them to access services that are available to enable them to live independently and safely for as long as possible.

As a Caseworker I visit clients in their own homes to discuss and identify any problems they are experiencing and how any adaptations, such as a level access shower, or home improvements may help them. I will then either make a referral to other agencies/ organisations and then assist with the grant funded works process. 

Kim Graham - Caseworker

I joined Care & Repair as a case worker in November 2019, having previously worked as a housing professional at Daventry District Council for 21 years.  I have enjoyed working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and needs to help make a difference in their lives.

As a caseworker I continue to help people to be able to live independently and remain safe and secure in their own homes for as long as possible.

I visit people in their homes to identify the difficulties they are experiencing with and agree with the client which services are needed. I will then pursue the issues highlighted either by referring on to other agencies/organisations or by assisting with grant funded works.

Nikki Penn - Administrator

I have been working for Daventry District Council for 17 years. I started in the stores, supporting the Housing Repairs Team by issuing the materials to the tradesmen, before moving into customer services as a Customer Advisor dealing with all frontline services.

I still work in customer services in the mornings, speaking to people on the phone and face-to-face. 

Afternoons see me working in the Care and Repair team, supporting the caseworkers in delivering an efficient service to all our clients . This is a role I have enjoyed since March 2014.

I joined the Care and Repair team in Nov 2020, I have recently moved to the Daventry area from Wales where I lived all my life.  

Most of my working life I have worked in an administrative role for the NHS.   In this role at Care and Repair I can continue to serve the community and support the case workers in their important roles.

I hope to spend many years here in Daventry and look forward to getting to know its many residents.