A CARETAKER who won an award for his work has celebrated the benefits of estate staff being brought “in-house”, amid warnings about the treatment of agency workers.

David Ntiamoah, a caretaker on the Brecknock Estate, won the council’s Caretaker of the Year award on Tuesday, along with his colleague Jennifer Arowolo.

Mr Ntiamoah said his days are made up of helping people around the estate. And he goes the extra mile when gardening: “I work hard for the weeds – I don’t put any chemicals on the weeds, I use my hands,” he said.

While Mr Ntiamoah is now directly employed by the council – part of the “Islington family” since last year – he told the Tribune this was not always the case.

“Before that, I worked with an agency for about two years,” he said. “I’m a hard worker, but at the agency I didn’t get one day off all the time, [even when I was] sick. I worked every day, all the time.

“Now I’m working in-house for Islington. Last year in December, they gave me the contract,” he said, adding that working in-house had changed his life and given him “fantastic” training opportunities.

According to Abena Asante, organiser of the awards, the council works hard to avoid hiring from agencies.

“We try to have permanent staff – we try to use as little agency staff as possible. We want our own employees. There’s a constant drive to reduce agency staff,” she said.

Mr Ntiamoah and Ms Arowolo were just two of the estate staff celebrated at Islington Assembly Hall this week. The ceremony is held annually to celebrate the “outstand­ing human[s]” who keep Islington’s estates running.

Ms Asante said: “It’s a dispersed group of staff that worked all the way through the pandemic. Their roles didn’t change: they were doing much of the same things. Whereas a lot of people got to work from home, they couldn’t – they’re lone workers. From the leader of the council to the chief executive, everyone is aware of their contribution and the important roles they play as the eyes and ears on our estates,” Ms Asante said.

Meanwhile, Janet Oparebea – who delivered a baby while at work on the Weston Rise Estate this autumn – won the Concierge of the Year award after nominations from residents across the estate flooded in.

Ms Oparebea said: “I’m very happy and proud of myself,” adding that a good concierge should “work hard, they should love the job they’re doing and go above and beyond”.