PSS staff Karen Harvey and Mark Dowling have joined the organisation in newly created roles by PSS

New Roles

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There are two new roles within Presbyterian Support Southland. Here is a short introduction to both.

Karen Harvey, Peacehaven Village Liaison

This newly created role means Karen will be the “front of shop” person for anyone looking at retirement living options at Peacehaven Village.

With 21 of the 49 rental cottages about to move to sale through Occupation Right Agreement properties, it’s a role that will be key in providing people with relevant information about moving to a retirement village.

Karen’s background's in social work – she spent 15 years as a social worker with the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki (formerly Child Youth and Family) – means she brings some integral skills to the new role.

“In recent years I had been noticing a lot of people around me, family and friends, making decisions about their retirement futures and wondering whether there was a role for social work to support people through that process,” she said.
“So this really felt like the right job for me. It’s been a really nice mix so far of getting to know staff and residents at Peacehaven, and getting to know the legal ins and outs, the Retirement Villages Act, and learning about what we do.”

Karen will be based at Peacehaven Village.

Mark Dowling, Property & Procurement Manager

The role of Property & Procurement Manager is, like most within the organisation, a busy one, but new staff member Mark Dowling is confident that by implementing new processes and procedures everyone will benefit.

Mark has joined the PSS Executive Management Team in this newly created role. He simplifies it as “endeavouring to ensure that things that need to be done are done and done on time” with regards to projects and maintenance at Enliven sites. That includes, but is not limited to:

  • Overseeing all property-based projects; including at present the refurbishment of cottages at Peacehaven Village, and the project to convert two lounges within Peacehaven to double rooms and a palliative care room
  • Managing time frames for all projects
  • Planning for future maintenance
  • Liaising will all contractors and ensuring they have the correct and current documentation for the work required
  • Overseeing refurbishments of cottages as and when they come up for renewal
  • Ensuring regular and ongoing maintenance of properties and grounds are up to date

Mark has come to PSS after a career with Invercargill City Council where he worked in a business unit of the Parks Department. He became aware of PSS through a contract for ground maintenance and his knowledge of the organisation has grown since then.

Previously many parts of this new role were delegated to different staff members, however Mark believes consolidating it to the one role will have huge benefits.

“I’m a great believer in processes and procedures. Once you get the steps in place and everyone understands and follow those, it becomes a lot easier.”

Mark and his wife are both born and bred Southlanders. They have two daughters, one studying at Lincoln University and the other in Year 13 at Southland Girls’ High School.