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Our Day in the Life Of series has been created to help you get to know the people behind Framework a little bit better. Today we kick off the series with our wonderful Housing First Support Planner Leza Kelly. To find out what a typical day is like for Leza keep on reading!
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day for me looks like getting in touch with service users, sometimes face to face and over the phone. I do this on a daily basis to make sure they are well and coping. I’ll also help remind some of them to pay bills, go to appointments and if they need me to attend those appointments with them, I will go and support them.
What are your core responsibilities of your current role?
Our main objective is to support ex rough sleepers to live independently in long term suitable accommodation. It is our job to support them to maintain and keep their housing and prevent them from failing in the tenancy and returning to the street.
Part of this role means building good relationship and trust. It’s also important to encourage and support them to live by the rules of their tenancy’s agreement, limiting anti social behaviour, reporting repairs and upholding the condition of the properties provided – We support to register and maintain payment plans and we also signpost and encourage our service users to engage with other services such as DWP, housing officials, health care, drug & alcohol services and the criminal justice system, all in the hope of them being able to live healthier and settled lifestyles.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
That every day is different. Some days more challenging than others but that’s part and parcel of it. I also enjoy building good relationships with the beneficiaries and seeing the positive change in those that have engaged with the services and turned their life around. But overall I would say I enjoy building self-esteem with encouragement and praise and making them believe they are just as good as any other and that I care, it’s not just a job.
What do you find most challenging?
Getting chaotic beneficiaries to engage at prearranged times and unknown guests in the property. Sometimes ex rough sleepers who want to resettle find it difficult being alone. They may allow a friend, generally another rough sleeper into their property and this can be extremely challenging.
What made you decide to pursue a career in this field?
Past life experience which led me to applying to Support teenage parents and families for Framework. Since then I’ve moved around to various different services. Working for Framework isn’t just a job, it’s a vocation.
