A day in the life: Project Worker at Catching Lives
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at Catching Lives and provide vital support for people who are homeless?
Our Project Workers are the first point of contact for people accessing the day centre. They build trusted relationships, provide practical support and help people take positive steps towards greater stability, wellbeing and independence.
No two days are ever the same at Catching Lives. You might be helping someone to work through a housing application, and the next thing you're playing Scrabble and chatting with people over a cup of tea. The role of the Project Worker team is to be a listening ear, build trust with people and get to know them in order to provide tailored support for their individual needs.
While every day brings new challenges, it also brings opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of people we support. Here's a glimpse into what a fairly typical day looks like for a Project Worker at Catching Lives.
8:30am - Arriving at the centre and preparing for the day
The day begins by reviewing team updates from yesterday and understanding priorities for the day ahead. Before opening, Project Workers help prepare the centre and make sure everything is ready for the day.
9:00am - Welcoming clients
As the doors open at 9:00am, Project Workers greet clients and help create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment where people can feel comfortable seeking support. Throughout the morning, staff help people access breakfast, showers, laundry and other essential services, as well as showing new clients around and helping them to feel welcome at the centre.
10:30am - One-to-one support
A lot of Project Worker time involves providing practical support tailored to each person's needs and circumstances. This could include helping with:
Housing applications
Benefits and finances
Accessing healthcare and arranging appointments
Referrals to external services
Accessing ID documents
Coordinating with teams from partner organisations
You'll spend time listening to clients, understanding their needs and working together to find solutions and help them to move closer to their goals.
11:45am - Lunch
Lunch begins and Project Workers might be helping volunteers to serve food, continuing with one-to-one support, and encouraging participation in afternoon activities after the drop-in closes at 2pm.
2:00pm - Activities
Afternoons regularly include an activities session, to give people the opportunity to learn new skills, get creative, boost wellbeing and reduce isolation. Project Workers encourage clients to get involved and try something new, and might join in the activities too. On weekdays, our Cleaners works her magic.
3:00pm - Casework and follow-ups
The quieter afternoon session is a chance to follow up conversations from earlier in the day, contact partner agencies to make referrals and help coordinate additional support for clients. Afternoons are also a time to update client records and make plans for future work.
4:00pm - Prepare for tomorrow
Before heading home, Project Workers make sure the centre is clean and tidy, as well as completing any final updates or emails, ready for the next day's work with people who are homeless or insecurely housed.
Being a part of our team is sometimes challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. You'll see first-hand how your support helps people achieve milestones, from securing accommodation to attending appointments or engaging with an activity and growing in confidence. Often, it's the small actions and everyday conversations that make the biggest difference.
Could you see yourself in this role? We are currently recruiting for 4 new members to join our friendly and supportive team, including a Project Worker (Sat-Weds). We would love to hear from you!
Find out more and apply here. Applications close on Monday 17th August at 11am.
