Day in the life of a Homes with Support Coach

In the latest day in the life Amae discusses how we support customers, why he enjoys all forms of coaching and his love of WWE

I joined Squared nine months ago as a Homes with Support Coach. I work across several of our hostels, supporting our customers to become the best version of themselves.

Our hostels are mainly made up of young adults, who move into our accommodation for a variety of different reasons. It means that every customer has different support needs and will require different things from their support coaches. A big part of my role is having support sessions with customers on a one-to-one basis.

When working with our customers there are a couple of things to consider. I would always begin by discussing any immediate issues that either they raise or that I’ve identified. This could be around supporting a customer to make a simple budget, applying for Universal Credit or it can also be around simply checking their general wellbeing. If customers are struggling with their mental or physical health can I support them in getting the help that they need? If customers are not receiving benefits that they are entitled to, can I support them in applying for them? Addressing these immediate issues helps to build trust and rapport, which is critical for doing what we do.

Secondly, it’s about looking ahead. How do I help this customer become more independent? What does progress look like for this customer? This can vary greatly but some examples could be developing essential life skills, returning to education or finding a job. What are the barriers for this customer to either move into education of employment? I always like to frame this conversation as the customer investing in themselves and their future. Education can be very powerful and empowering for young people, as can finding employment.

Maintaining the engagement of our customers can be a challenge, as it varies greatly depending on the individual. Sometimes engagement changes over time as well, so a lot of work is put into building trust and rapport as that is the best way to then have honest, purposeful conversations that empowers our customers. It’s important to find even small ways to do that and this can take time, so being patient is key. Small steps forward for one customer can be huge strides for others, so again it’s all about adapting to each individual.

Another part of my role is doing basic health and safety checks of the projects, including individual rooms as well as communal areas. While this is very important for our customers wellbeing and ensuring that our hostels are in good condition, I also see it as an opportunity. I’m going around thinking how could we make this a better place to live?

Sometimes I may be working alone, perhaps doing some admin between support sessions, while other times I will be surrounded by team members, customers or sometimes both! Every day is unpredictable and sometimes customers take steps backwards as well as forwards, so it’s important to keep things in perspective and think of it as another step on their journey.

Outside of Squared I also work ad-hoc as a tutor for kids in Key Stage 1 & 2. I’ve been doing it for about six years and find it incredibly fulfilling. Tutoring, much like my role at Squared, is all a variation of coaching. I think that it is a very powerful word, like that of a teacher. It means being a supporter, building people up and helping them be the best they can be. I always try to have a coaching mindset for customers, team members and for the kids that I tutor. Coaching also makes me reflect on myself and think about how I can improve myself, which I think is healthy for anyone to do.

I also enjoy music (Peter White is a personal favourite) and exercise. Any form of cardio exercise is a go-to for me, which some people think is strange but I am all here for!

Another passion of mine is WWE. WWE is something many people have heard but perhaps not watched or appreciated. The story lines, the big personalities and the action, what’s not to like! ‘I acknowledge you, my tribal chief’ – if you know, you know!

Working at Squared is a great challenge, in the best way. I work in a great team with great people that look to build an environment of trust. I always feel that I am trusted to get on with my role, which in itself is empowering for team members. That environment also means that I can grow as person and as a coach. Which for me is what it is all about.