A week in the life of… a place-shaping manager

Tuesday

I work closely with our procurement team to ensure we get the most social value out of any new contracts we sign across the organisation. Working together, we can achieve the best outcomes possible for our community. I recently organised for our building contractor, Kincraig, to install a fitted kitchen at Hope Street. This is a home for women and children in Southampton that was set up by charity One Small Thing, which our organisation is supports.

Today, I met with colleagues from the charity and heard of the great work they have planned and how we’ll be able to work together in the future. I also saw the great kitchen Kincraig created at Hope Street. This is why I love my job – the outcomes are tangible and genuine.

Wednesday

On Wednesdays I meet my manager and colleague to explore the ways my team can support the work that’s currently underway and planned. Our tenancy support team do a lot of work to help customers sustain their tenancies and help budgets stretch further by providing guidance on money and benefits, employment and training, and digital inclusion.

I also had a meeting with one of our key partners, Chichester Community Development Trust. The organisation is helping us to develop our community centres across Hampshire to become great social enterprise hubs and provide accessible services to our local communities. 

Thursday

Today’s main event was a meeting to discuss customer satisfaction. I play an active role in supporting my team with our customer scrutiny panel, Vivid Impact. This panel takes an independent view of Vivid’s performance to ensure customers’ voices are heard and our services improve.

We have a diverse customer base, and part of my role is to shape customer engagement so my team and I are always keen to ensure we offer a range of ways for our customers to have their say and shape our services.

Recently, the Vivid Impact panel interviewed staff and reviewed complaints and performance data to discover how satisfied our customers are with our repairs service. It’s important that we hear their experiences first hand.

Friday

On Fridays I make time to round up any actions from meetings I’ve had during the week. I also make sure to put aside time to prepare for any appointments scheduled for the following week, as well as draft reports and updates.

I also checked in with my team and colleagues. The nature of our jobs means we’re out and about a lot, meeting different partners and other organisations, so it’s nice to regroup at the end of the week and share exciting plans we’ve made, funding we’ve secured and any learnings, too.