On a typical day I arrive at the office ready for 9am and check we have enough milk to keep our hard-working staff in tea and coffee throughout the day! If we’re short then I’ll go to the shop to top up.

I will then update our system with the names of any staff who are working off-site so we can track their appointments and ensure they’re safe.  After that I will update the office calendar as to who is off either on leave, training or sick.

If it is a Monday or a Wednesday I will make sure that the folders are ready for the drop-in sessions that we hold twice a week at the Harwell Centre.  The door entry buzzer will often sound numerous times a day signalling the arrival of people wanting to attend the drop-in, clients who have appointments or other visitors.  In between I will take many phone calls, which are often from people wanting advice or information so I forward them on to the relevant worker for support if it’s something I can’t answer myself. 

During the drop-in sessions I will take a form down to each client to fill in whilst they are waiting to be seen. This is a really good use of time because it means - once an advice worker is able to see someone - we can start helping them more quickly. 

I will check my emails and calendar reminders and action items as necessary throughout the day. There are certain tasks that need to be done on a schedule such as the weekly fire alarm test, setting up of the meeting room and the weekly health and safety check and there are ad-hoc tasks such as moving furniture around, fixing computer issues and dealing with any clients who come in without an appointment.  

​A typical day could also include making up bedding and tenancy packs or meeting removal men at our storage unit to unload items.

It is such a varied role that really anything could happen!