Some people just have a way of keeping things grounded, calm, steady, and full of heart. That’s Sue. She’s been part of the Concrete team for three years, working as a Relief Worker across our supported housing schemes. Wherever she’s needed, Sue’s there, stepping in to support men and women who’ve faced homelessness and helping things run smoothly behind the scenes.
What does a Relief Worker do?
Relief Workers are an extra pair of hands who step in when our regular staff need cover, whether that’s due to sickness, holidays, or just a busy week. They make sure support for customers never stops, that the buildings stay safe, and that someone’s always there to listen and help.
It’s a flexible role that keeps our services running 24/7, and for many, like Sue, it’s also a perfect fit for balancing work with life’s other responsibilities.
The beauty of being flexible
These days, Sue spends most of her time supporting the team at our Vivian Culvert Scheme in Fenton. She usually works two or three shifts a week but picks up more when she can. The flexibility of relief work suits her life perfectly. Allowing her to balance a job with caring for her husband and helping out with the grandchildren.
“I love that I can still do what I’m passionate about, but in a way that fits around my family,” she says. “Every shift feels worthwhile, you know you’ve helped someone by the time you leave.”
Decades of know-how
Sue isn’t new to this kind of work. With 23 years’ experience as a social worker, she knows the system inside out, housing, benefits, and social care, and she’s not afraid to use that knowledge to make sure customers get what they’re entitled to.
She’s also been part of homelessness research projects and spent time as a hospital support worker, so she understands how complex things can get when health and housing overlap. “Sometimes you’ve just got to know who to speak to and when to push,” she explains. “That’s where experience really helps.”
Speaking up when it matters
One of the things that makes Sue stand out is her willingness to challenge. “If something isn’t right, I’ll say so,” she says firmly. “Our customers have enough people overlooking them, I’m not going to be one of them. I’ll always advocate for them.”
That’s not about confrontation, it’s about care. Sue knows that speaking up is part of truly supporting someone. It’s how trust is built, and how progress happens.
Ask her teammates, and they’ll tell you Sue’s one of those people who quietly makes everyone’s day a bit better. She’s got time for customers, patience for new staff, and the kind of calm that keeps things steady when life gets messy.
Relief Workers like Sue might not always be in the spotlight, but they’re the glue that keeps things together. They step up, fill in, and bring genuine care to every corner of our services.
For Sue, it’s simple: “People deserve to be treated with respect. Everyone’s got a story, and sometimes they just need someone to listen, and to fight their corner.”
At Concrete, we’re proud to have people like Sue doing just that, quietly, consistently, and with all the heart in the world.
