Kenny’s Story: Finding Confidence and Purpose at Work

Work experience and working together

Since December, Kenny has worked as a housekeeper for Facilities Management company Andron at a shopping mall in Aberdeen.

“It’s brilliant to be back at work,” he said. “I’m not bored constantly. Before I had nothing to get up for. Now it’s much easier. I’ve made friends and we help each other out.”

Kenny previously worked in hotels and has several years’ experience in supermarkets, so the tasks at Andron come naturally to him. “I work in the yards sorting the recycling and I clean toilets, bins and floors – public areas must be clean. But being in the yard is my favourite because I like to be outside.”

The best part of any job is talking to customers, though. “I try to help them out as much as I can,” Kenny says.

 

Going the extra mile gets recognition

Today, we’re talking to Kenny and his boss, Steve, because Steve nominated Kenny for an award, which he won.

Steve saw Kenny as a good fit for the ‘Going the Extra Mile’ award because he shows such willingness to learn. Kenny’s enthusiasm is proving infectious with his other colleagues, especially the ones who’ve been there for years. “You don’t realise it,” Steve says to Kenny, “but you pull people along with you.”

Kenny was very surprised to receive an award. “I was pulled up to management and I thought, oh no! But it turns out it was good news. I was quite happy to win.”

 

The positive outcomes of having work

Having a routine and keeping a job has really helped Kenny’s mental health. There’s also the support of his manager, Steve, and Social Bite’s Development and Support Worker, Paul.

Kenny is keen to emphasise that it’s been brilliant. “Steve’s a very good manager.”

Steve is humble. “If you’re going to give someone an opportunity, you want to make them part of the team.”

Being part of the Jobs First programme as an employer has helped Steve see things differently. He now knows about the benefits trap, where working more than 16 hours a week can reduce a person’s benefits to the point that it costs them more to work than their pay cheque gives them. He also recognises that providing adaptations for people who have different lived experiences leads to more successful workers.

For example, Kenny has struggled with insomnia since he was 13, which affects his timekeeping. “I’m not going to give Kenny a 6am shift, because that’s setting him up to fail,” says Steve. “And I want Kenny to find success in whatever he does.”

 

Taking a holistic approach with support beyond work

Steve also understands that Kenny must support his mum. They share a private rented flat that’s had numerous repair issues, which has meant the flat’s got so much mould it’s given Kenny’s mum a lung infection. Over the four years they’ve lived in the flat, Kenny has watched his mum’s health deteriorate and seen her in and out of hospital. “It puts stress on me,” he comments.

Moving on from the flat isn’t straightforward however, and that’s where Paul comes in. “He’s helped more than I expected, actually,” Kenny reflects. Together, Paul and Kenny are building back his confidence to where it was before things became very difficult with his flat and his mum.

Paul also helps with practical things, like helping Kenny understand the council deposit scheme and securing a grant to pay for a deposit on a new flat. However, the social housing waitlist is still two years. It makes improving your housing situation very hard.

 

Onwards and upwards

Kenny remains positive. To other potential Jobs First and Andron employees he says, “do it! Having a job helps. It helps build confidence and it’s nice to talk to people.”

Steve agrees: “Social Bite is different. They support employers too and always follow up.”

Soon, Kenny has to go back to work. He gets up with a smile. There are more people to help, more questions to answer about where to pay for parking. Later, he’ll go home to his mum and his miniature Staffordshire terrier, Saturday, and hopefully, he’ll think about what a good job he’s done.