Ayisi Darteh

It will interest you to know that Ayisi had very little to no background in this area of work prior to joining Keystage Housing. Before this, the majority of his working life was spent in logistics, business, and educational fields. However, his general attitude to life, combined with a strong interest in creating positive change in people, made it easier to adapt. In addition, his background in social science education and time spent in the classroom interacting with pupils has been highly beneficial. For him, Keystage Housing came as a recommendation. After experiencing redundancy in late 2024, he began considering the next steps in his career, and the organisation was recommended as a great place to work.

The initial plan was for the role to be a stop gap, but here he remains after a couple of years, largely due to the supportive team environment. He is currently a Criminal Justice Senior within the Criminal Justice/Homelessness Prevention Pathway. The team’s main role is to help resettle ex-offenders, the majority of whom find themselves homeless upon release from custody.

The team provides support by first securing or sourcing accommodation, as well as signposting individuals to appropriate services for physical and mental health support, alongside addressing any substance misuse challenges they may be experiencing.

They also assist with any criminal justice processes individuals may be undergoing, particularly those on probation, with the aim of reducing reoffending or recall and encouraging a pro-social life within the community. All of this is carried out with the intention of helping individuals stay out of trouble, address any physical, mental health, or substance misuse issues, and ultimately return to playing a meaningful role in society.

Ayisi shares in Keystage Housing’s vision of achieving CQC status in the near future. He believes this will provide the recognition deserved for the work already being carried out, as well as a structured framework for continued improvement. In five years’ time, there is a strong hope to have contributed to the organisation achieving its goal of obtaining CQC registration, regardless of the role held at that time.

On a personal level, he recognises the importance of being able to unwind and de-stress after work. This plays a significant role in maintaining focus and preventing burnout, enabling him to continue delivering effective support in his role.