Your first week as an Activity Coordinator: 3 things to focus on

Starting a new role as an activity coordinator can feel exciting, overwhelming, and a little daunting all at once. You might be keen to prove yourself, worried about filling the activity timetable, or unsure where to even begin.

Here’s some reassurance straight away:

Your first week is not about being perfect or changing everything.

It’s about laying strong foundations so that the activities you offer truly support residents’ wellbeing.

If you focus on these three things during your first week, you’ll set yourself up for success.

1. Get to know the residents as people - not just names on a list

Before planning new activities, your most important job is to observe, listen, and connect.

This doesn’t mean formal interviews or endless paperwork. It’s about being present.

During your first week:

• Sit with residents in communal areas and during quieter moments

• Chat informally about their past jobs, families, hobbies and routines

• Notice who enjoys group activities, who prefers one-to-one time, and who watches from a distance

• Read care plans, but always pair them with real-life observation

Residents are far more than their diagnoses or mobility levels. Understanding their histories, experiences, lifestyles, preferences and strengths will help you plan activities that feel meaningful rather than tokenistic.

Taking time to do this now will save you so much frustration later.

2. Build relationships with the wider staff team

Activities don’t exist in a bubble. They work best when the whole home understands and supports them.

Your first week is the perfect time to focus on building relationships, not making changes.

Helpful things to do include:

• Introducing yourself to care staff, housekeeping, kitchen staff and management

• Asking staff what residents enjoy and what’s worked well in the past

• Observing daily routines so activities fit around care, meals and medication rounds

• Listening more than speaking

  
  

When staff feel heard and valued, they’re far more likely to support activities, encourage residents to attend, and share useful insights about individual needs.

3. Review what’s already in place before changing anything

It’s tempting to want to “make your mark” straight away, but your first week is about understanding, not reinventing.

Take time to:

• Look at the existing activity timetable and attendance levels

• Review activity folders, photos, evaluations or inspection feedback

• Notice which activities residents choose to attend and which are avoided

• Identify gaps, such as one-to-one activities, quieter residents, evenings or weekends

This gives you a clear picture of what’s genuinely working and where small, thoughtful changes could make a big difference later on.

A note for every new Activity Coordinator

If you’re a new Activity Coordinator, it’s important to remember that this role is about people, not performance. Your value doesn’t come from how full the activity timetable looks in week one, but from the relationships you begin to build and the understanding you gain.

Taking time to observe, listen and learn is not doing nothing - it’s essential work.

By giving yourself permission to slow down at the start, you’re setting yourself up to create activities that genuinely support residents’ wellbeing, now and in the weeks and months ahead.

Remember:

Your first week is not about having all the answers. It’s about learning, observing, and building trust - with residents and staff alike.

By slowing down now, you’ll be able to plan activities that truly support residents to live well, rather than simply filling spaces on a timetable.

If you’re new to the role, take a moment to reflect on your first week. What have you noticed about the residents so far? Sometimes the smallest observations lead to the most meaningful activities.