lesleyduff

Unable to identify individual tasks as I am completing so many ongoing tasks they are becoming a blur. Re-active not pro-active. Squeezing 5 days work into 2 never good, should not have went on training!!!

Alice’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

So many ongoing tasks they are becoming a blur

The young person was very tearful with his mum who is moving away and I supported them to share their feelings about this - something this family are unable to do easily. I've worked with this family every week for a year - this continuity and structure has really helped to build a trusting relationship with the young person - He asked if I could or would foster him in front of her mum - she said he had a strong bond with me- This is such hard work and I get very little support - His social worker has only met with me once in the year I've been working with him.

Andrew’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

He asked if I could or would foster him in front of her mum

bus/work/bus/work/bus/work/bus/work/pay bills/bus/work Can I really justify doing a job where I travel for more hours that I get paid? No, I feel like I'm still doing it because I feel guilty about leaving the clients.

Beth’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

Can I really justify doing a job where I travel for more hours that I get paid?

I find it challenging when incidents happen. In that case the health safety and wellbeing of the individual is the priority. It can be hard emotionally not to react when someone exhibits challenging behaviour or suffers from an addiction or mental health problem.

Callum’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

I find it challenging when incidents happen

Took a days A/L as full of the cold. Still managed to speak to two colleagues and a client. Most of us keep phones on most of the time even on holiday or sick leave. Sometimes feels we are never off duty although clients generally respects weekends.

Catriona’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

Sometimes feels we are never off duty

Mr. F going to Valentines Ball tonight - his dress shirt is real tricky to iron so I'm doing it for him; and check his metres etc.. I only do 8hrs with Mr. F a week and this means I'll exceed that, so it's either on my own time or I do less hrs next week (when this happens then 9 times out of 10 I'll do it on my own time)- I'm not alone, tons of folk in this line of work do that - but it really shouldn't be happening - infuriating really - don’t grudge Mr. F the time but he obviously requires more support hrs.

Danielle’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

His dress shirt is real tricky to iron so I’m doing it for him

Went out for a walk in the countryside with a client. She was more familiar with the territory that I was. There was a contradiction in walking through peaceful landscape with someone who is troubled and needs to voice this while walking. I felt sad that she is unable to get any sense of peace because of what she is going through in her life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What is always highlighted to me through this client also, is how, no matter how many statutory and voluntary "professionals" are involved in the situation, or how many meetings or decisions are made, there never seems to be any solution or respite for her. She does not feel heard by them. I help to sustain her to cope, but due to circumstances this is as good as it gets at the moment. We keep trying and hoping.. and she has somewhere to express herself and feel supported.

David’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

She does not feel heard by them

Arrived on shift and was advised by my colleague that staff member due to relieve me later (4pm) was ill and would not be in. Stressful, as I'm due to work with person 2 at 5pm! :( The onus is now on me to try to find cover for later and also for this colleague's next shift, this coming Sun-Mon and sleep over. Management sometimes try to say colleagues should try to find cover but that's daft, if you're not well, you're not up to making endless calls!

Eilidh’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

The onus is now on me to try to find cover for later and also for this colleague’s next shift

IT PROBLEMS!!! Me: Hello I can't print from carefirst IT: Yes we know, you now have the wrong printer there, you need to do screenshot or save as PDF/then convert/then save on the drive with the clients folders Me: ARE YOU JOKING???? 26 pages by screenshot or a massive exercise for each report instead of pressing PRINT. IT: We don't care, we are IT for all the council Me(and all my office): Noone listens when we say what is going wrong and holds us all up (Crying face with arrow that says 'me')

Gemma’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

Are you joking????

I always share that if you do the right things, the right things happen but if you keep on doing the same old- you'll get the same old results. He laughs at me, and humours me, and tells me what he thinks I want to hear. I guess my job is 'seed planting'- Sometimes I see germination, which is a joy!

Heather’s story

by lesleyduff
September 1, 2015May 3, 2019

I guess my job is ‘seed planting’- Sometimes I see germination, which is a joy!