Charities & Causes

Call to Carers/disability support workers what are your view/stories

Charities & Causes

Posted by: april789

3rd May 2013 09:53am

Hi

I would really like to hear from people who work in disability houses, day programs and aged care about their experiences.

I have experienced and have heard so many stories regarding the way we are treated; from colleagues being arrested over minor issues by Management to get back at them or get rid of them to being set-up or made to do jobs (ie cleaning broken toilets stuffed full of everything you can imagine on a regular basis etc).

I am not too sure how the new NDS will effect people working in disabilities - I know from my experience management have all the power and say, now people with disabilities seem to be being given more say and rights which is great - but it seems carers are just going to be the sacrafical lambs, no say, no rights at the mercy of families of people with disability and management.

Most carers I know were downgraded when the new Modern Award came in - rather than helping it has made it worse - like carers are virtually paid slaves.

Anyone out there agree or disagree - I seriously need to hear from other carers/social educators on your situations - maybe I am just in a bad area where bullying and treatment of carers is a cultural thing - hope so :) but if not please let me no - please don't use names or people or places unless absolutely necessary.

On a personal note I have never had many issues with the lovely people with disabilities I have tried to care for - they have all been absolutely lovely and if I have it is just usually learnt behaviour of a one off - more so bullying from management or other carers close to management.

Comments 13

Mazy
  • 18th Jul 2013 12:28am

Hi, I'm the mother/carer for two Autistic boys aged 10 & 8. Having had two intellectually "normal" children, now 5 & 3, the level of care given verses the ease with which the kids comprehend varies grately. I'm run off my feet 24/7. The emotional & physical effects have worsened as my older boys grow. My expectations of myself are unfair. I believe carers are the most underpaid workers in the community. Nurses & teachers don't fair any better. I have had to find help & am horrified how many parents wait patiently to be told what to do rather than research their options. Family caring for family usually will go above and beyond expectations & we need more help than paid carers. The system seem to pay gvt benefits unfairly.

tobytinribs
  • 21st May 2013 09:03pm

Hi
I have been an RN in aged care for 15 years now and have seen many changes occuring over this time.
The new enterprise bargaining awards have been good as far as pay goes as staff are now much better paid than they were under the state award system. People do need to be careful what they are signing as many things that used to be under the state system such as long service leave being paid out if you leave after 5 + years is now at employers discretion and often they don't pay it out.

Care for residents is an ongoing issue in all facilities. Unfortunately you get good and bad staff in the system. Trouble is that it is very hard to get rid of the bad staff and they make it harder for the good staff to get a fair deal when they continually seem to get away with what they are doing. The residents suffer because of this as well. There is never enough funding to really give everyone the best care they deserve so many times short cuts are taken which results in care not being given as adequately as it should.

Respect for those in charge has disappeared. As an RN in charge of after hours, you can ask a carer to do something for a resident and they turn and walk away and ignore you. Maybe the old system was better in this regard. We are only trying to do what is best for those we care for.

april789
  • 27th May 2013 05:22pm
Hi
I have been an RN in aged care for 15 years now and have seen many changes occuring over this time.
The new enterprise bargaining awards have been good as far as pay goes as staff are...

Hi there,

Thank you for your replies.

Tobytinribs - I think if you are a good manager you are a gem - every carer social educator I have worked with has wanted to have a supportive Manager. I understand some carers can be pretty difficult. I hope the good managers and good carers meet up soon!

Jen
  • 21st May 2013 06:40pm

I work in the disability industry and understand where your comments are coming from with your questions.

Mostly our work is challenging and rewarding and i love it. I wouldn't do anything else!

But its just so disappointing to have your credibility questioned occasionally because your service users have more rights than the workers. A misunderstood decision by you can result in you being questioned.

Their rights to privacy outways the workers right to be informed so we can be prepared to protect ourselves if necessary. The service users right to make their own decisions seems more important than their well-being and the workers rights to guide them to better decisions.

And another example is people with disabilities rights to smoke is more important than mine to not have to be with them while they smoke and having to clean their ashtrays.

And yes, the pay rates are atrocious! Pretty much the lowest rates of anybody! And funding seems to be getting less and we are struggling with resources to do our job properly to get best results for our clients.

But, the job is terrific on most days!
But, m

april789
  • 27th May 2013 05:40pm
I work in the disability industry and understand where your comments are coming from with your questions.

Mostly our work is challenging and rewarding and i love it. I wouldn't do anything...

Hi Jen

Yes exactly it is time carers rights were addressed. I think there is more attention for People with Disabilities, Management have all the power but (good) carers are still not given the autonomy and rights they deserve and need to do the job properly.

Hopefully this job will soon be seen as more of a career than just a nice thing to do. Having said that carers don't seem to have the time or energy left to stand up for themselves and it can be very dangerous to do this.

Glad you enjoy you job!

Sassy
  • 21st May 2013 06:13pm

I am a care in special education and also do weekend work as a carer privately. I am sorry to hear of the sad stories here. I can say you have to have a heart and love of caring to be in this profession , as we can all say we are not in it for the monetary gain but for the want to care for others. A Carer is someone who is working with anyone of any age or any disability. Sadly management is exactly that and seem to loose site of what really matters and the carer just keeps soldiering on because of the love in their heart. I think there needs to be a change on both sides of the Tasman to get real recognition of the skills of these wonderful carers out there.

april789
  • 27th May 2013 05:36pm
I am a care in special education and also do weekend work as a carer privately. I am sorry to hear of the sad stories here. I can say you have to have a heart and love of caring to be in this...

Hi sassy,

I agree - I just wonder how the government decides on who to fund. I hope it is not on nice websites and people in nice suits.

The taxpayer funds should go to the people with disabilities and carers - I think carers should be given more priority in the hierachy of these oganisations and at the same time more care given to who is employed - based on their caring ability not on other attributes.

You are exactly right from my experience to Management loose site of what matters and that is real problem or that people don't sincerely care and just work in the industry because they think it is easy or can't get other jobs.

Thanks and great to hear someone who actually enjoys the work for the right reasons.

weerobby
  • 21st May 2013 03:40pm

Hi April, I have been primary carer for my wife for twelve years up to last July when I had a total breakdown. My wife is now in permanent residency in our local hospital, one of the advantages of country living. The hospital staff are rostered to work in the aged residents area at least once a week so there is a regular turn over of faces coming into the room. Most of the staff are either RNs or midwives and very pleasant ladies, with just one male RN. Sorry to hear the stories of staff abuse it's just not fair.

april789
  • 27th May 2013 05:31pm
Further to the above, I forgot about the wonderful carers fro Silver Chain who came in 7 days a week to shower my wife and one day a week to allow me to take off and do my own thing, like drive...

That is what carers are for and you have the advantage of knowing how hard it can be.. enjoy your time off!

april789
  • 27th May 2013 05:29pm
Hi April, I have been primary carer for my wife for twelve years up to last July when I had a total breakdown. My wife is now in permanent residency in our local hospital, one of the advantages of...

Hi weerobby,

Sorry to hear about your breakdown, I think that it illustrates just how difficult caring can be - especially for a close relative and how good support channels for carers are needed.

Glad you have found support and remember taking care of yourself is just as important.
Thanks for your reply

weerobby
  • 21st May 2013 03:46pm
Hi April, I have been primary carer for my wife for twelve years up to last July when I had a total breakdown. My wife is now in permanent residency in our local hospital, one of the advantages of...

Further to the above, I forgot about the wonderful carers fro Silver Chain who came in 7 days a week to shower my wife and one day a week to allow me to take off and do my own thing, like drive 80+ks to Bunbury to to some shopping in excess of what I could get locally. I even got away for a three day break twice a year, thanks to Silver Chain and the hospital.

the rack
  • 21st May 2013 03:39pm

Hi, I am the mother of a 23 yr old disabled woman who has home carers. We bend over backwards to make the carers "work environment" - our home- safe and happy for them to come and do there job.

You actually do have rights and choices.
You can ask to change clients, refuse to go to unsafe unfriendly places, change agencies, or report intra agency "bullying" to a higher department.

We have had carers, agency "management" who have acted inproperly and inappropriately, one smashed a prized antique in a room I had asked her not to enter as well as many other inappropriate actions and another who broke confidentiality and then said she wanted my daughter dead after throwing a random tantrum in our home, but we followed the appropriate channels to have them taken off the roster.

Re management, I have seen some also bully clients by labelling them as "difficult" and not sending any care or sending "undesriable/nasty" carers.
Clients are not in a position to complain as they are vulnerable and totally dependant on the care whether it's good or bad.

Yes, we too, as clients have been bullied by those who are "not quite" management and their clique of bullying carers.
BUT I went via the appropriate channels and had it resolved in the correct manner.

Bottom line, I never ask a carer to do anything I would not do myself.
We currently have a great group of carers who love coming here as I respect what they do for us.

I am sorry to hear that you have experienced negative incidents and hearsay of the industry, however, I agree that there are people who should not be in the care business or are in it for the wrong reasons and act out by bullying clients as well as carers and spreading malicious gossip.

I think you are right, that there is a culture amongst some who are part of this system and hopefully the silent majority of both carers and clients will start to report this to the appropriate channels and facilitate a change. As long as noone speaks out, nothing will change.

I guess I can say there is inaapropriate behaviour in the care industry, as it is in any profession, and you do have a choice whether you accept it or resolve it with the appropriate people/agencies.

I wish you good luck, I hope you can find better conditions and I send you a big thankyou for choosing to be a carer in a tough and mostly thankless job.
We can't afford to lose good carers, or any workers in any industry, to mistreatment.

april789
  • 27th May 2013 05:26pm
Hi, I am the mother of a 23 yr old disabled woman who has home carers. We bend over backwards to make the carers "work environment" - our home- safe and happy for them to come and do there...

Hi

That is good to hear that you are so decent to carers I am sure they appreciate it. It sounds like you have had some bad experiences and that is terrible that anyone would do that, but it helps me to know that going through the appropriate channels has helped you, as yet this issue has not been addressed where I have worked and carers just find other ways to deal with issues ie leave or whatever.

Thank you for your response

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