My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

About work? I don't know what to think :-(

17 replies

justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 16:03

Where I work is, to put it mildly, chaos.

I have to visit clients and help them with personal care. It's minimum wage but I used to quite like it and it certainly fit around the children.

However, I'm finding so many things difficult.

My rota keeps changing at the last minute. I find it so difficult to make any proper plans as I might not know on Tuesday what I'm doing Wednesday. Obviously, this isn't sustainable.

The actual service users seem to be changing. Many of them don't really want anything but just to sit and have a chat. I find this so hard. I'm a bit shy, and I find artificially sitting down and talking very difficult, especially as the main topics of conversation seem to be bitching about people I don't even know.

Clearly I can't continue living like this but without work of some description I wouldn't have any spare money at all, so I do need to find something. But I don't know what. I don't even know where to start looking, so it's not really an AIBU but a plea for help :)

OP posts:
Report
softjellyjunglecustard · 22/07/2016 16:09

if you're good at personal care, but have anxiety over sitting and making conversation, perhaps maybe look into auxiliary care? i don't know about the hours regarding DC, but it is essentially delivering personal care without providing 'company' if that makes sense?

Report
justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 16:21

I don't know what that is sorry :)

OP posts:
Report
29redshoes · 22/07/2016 16:31

Are there no other companies in the area which deliver a similar service? You might find one that offers better hours, and is more focused on delivering personal care rather than just a listening ear?

Could you work in a care home?

Report
justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 16:34

I think most companies are the same really. I don't think I want to work in a care home as it would take me out for the whole day if you see what I mean and I don't want that. It's all a bit of a mess Sad

OP posts:
Report
CrossfireHurricane · 22/07/2016 16:38

Not at all......
Care homes can offer part time shifts and are very often agreeable to it as it can free up the shift pattern for full time workers.

Report
justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 16:41

I know, but they still tend to have blocks of work where it's a 12 hour shift and I just can't be out of the house for that long.

OP posts:
Report
JudyCoolibar · 22/07/2016 16:44

Have you had any training in this? My mother has carers come to visit her, some seem to be very good at chatting and some just seem to be struck dumb. I would have thought any carer company worth its salt ought to be capable of giving carers a few pointers; e.g. in my mother's case the best bet is to start talking about her life when she was younger, she seems to enjoy that most, and I suspect she's not alone in that.

Report
justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 16:49

It isn't just that though Judy. Some of the calls are only fifteen minutes and sitting and chatting and then abruptly bringing it to an end feels artificial and rude. And then if you don't you are late to the next call. Most of them just fire questions at you to the point where I feel a bit like I am on trial at the stand (are you married? Got kids? Where are your family? Where do you live?) and they also like as I say to complain about the company and other carers they have had, which is awkward because I don't even know half of them!

So I don't like sitting and chatting for these reasons but it's also the never knowing where I am or what I'm doing.

OP posts:
Report
Zuccarelli · 22/07/2016 18:13

Maybe care isn't for you? Lots of shops have hours like 10-2 to cover lunch breaks.

Report
justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 18:35

I've never seen any advertised :) I don't think I'd be very good working in a shop!

OP posts:
Report
Zuccarelli · 22/07/2016 21:12

What do you think you would be good at and enjoy?

Report
justnotaballetmum · 22/07/2016 21:16

I don't know ...

I am very good at some aspects of care, just not enforced conversation! And as I say, the company is just so chaotic. I'm looking at other companies. Some seem to have a more structured way of doing things :)

OP posts:
Report
sleepyhippo · 22/07/2016 21:25

Find a good company, although care at home is notorious for disorganisation, just the pure fact that things can change last minute! So you'll get that to a degree anywhere however if you can get yourself a good company it's not too bad. Community care is so convenient and can offer great shifts so I would stick with it if you enjoy it/ and are good at it.

I know what you mean about conversation. As a shy 18 year old when I first started I used to struggle. And 15 minute calls are awful as there's no time to do anything!

Just remember, the clients are not judging you. Just be polite and ask them about their past. How long have they lived in the area? Where did they grow up? Do they have grandchildren? How are they feeling? Have they got any plans today/ this week etc. Or you could discuss current affairs, flick through the paper together or stick the news on. I would always divert moany comments about the company by saying you don't know the person, asking them to speak to the office and telling the office to speak to them. Do you go into clients regularly? I used to find it didn't take long to learn about people and their families, and soon conversation just flowed from day to day and week to week. Hope this helps!

Report
BusStopBetty · 22/07/2016 21:48

What about looking at hospital based healthcare assistant type work? It's not all long shifts. I know the clinic I attend has part time and bank staff.

Report
Jelliebabe1 · 22/07/2016 21:58

My brother does this and one company was awful.... just really bad. The next were great and he's still there now! Much better and he dies regular days to fit in with his family life

Report
Jelliebabe1 · 22/07/2016 21:58

Or does even!!!

Report
Zuccarelli · 22/07/2016 22:26

I work in a care home and the shifts are 7 hours. I wouldn’t write it off. I started in domiciliary care and much prefer the care home environment.
Many service users will be interested in you, they like to see how things have changed. Asking them questions about where they're from, if they had siblings, what they did etc is always interesting I find because it often leads to a story or two!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.