Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Walked out of job

48 replies

FluffySlippers21 · 05/04/2018 11:23

Hi
I AIBU I don't think I am but my partner thinks I should have just bit my tongue

I'm currently training to be a nurse at university and applied for a part time job in a nursing home to pay the bills
I have a background in care
I've been there a week and the stuff I have heard has absolutely shocked me
Young girls saying how they can't be arsed and discussing their sex life in a communal area in front of residents
Today I went in and they manhandled a resident into the shower
I picked up my bag and left the shift and have no intention of going back
Have I over reacted?

OP posts:

ferrier · 05/04/2018 12:27

OP is asking if she was unreasonable to walk out of the job.

IHateToCashew · 05/04/2018 12:28

PM'd you again OP. That'll be the best person to get in touch with to get the ball rolling right away.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 05/04/2018 12:28

YANBU- as a care assistant you won’t be able to change anyone else’s behaviour by staying and you can get another care job somewhere else. But as you say it must be reported.

Commuterface · 05/04/2018 12:34

Please report to CQC. My MIL is a nurse/manager in a care home and she would have absolutely eaten the carers for breakfast if she had seen what you are describing.

Gide · 05/04/2018 12:37

Please report them.

GrandTheftWalrus · 05/04/2018 12:50

I know the lift you are talking about. I was shown that in 2002. I'm pretty sure it was banned then too.

The home I was in had stand aids and hoists but they were never used

BlankTimes · 05/04/2018 12:51

Please put it in writing and if you can afford it send it using the PO Tracked system because it will be signed for and you can screenshot the signature and time it was delivered, they can't deny receiving it.

Create a paper trail, if you speak to anyone, email them after the conversation and state what was said and agreed. Start it Further to our telephone conversation on [date and time]

MilkyCoffeeAndSkinnySyrup · 05/04/2018 12:53

The CQC does sod all! You need to report it to BBC and they will send an undercover reporter to discover everything and put them to shame.

halfwitpicker · 05/04/2018 12:53

No.

vdbfamily · 05/04/2018 12:59

I see why you left and would definitely report. The other option would have been to ask to speak to the manager about the incidents and your concerns and see if you could make some sort of a difference by being there. If the manager minimises your concerns or is involved in the poor practice I think professionally you are obligated to report. I see such poor practice even within the NHS that regularly shocks me.

rupertpenryswife · 05/04/2018 13:00

Hi OP are you a member of the RCN? If so contact them for advice, also involve your personal tutor so you have some support, have you written everything down as this will help when you take it further. Some good advice from other posters re the correct people to contact. Well done for recognising it now you need to act on it. Let us know how you get on vulnerable people need us to stand up for them and as nurses we have a professional duty to protect people.

TrippingTheVelvet · 05/04/2018 13:02

It's shit isn't it. They all seem standard practice in a lot of homes when the doors are closed. I left a home after less than a year as continually raising these things simply resulted in everyone hating me with no positive changes.

HelpTheTigers · 05/04/2018 13:02

I have witnessed worse, chose not to speak up at the time but monitored and recorded absolutely everything, for evidence. As I was at that particular home in an inspection role, I was shocked that the carers really didn't think that they were doing anything wrong. Their training was abysmal and their understanding of safeguarding, safety, dignity and good practice was almost non-existent. All of the carers really did believe that they were doing a good job.
Obviously, all of my notes and evidence was used in the safeguarding investigation (one of very many that I attended over the years, unfortunately) and referred to CQC too. It was depressing just how many complaints of poor standards and neglect / abuse we received and not just in respect of that particular home.
There should be more inspections carried out and more staff allocated to investigations and monitoring, but of course this will not happen due to the Local Authority budget constraints. I really don't think that even doubling or trebling their inspectorate team would be enough, unfortunately.
Some homes go out of their way to prevent the CQC and Local Authority finding out about incidents or even who they are employing. One home had a new carer, who had started without an interview, before he completed his application form and without any background checks being made including obtaining a reference. It turned out that the HR manager at the home was his mother and he had left his previous employee while being investigated for physical abuse of an elderly resident on a number of occasions,. When I queried this with the manager, she even denied knowing that he was related to the HR manager and lied blatantly about other similar family relationships at the home too. The managers were all under the cosh of the home owners, who were a very aggressive and grasping partnership.
Part of the problem is down to carer training, part due to the low wages paid and lack of staff, but quite often due to the management culture. There are some fantastic carers and managers out there, but it takes only one incompetent or uncaring employee to create a safeguarding incident or at best, provide poor care. They can be dismissed or trained correctly and monitored, but then the next similar employee arrives and it all starts again.
Sorry for the rant!
Keep up with the fight, OP

Mightymucks · 05/04/2018 13:07

OP, could you discuss this with student support for your course? Particularly if they have a specialised nursing section? Or your tutor? They should be able to give you some support taking action about this, and as they will be organising placements should have some experience how to handle this.

Obviously this is terrible and needs reporting for the sake of the residents, but you also need to protect your own back should it ever blow up from any other route, and your uni should be supporting you to make sure nothing that could jeopardise the registration you are working towards should be able to happen.

IHateToCashew · 05/04/2018 13:09

I hate to say it, but I agree with coffee. CQC have given this particular chain far too many chances. I would seriously consider contacting the press, or even your local MP. Anyone who may be able to make a difference.

The culture in care homes needs to be tackled. Too many carers don't care, the ones that do are too scared to speak out, residents are frightened or are far too accepting of bad treatment, and management are too overworked or don't care to do anything about it. Even agency workers in my experience don't seem to speak out over things they know are going on that are wrong. These homes are chronically short staffed, which again, doesn't help matters.

ThePinkOcelot · 05/04/2018 18:34

And this is the reason why I could never put my elderly Mam in one of those places. Disgusting!!
Please report it!

gryffen · 05/04/2018 18:56

I worked for 5yrs in a secure mental health hospital ward and never had a bad experience apart from being assaulted while doing a CALM restraint and being blue lighted to hospital (ward was in MH hospital not main one).

Worked 2 weeks in a care home and was verbally threatened and followed by staff member and reported him go police and care commission.

Place was investigated and shut down.

The armpit lift is so dangerous due to weakened joints - sickening basic moving handling isn't being done - hate to see risk assessments there.

Report and best wishes for training!

user7680 · 05/04/2018 19:40

Even at university you’re taught to always raise a concern, being patients’ advocate. It’s needs to stop now. I hope you’ve reported it. Poor residents

Original poster

FluffySlippers21 · 05/04/2018 20:49

Done! 😊 reported by both phone call and then a written follow up by email to all relevant authorities! Thanks everyone 💐

OP posts:

japanesegarden · 07/04/2018 07:50

Well done, FluffySlippers! ThePinkOcelot, your post sounds very judgemental of those who have 'put their elderly mums in care homes'. I tried to care for my mum at home for over 18 months, until she had yet another fall and another two fractures and became incontinent and needed someone on the premises with her 24/7. I couldn't do that as well as work and run a family, and had to make the difficult decision to put her in a home. Caring for her at home was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Sadly, care homes are the only solution in many cases, no matter how much people love their mums.

IHateToCashew · 08/04/2018 17:10

Well done Fluffy!

And I completely agree. I've seen so many (mainly women) making themselves physically ill trying to care for elderly parents, disabled siblings and children, and hold down a full time job and run a house and a home. I can only speak for myself, but as a parent I'd be devastated if my son made himself that stressed and unwell trying to care for me if there were other options: like going into a care home.

Babyroobs · 08/04/2018 18:00

You haven't over reacted but should have gone to the manager first and discussed your concerns and explained why you didn't feel you could carry on there. This is awful behaviour.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 08/04/2018 18:06

Report them. Why should you leave your job. It's beyond vulgar talking in detail about your sex life, especially during working hours in earshot of residents and their families.
and I'm no prude believe me, but I always stand by theres a time and a place.
As for the man handling you have a duty of care to report. It seems like they're all too busy wondering where their next shag is coming from

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread