AIBU to ask Support Workers what challenging behavours they've experienced in their work.

[Bobstar2020]

I'm starting a new Part-Time job as a Support Worker after being made redundant. I've always worked in an office so this is completely new for me. I will be working with Adults with Learning Disabilities and I am interested to hear from those in a similar role about the kind of challenging behaviours they've personally experienced in their work.

Do you mean physically challenging? I’ve been slapped, spat at, bitten and once punched in the face.

You might find you come across more verbal challenges. Things like the people you support wanting to do something risky/ unsafe and you have to convince them not to .

I love my job though! I’ve been doing it for over two years now and the positives outweigh the negatives for me

@franklyshankly2
I meant both physically and verbally. Wow, you were punched in the face? What often triggered the challenging behavior?

Assault is the main one. I've had some nasty injures.

Although I had far worse injuries when I worked in elderly care.

I believe younger people being supported are far less challenging than older people in a nursing home. More staff to go round, parental involvement, more knowledge, more money spent.

Being shouted at, threatened and one guy only wanted women to do personal care. He got an erection from it. Massive safeguarding issue that apparently everyone knew about but no one told me. So sometimes it not the service users who are the problem, it’s the staff. But I did enjoy it too.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon

That is interesting, do you mean old people are more aggressive?

Wouldn’t want to say what triggered it in that situation as it was quite complex.

You would always know what triggers to look out for though, they would be highlighted in the persons support plan.

I’ve worked with someone before that hated the sound of the hoover and would tip the kitchen table over if there was a new member of staff on who didn’t know not to use it.

One of the saddest things for me was the service users who had been institutionalised by their families. Some of of the case files I’ve read are so tragic. You definitely need to keep a check on your mh in a job like that, check in with your team regularly and enjoy the fact that you work in an area where you can make a difference every day. Not many of us can say that

I work with people with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges.

I have been assaulted at work - slapped, pushed, hair pulled, kicked, scratched. This is only a part of challenging behaviour - the people I work with will sometimes injure themselves, or they will refuse personal care, or run about naked, and engage in some, err, creative pursuits with bodily fluids.

I absolutely love my job and the people I support however and these behaviours are a small part of it. I have a fantastic team that does a good job supporting each other and the service users to give them a good quality of life and try to minimise these behaviours

I've worked as a Teacher with special needs children & teens. If their cgalenges & learning issues are severe, frustration leads to a lot of acting out: screaming,toddler like tantrums,verbal abuse,fighting each other etc. It helps to keep calm,keep sentences short & describe what's coming up routine wise as they find processing info & changing activity difficult. Don't stand over them if they're on the floor etc ,get down to their level. Ask them what they're feeling as they have trouble expressing and dealing with their emotions. So, "are you sad we have to finish playing? That's ok, we will play again later. Now we have to....". If you have empathy I think you'll be fine.

The behavior of other staff was a frequent challenge which I found more difficult to deal with than the service users.

Yes, older people are far more aggressive.

However, the home I work in now has 5 residents and 3 or 4 staff on duty.

Homes for older people I've worked in would have 20 residents and 3 or 4 staff on duty. More money is available for adults with LD than adults with dementia which is probably part of it.

It sucks. But that's how it is.

I worked in elderly care for 20 years before I made the switch. Will never go back.

Self harm can be very common unfortunately. For example banging their head against a wall, scratching/ cutting with any available object, attempting to tie ligatures with clothing etc.

Also, kicking/punching walls and doors, dragging door frames away from the wall.

Being a Support Worker can be really rewarding, but it can also be really tough: exhausting, stressful and traumatic.

Try to really get to know the clients/patients that you work with - their likes/dislikes, how they communicate etc. Having good, trusting relationships can really help people to feel safe and cared for - and helps you to help them if they are feeling upset or distressed.

It completely depends on who you support op.

The worst I had was a clothes airer been thrown at me, I’ve never been hit or spat at etc.

I left after 4 years because of the job itself, the shifts were horrendous and there was zero staff support.

The people we supported were awesome, I still miss them.

Pretty much everything, including a furious resident with a carving knife. The job can be great, but can also be very difficult. In my experience no matter what happens, the reason / fault for any incident will always be laid at the feet of the staff member on duty. Sometimes that is the case, sometimes it isn't. Just be very aware of policy and procedures and record keeping at all times.