Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Adult services - we are doing our best

104 replies

Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:02

I am a HCP in health social care, I can t say what field . I am supposed to do part time office hours writing reports. That's what I'm paid doe, I wish. We are killing ourselves i can't say more other than we are drowning - Unpaid overtime- to keep people safe

It's very hard. We are under appreciated

Is anyone else doing far more than their hours and working flat out to recover people and keep them safe from and during Covid times?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:32

@SquashedFlyBiscuits

Hi OP I hear you.

Thank you for all the hard work you are doing. Lot's of people appreciate what you do.

Can you book a day's annual leave just to give yourself a long weekend?

Try to look after yourself. I know that is hard.

🥰

That's so sweet snd I'm so sorry I didn'team to worry you or anyone else

Damn I wish my title had been saved/ corrected as it would t read as bad
It's true I'm drowning snd so are my colleagues, but i had changed it to a much more innocuous title! I realise now it was so sensitive and not what I intended!!!

I was just trying to ask who out there is struggling with extra covid19 work without extra resources?

OP posts:
lottiequeen · 25/10/2020 18:36

I work with adult social work and health - empathise with you op. I don't think the general public realise what an essential service sw provide, or how under pressure it is just now.

This. I too am an adults social worker, working in the community. It's hell at the moment. The risks for service users didn't go away with Covid-19. They just escalated. I'm exhausted, burned out. It's a stressful job at the best of times and so much more so now. Most of my colleagues feel the same.

RippleEffects · 25/10/2020 18:37

Its a shitty time. I've found myself full time at home with an Autistic teen.

I love him and support him but I really really really would love some support. I feel like I'm slowly imploding. I no longer feel like a person with rights - I exist to service everyone else.

We've been dismissed from support because things are so significantly over stretched and I'm a great mum (apparently).
It feels like adult social care needs so much extra financial support right now but instead, already stretched services are being pushed to the limits. I'll bet if you became crushed under the pressure your role would be absorbed to heap pressure on others.
Disabled adults aren't fashionable or vote winning.

StormzyInaDCup · 25/10/2020 18:37

"And yes, Stormzy, some professions are working under significantly more pressure than others. To say otherwise is ridiculous."

@sparklinglime i'll take that criticism from you when you work in my field. No one ever bloody sleeps or isn't stressed, covid is just an added stress. Like it is for everyone. Please don't call me ridiculous, I'm just off the back of working 13 days straight to cover social workers who are off in my team.

Just like my sister, she's in flooring of all things! Rubs her own business... Her staff are off too, she's not had a day off in 3 weeks. She's doing 3 people's work, should she not be as stressed 🤔

I can get another job, if she fails that's their livelihood gone!

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:38

I hope they direct my thread title soon!! As I feel awful that it eases not as I intended !!

Thankyou all

Yea, I am one of thousands that are working flat out

And no, even if they give me time off I end up working it as do I on my days off because we are busy busy and overwhelmed and when you are a HCP or SW it isn't just jobs to do, it's actually our people in our community.

We don't rest because even if we could , these are our people

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:40

Gnnn .." correct" my thread title soon and the other typos 😞😞

OP posts:
mbosnz · 25/10/2020 18:42

I understand what you're saying OP, but isn't it the oxygen mask analogy all over again? To take care of others, you have to make sure you are in a fit state to do so. If you burn yourself out, you will no longer be able to help others.

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:43

@RippleEffects

Its a shitty time. I've found myself full time at home with an Autistic teen. I love him and support him but I really really really would love some support. I feel like I'm slowly imploding. I no longer feel like a person with rights - I exist to service everyone else. We've been dismissed from support because things are so significantly over stretched and I'm a great mum (apparently). It feels like adult social care needs so much extra financial support right now but instead, already stretched services are being pushed to the limits. I'll bet if you became crushed under the pressure your role would be absorbed to heap pressure on others. Disabled adults aren't fashionable or vote winning.
Actually no. You are important to us Don't let resources limits stop you

Please call up your local adult services snd ask for help. Please

We don't want anyone drowning
Ignore what is a tough time for us, that's not your fault nor your problem, please ask for help if you need it xx. we have not shut up shop. We are all business as usual (& extra business!!)

OP posts:
Love51 · 25/10/2020 18:43

@Tryingourbest23 I hear you. Staff on the ground in all agencies supporting people are busting a gut to ensure the scant resources go to those who need them. In my service I'm wondering if the people who didn't comission the right services are having palpitations about clients, or sleepless nights like my colleagues are. It's frustrating. Personally I'd be happy to pay a LOT more tax to fund adequate public services but there's not an option for that.

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:48

@mbosnz

I understand what you're saying OP, but isn't it the oxygen mask analogy all over again? To take care of others, you have to make sure you are in a fit state to do so. If you burn yourself out, you will no longer be able to help others.
Yes that's true

Maybe oxygen mask and a few more things

That's very sweet of you to say xxx

I posted as it ain't enough as on one hand I have the loveliest of managers and on the other hand we and they are being asked to cover impossible demands and each of those demands aren't paperwork they are real people in real crises

How can you say no? How can you hear the pen picture of what is going on for them and not think well I won't wee or take a luck nor try to cook dinner tonight because I can't hear that and not try to fit in their case?

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:49

Luck break (not luck!) ...

OP posts:
Witchcraftandhokum · 25/10/2020 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:50

Argh ... lunch break ... not luck!

My phone hates me!

OP posts:
mbosnz · 25/10/2020 18:51

I think that's the real challenge for people in the caring professions, because after all, they're there because their superpower is how much they care!

But if you don't wee, and get a UTI or kidney infection - that's far more cases you can't hear and help. If you don't eat properly, and get run down or sick as a result, once again - that's far more cases (people) you cannot be there to hear and help.

And I don't know if you have family, but they want and need you too. (That doesn't help, does it?! That's just another shit serving of guilt on top of an already massive heap of guilt! But it's true.)

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:55

I'm so sorry if I have upset people who are losing their jobs and careers with my post. Not intended at all and I really feel for you

I'm just saying that the CPNs, discharge teams, hospital teams, community nurses, OTs MDTs and social workers and care teams sland care home staff that I know are working FLAT OUT and we are very very tired

It hasn't got easier it's got harder and we are still here working harder than ever so please is anyone else finding it tough?

I'd just like to hear how you are getting through it...

OP posts:
ArranBound · 25/10/2020 18:56

I've just read the thread with people crowing about how they'll be ignoring the Covid guidelines at Xmas and it made me angry. Now reading your post, OP, I'm even more upset. You're doing all you can to help people, keep them safe in these awful times, yet some people couldn't give a s#/t.

Thank you for all that you and your colleagues are doing.

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 18:56

@mbosnz

I think that's the real challenge for people in the caring professions, because after all, they're there because their superpower is how much they care!

But if you don't wee, and get a UTI or kidney infection - that's far more cases you can't hear and help. If you don't eat properly, and get run down or sick as a result, once again - that's far more cases (people) you cannot be there to hear and help.

And I don't know if you have family, but they want and need you too. (That doesn't help, does it?! That's just another shit serving of guilt on top of an already massive heap of guilt! But it's true.)

I have 3 DC

They miss me

OP posts:
Haffdonga · 25/10/2020 18:59

Thank you for posting this @Tryingourbest23 I think it's important to hear messages like yours. The world seems to be divided into a weird kind of split between those like you who are at the invisible front line and who really do deserve our thanks - and those for whom it all seems a bit unreal and imaginary and for whom following the rules is a bit paranoid and neurotic.

Dh and I went for a walk today in a local beauty spot as it felt did several thousands of others - fair enough, we added to the crowds so we aren't blameless. What shocked me though was the size of groups there. We passed 2 groups with probably 30 or more picnickers each - adults and kids all seated together no social distance, plus countless groups of obviously 3 or 4 couples together with their kids so 8, 10, 12 people who made no effort to step aside where paths were narrow or climbing over styles etc. We are in the north with extremely high rates all around us yet people have just given up taking any notice of the rule of 6 or social distancing.

People just don't seem to care about each other any more Sad

mbosnz · 25/10/2020 18:59

Oh mate.

You are a wonderful person. You are trying to be all things to all people.

This is going to sound silly, but I worry about the people having to shoulder what are actually inhuman burdens of work and care during Covid (and not during Covid, but even worse than Covid). Too many people forget that the people desperately trying to provide the services with absolutely crap resources, support or funding are actually also. . .people.

Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 19:00

I do take a few moments when required to wee ! It's just funny how I'm Wfh amd could take breaks and take less one and never take a much break nor start or stop in my working hours, and then thinking oh bloody hell I need loo break and want to delay.,, Btw I won't get a uti as I promise I go !

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingourbest23 · 25/10/2020 19:00

IMO typos!!

OP posts:
Rupertpenrysmistress · 25/10/2020 19:02

It's ok to say how you feel op. I don't think it's insensitive it's not a race to the bottom. I frequently realise how lucky I am to have a job and not have to worry about feeding my kids in the half term. I really feel for people who are struggling particularly when children are involved. However that does not mean you are not wiped out.

I am an NHS nurse and am also exhausted and stressed but we have to just get on with it. I take verbal abuse on a daily basis because patients have waited for surgery or been cancelled and I am so sorry for this but recently it's getting personal, I was told I was personally accountable for a patient's surgery being cancelled, I can accept the anger but not the personal remarks. I went home and cried that day.

This is how it is what can we do to support each other? as we belong to the caring profession by default we nearly kill ourselves trying to do everything for our patients/service users. It is not long term sustainable but it is not what people want to hear. Like you I often miss my breaks and finish late. We need to look after ourselves to keep providing the best care.

YesImDrowning · 25/10/2020 19:02

I'm with you OP, hospital Social Worker here.
We're absolutely fucked and petrified of winter pressures plus covid. The responsibility of keeping the flow moving through the hospital is something we're used to, but when I look ahead at winter this year I honestly don't know how we will do it. We're stretched to our limits working with the new time frames, it's unfathomable how we're managing it. I'm scared of making errors and the shit we were expected to do at the start of the pandemic still makes me shudder with guilt.

We're completely forgotten, never get a mention but just keep carrying on. I call us the 'arse end of the hospital', one that no one wants to get constipated but no one so much as throws a senna at. It's shit. I don't know what to say except I hear you, and my colleagues do too.

mbosnz · 25/10/2020 19:03

LOL, sorry, DH calls me Mum to the world, and we have kidney reflux in our family, so I worries, I do. . . Grin

Poppingnostopping · 25/10/2020 19:03

I think you are pointing up something very important OP.

Some people have lost jobs, but even those carrying on with their jobs, those jobs have changed, become more pressured, workload higher (especially if staff are cut or ill with corona or self-isolating) and everyone is starting to burnout. It's ok saying well you've got a job, but if those doing essential jobs start dropping like flies, that's really problematic for the rest of society.