Can't do this job anymore

[Painauchocolat189]

I work with people with autism, and I know it is not their fault, but I'm afraid of some of the service users and I don't feel like I can do this job anymore.
I have been put into a headlock by one boy a while back, and yesterday I was taking another man out for a walk and was punched in the face by him out of the blue.

I have been bitten before too. Don't think I can do this anymore, I'm not saying it's their fault but I'm frightened of working with them. Should I look for other work ?

That's awful and your client needs different care, more supervision or a higher ratio. Don't feel.guilty and please escalate this

I wouldn't think twice about leaving ,no job is worth feeling afraid , and lets face it , its a job -something you do to make a living .
If there is an easier to way to make that living most of us would choose the easier option .
I would imagine you will have a lot of transferable skills and won't have much of a problem finding work in a similar field .
I have a lot of respect for people like you in caring roles.

I'm guessing you're paid a pittance for this - and the agency rakes in a big profit and cuts corners? You need to make a formal complaint - to the agency, social services or whoever's the ultimate care provider, local MP. Do you have a union?

Working with the elderly can be just as bad, I was hit over the head last year by a resident and she managed to knock me out.
Recently a member of my night staff was pinned against the wall by her throat and the resident rubbed her vagina with he's fingers in a very threatening way.
Not acceptable but unfortunately these things happen when working with people who have dementia

That's awful really sorry to hear that.
I earn 9.25 an hour.
Yes indeed we shouldn't have to go to work feeling scared, our more challenging clients usually have male staff or 2.1 so I'm surprised this gentleman isn't.
A colleague has a very deep scar on her hand now after she was scratched.
It's sad how people look down on this sort of work because it isn't seen as 'high flying', as it's a bloody difficult job at times.
I am looking on the job website tonight.

That must be so hard op. I once got slapped in the face by a boy with autism at work, who had just popped in with his mum. He smiled at me and just whacked me. The strength on him was unreal. It takes a really special person to do such a hard job. My son has autism but he's never been violent.

Hi OP,I was just wondering what you did in the end? Hope you're ok x

@Painauchocolat189

I still want to work in social care, maybe with vulnerable elderly people instead? I can't work in this environment anymore it's too stressful.

A career move may be a good idea, but the issues you have faced can crop up in elder care too.

@Steptoeshorse1965

Sounds as though a change is needed badly by you, not nice surely to be in an environment with people like this, their fault or not, the potential for harm is there and you can do without it. There used to be places for people like this at one time, but the Tories closed them all. You should be looking for something better by the sounds.

What? Not everything bad is down to ' 'the Tories': lazy thinking alert. Also specialist hospitals, to which I assume you refer, are as near to prison as one can get in a care setting,are you seriously suggesting that "these people" just need to be locked away? Shame on you.

And they are not all closed, fyi

Can you refuse to work alone with him due to getting physical?

Do not feel guilty at leaving or moving to a different client. I worked in a school for young MPLD people, many of whom were severely autistic. I did it for 5 years was physically assaulted weekly and eventually reached my limit. However, the difference was that I was work as part of a team who were great at supporting each other.

I know the service users can't control how they behave but there really is no medals for martyrs, especially on £9.25 an hour.

Working with people on the autism spectrum who have challenging behaviours is a time-limited occupation. It's true that the people often strike out in response to a trigger and it's not personal, but that doesn't make it less frightening when it happens.

Support workers will always be in demand and there are plenty of jobs out there. And as long as people continue to work in under-staffed, poorly run services, the providers will get away with putting inadequate support in place.

Go.
But please stay in the caring sector. You sound lovely and there will be a better job to suit you.