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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

No training in new care home Job

24 replies

Showmethefood · 14/09/2021 01:05

Hi everyone

I would really appreciate some advice as I feel totally overwhelmed. I’ll try and not bore everyone and explain the best I can.
I took on a new job in a care home. At my interview was told I would shadow someone for a few weeks until I felt comfortable (old jobs in retail so no care experience). I shadowed someone for 8 hours and was then told to go and check on residents etc on my own.
Second shift - I was left on my own to get people out of bed. I had no idea which residents wore pads, where these were kept etc. I had to keep asking everything, which made me feel annoying and stupid. Half the time the other staff were outside smoking (6 staff for about 40 residents is a joke by the way) so I was wondering around looking for help and they were outside. They also left me on my own for 2 hours in a room full of dementia residents. I was scared stiff. This was only my second day at work!
Third shift- I walked in and a carer was openly slating this one dementia patient in front of a senior manager and all other residents, saying she was difficult etc. This is just so wrong as these residents deserve complete respect! Then I was asked to put people to bed on my own and change pads in the middle of the night 😞
I’m so scared incase I get something wrong and hurt someone. One old lady shouted at me because I was taking ages to get her dressed but I didn’t know where anything was! She said I was doing a rubbish job which I know isn’t her fault bless her - she’s got dementia and she can’t help it but it made me feel rubbish.
I love caring for people and I actually really like the residents. Asking for other staff to come and help me doesn’t feel like an option as they have others residents to look after. There just isn’t enough staff and I’m not being trained! I want to stay in this job but I’m scared because I don’t know what I’m doing!
Fourth shift- I had to get someone up who’d pooed and wipe her bottom. I mean I don’t mind doing that but I’ve been left completely alone! Thrown into the deep end.

Sorry to post this in AIBU but what would you do?

OP posts:
Verbena87 · 14/09/2021 01:09

I’d speak to HR/management and point out that it’s a safeguarding issue them not training you (have they sent you on a moving and handling course if you’re getting people up/changed for example?).

Stress that you like and want the job, but want to do it properly.

Pantsomime · 14/09/2021 01:11

I’d call the regulator - it sounds dreadful - a culture change sounds like it’s needed and only a big hammer is going to do that

MorriseysGladioli · 14/09/2021 01:14

Ideally, you should be given time to read through each person's care file, which will include detailed instructions for every area of their lives.
I'm guessing this hasn't happened?

Have you had manual handling training, at least?

Cheeseplantboots · 14/09/2021 01:16

That’s absolutely dreadful. I’ve managed care homes and no one was left for at least 2 weeks and full support offered whenever needed. As for the comments about the residents I would report that to the CQC and look for another job, that’s not the sort of environment you want to work in and that’s not an acceptable way to treat the residents.

Showmethefood · 14/09/2021 01:17

No manual handling training but the ones I’m sent to can get up themselves etc. I just need to be there to supervise.

OP posts:
MorriseysGladioli · 14/09/2021 01:18

I think I would report them to cqc on account of the way residents are spoken to/about.

Wingedharpy · 14/09/2021 01:26

OP, you need to speak to the person in charge on your next shift.
Tell them that, not only are you new to their establishment, but you are also completely new to the role of care assistant.
If anyone asks you to do something you feel unsure of, you must shout up and tell them that you're not sure/don't know how to do it and you want someone more experienced than you to show you.
What you're describing is not unusual - but it doesn't make it right.
If you get nowhere with that, book an appointment/ speak to the Manager and let them know you're feeling unsupported and that you need help to provide an acceptable standard of care for their residents.
Good luck.
It is very hard being new.

Showmethefood · 14/09/2021 01:27

I’m also upset as I’ve been a SAHM to my children for years and really wanted to start a career now they’re older. I didn’t want problems like this in my first week. I want to hold down a job and everything to go well. Husbands worked at his work for years fine and the first week I work there’s problems 😞 makes me feel like a failure.

OP posts:
MorriseysGladioli · 14/09/2021 01:38

It is certainly not you!
It is a whole host of issues with the home.

Wingedharpy · 14/09/2021 01:43

Don't beat yourself up.
When you've been doing this for years, you'll be fine tooWink
The staff you're working with may have no idea you've never done this type of work before.
You just need to keep reminding them that you're a novice.
They don't sound like a very conscientious crew, sadly, but with you there, it will help to remind them what they're supposed to be doing.

Quail15 · 14/09/2021 01:58

My sister had a similar experience and left her job after 6 weeks. She didn't feel safe caring for large numbers of residents with so little support. She was also refused any help with her shift pattern and need up working all the left over odd days and nights. She found a new caring role within a week of leaving as there are so many vacancies at the moment. Her new boss has promised she will better supported and have more choice in her shift pattern but she hasn't started yet.

Quail15 · 14/09/2021 02:01

'Need up working' - ended up working

SaltySheepdog · 14/09/2021 02:18

Personally I’d look for a care job in a more engaged environment, this isn’t the norm

Showmethefood · 14/09/2021 02:29

Thanks all….staff are very aware I haven’t done this kind of work before as I told everyone on my shift I hadn’t. 🙂

OP posts:
Lex345 · 14/09/2021 06:27

Hi OP sorry you have had such a bad experience working in your first care job. I have worked in health and social care for 19 years, first as a carer then trained as a nurse and have managed homes. I left earlier the sector earlier this year. What you are describing is NOT acceptable nor is it standard practice.
Is this an independent home or part of a larger organisation? It sounds to be like there is a deep seated negative culture problem and attitudes as you have described would make me walk away from this home in your position-and I have experience!

Care homes should be able to demonstrate a thorough induction of staff and that includes mandatory training-including moving and handling, fire safety, safeguarding, health and safety etc this is not optional and you should definitely not be working unsupervised to support people to move without this. If you are supporting people with dementia and have never worked in the sector before, as a manager I would also be ensuring you had some dementia training as care for people living with dementia can be complex, stressful and requires a high level of skill. New staff when I was a manager were assigned a named mentor to work through their initial induction which would then be signed off as part of the supervision process if their probationary period was successful. This lasted 12 weeks for full induction and onboarding if there were no issues, but I have extended in some cases. You should also have a named supervisor who will help you in the form of supervisions, appraisals and personal development.

Care homes are generally in a staffing crisis. I would personally find another one because all homes are not like this. Use this experience though to screen potential homes. Ask questions in the interview about what the induction programme is like, what training will you be given to support you in your role and ask to be shown around the home (I am assuming you are being LFTd before going in the building and are double vaccinated). When you look around, look specifically for the availability of staff and crucially where those staff are. In quieter moments, are staff sat away from residents, or are they actively engaged with them? If this is a nursing home, is the nurse out and about or holed up in the office? Do the residents look happy and well cared for? Does the home smell clean? Does the manager know the residents and talk to them easily when showing you around?

Read the CQC report before going, but also check the date that this was carried out to see how recent it was. Things can change between inspections.

Finally, I would also consider reporting your experience and concerns. To whom you do this will depend on how confident you feel in the management of the home or whether you feel you need to speak to someone external to the home. You can report concerns to the regulator CQC. You can do this over the phone or on the website.

Care needs people who are kind and compassionate OP. I have worked in some incredible care homes and can say hand on heart that not all homes are like this. If you really want to work in care, find a home that will help you grow into the role and support you properly to provide the standard of care people deserve.

MaryMcCarthy · 14/09/2021 12:54

Report this to the CQC. Training is an essential requirement and residents certainly don't deserve this lack of care or respect from management.

Akire · 14/09/2021 13:00

Sounds awful! Sounds like staff moral is so low and ethos of company let to rot. If you are struggling with lack of staff and over work the very first thing you do is give new people all information they need. You wondering looking for basics like pads !! You sound lovely so either get out quick before they crush any compassion you have left and find decent place. Carers are always in demand

maddening · 14/09/2021 13:26

I would whistle-blow and get a new job.

maddening · 14/09/2021 13:30

You have not failed, that home sounds awful, the staff are derelict in their duties and they have no business accepting money for the care that they are not providing, absolutely disgraceful and they should be reported to the authorities.

FleasInMyKnees · 14/09/2021 13:39

I would jack it in and find a better place to work and write to the cqc. 6 staff for 40 residents isn't unusual unfortunately but you should not be supervising residents or getting them up and about without first doing manual handling training. You should have had a tour of the home, shown fire and safety procedures, careplans and each residents personal bedroom paperwork. Speak to the manager and ask why you are being left on your own, are there registered nurses there, they will know the rules.

Showmethefood · 14/09/2021 13:59

Hi all. I spoke to the manager and told her I was left on my own and she was fine with it 🙈 said that was ok. Feeling so low. I need to keep these people safe . They deserve that and they deserve respect and it’s just frustrating and sad ☹️

OP posts:
GoWalkabout · 14/09/2021 14:03

Its not your fault and its not ok. If you can afford to I would leave and look for a better place. You can't help these people without adequate training and support.

Penquinoa · 14/09/2021 14:06

Hi OP. You have my sympathies. To be honest I've had this in previous jobs not in care. Employers promise full training/shadowing in the job description and interview, only to leave you to yourself and then treat you like you're an idiot for asking questions (how else are we to find out the correct answer?) not knowing how to do things, where things are etc. It is incredibly demoralising.
Honestly I would leave and get a new job if possible. It's not worth the knock to your confidence.

It's not you, it's them Flowers

FleasInMyKnees · 14/09/2021 15:38

Is it part of a chain or independent, it doesnt sound very professional or caring. I wouldnt expect someone new without any mandatory training to be left but shadowing usually only seems to last for about one shift. All you can do is report your concerns to the authorities, you will knock yourself out trying to change anything.

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