Shall I report this colleague?

[Rubiconmangojuice]

I’ve posted once about her before. We’re home care workers, and sometimes I only work with her once a week, other times 3/4 times a week, it depends.

I have just gotten really fed up with her rude way of speaking. She’s been doing this for many years and is close to retirement age, maybe she thinks I’m not as competent as I’m newer to the role, who knows.

Things she says are in an exasperated tone, both to me and to service users. Some of our clients are chair bound and need to be hoisted, hence why these visits are with 2 carers.

She will say stuff like ‘What ARE you doing?’ , today she said ‘You’re not doing this right AT ALL’.

I was going to put something in the lady’s washing basket and she sounded annoyed saying ‘WHY are you putting that in there you don’t need to!’ I however I looked and there was a large wet patch on it so yes, I did need to.

She speaks to me rudely in front of clients too. We help to wash a lady, and this lady asked me to wash under her arm. I did, and the carer was at the other side of her so I assumed she would do the other arm, but before I could do anything she said ‘Well obviously if she can’t wash the left one herself she’s not gonna do the other one herself, is she?’

Other times it will just be ‘oh God’ and tutting.

I haven’t had this with any other carer. If I sometimes do things wrong, they explain in a polite manner. I’ve never received any complaints and the manager told me yesterday that I had had excellent feedback from clients.

It’s just this colleague who’s making me feel rubbish at the job and like an idiot.

She’s sometimes rude to clients too in the same way. I always try to justify what I’m doing and say that I am doing X, or that I know how to do x already etc.

I don’t feel comfortable confronting her. Would it be wise for me to call my office team to discuss the issues with them?

It’s just getting me down, but I’ve had it in most of my jobs. The majority of people in the jobs I’ve had have been great, but there’s always one rude or unpleasant person, every single time.

@LovelyBitOfSquirrelInTheWirral

With any luck the family of one of these vulnerable clients might have a hidden camera. 🙏🏽

They shouldn't need one given that the OP has witnessed this.

I’m also a care worker and have worked with people like this. Unfortunately from my experience I can tell you that if/when you report it, management will make all the right noises but there will be no real consequences for her and she’ll have a good idea you reported her.

There’s too few care workers (brexit and covid have made it so so so much worse) and care companies will turn a blind eye to an awful amount of stuff like this. It’s terrible, but you practically have to be physically abusing clients before you come close to losing your job. It’s been a long time since Winterbourne View and standards have slipped.

Honestly I would find a new care job (it won’t be hard) and hope you get good apples to work with. Report her on your way out, but don’t expect anything to be done.

Even if the office is closed there should be an emergency out of hours number

Remember, if it was you who hurt her feelings she'd report you in a flash. REPORT HER. especially if vulnerable people are also part of the equation

She tutted at me as well because something wasn’t to her liking.

That's annoying but nothing like as bad as telling a 90 year old non verbal lady to shut up.

I trust she did that after you started this thread?

@Rubiconmangojuice

I only go in her car when we are going to the same double ups, otherwise I commute by bicycle to all my other calls. I could go on my bike to the double calls but it’s faster for us to be in the same car together, it would mean her waiting at each call for me

Then you need to make a choice, don't you? Either ride your bike or accept that if you're going to get a lift it's going to be in a smoky car. I hate cigarette smoke, and would do almost anything to avoid riding in a car with someone smoking, but I accept that it's their choice in their own car.

I reported today, not sure if anything will come of it but I’m glad i did

I'm so pleased you did. I hope something is done now. We'll done.