To quit already?

[unknownwonder]

I’ve started a new role as a care assistant in customers homes, mainly the elderly. This is something completely new to me as I’ve always been an office worker before I had DS.

Now DS is 1, I wanted to get a job just honestly for some sanity to have something for me to do as me, if that makes sense. It’s also so hard finding a role that’s part time that fits around what you need.

We’re lucky enough where DP’s salary could cover all expenses but again it’s just for me to get out and about and also having extra money doesn’t hurt!

I joined an agency, really good reviews. I gave them my availability (DS was pulled from nursery for various reasons irrelevant to this post) but I do have help from family 3 days a week to help look after him. I told them the days and times I’m available and mentioned I would like to work the day times as I may as well whilst having childcare and then do 2 evenings if it’s needed. I only said I want to work 16 hours a week as well.

Well last week was my last week, they put me on evenings everyday so this meant I’m with DS from 6am - 5pm when my first call is and then working until 10pm so getting home around 10:30:11pm. I raised this and the amount of hours and they said as it’s a shadowing week they like to get me to do more to learn - okay fine. However, my shifts for me to go alone this week have come out and it’s the exact same and I can’t get info until tomorrow.

Physically it’s a lot to be with a 1 year old all day to then go straight to caring for the elderly at night. I’m not eating dinner because I’m shattered by the time I get home and know I’m up at 6am again. I’m somebody who’s in bed by 8 and asleep by 9/10 normally!

The job itself honestly isn’t doing it for me, it’s harder than I thought because on interview and training it was said I’ll be doing light housework, preparing meals and just being there for a chat etc. They give me a todo list on an app and my first call tomorrow is to organise medication (not trained on this) and to also shower and put to bed (I know how to shower but the elderly are frail and I’m scared to do something wrong) I haven’t done this before or watched this on my shadowing. Worth mentioning I’m a lone worker so it’s just me - something I disagree with as well because it’s my first real shift!

AIBU to sack it off already after a week? I just know it isn’t for me but I do feel like a failure and hate letting people down, it fills me with anxiety. I cannot cope with working 5-10pm this wasn’t what I signed up for and I’m not one to just not turn up. I’m going to call them tomorrow because my shift isn’t until 5pm but would it be really bad to leave if they say the shifts are the shifts and that’s all I can do?

Sorry for the rambling, I hope I made sense!

Forgot to mention, the evenings I’m meant to work are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday - weekends was never discussed as DP usually works Saturdays

The worst aspect of care work is by far the agency coordinator staff. However, they respond well to firm boundaries because they are short of people. So I would call tomorrow and explain once again your availability and refuse any unsuitable shifts outside of your availability.
I had to do it a couple of times and was quite clear that if they can't work with my availability, then I won't be able to work with them. Eventually, they stopped being silly. I also said no to (daily!) calls asking me to do extra shifts. They got the message eventually.

I agree. They probably need you more than you need them so give them your days/times and be strict and say you simply cannot go outside of that range as you’ve got childcare.

You shouldn’t be covering things that you are not trained for. What training did you say you had? What training have they given you? You should not be doing manual handling etc without proper training. Tell them you need more training and/or to shadow more. I agree it’s normal for you to feel out of your depth here. You and the people you see need to feel safe. If you don’t or the care recipients then it’s not right. More training is essential here.

I did a weeks training course, all day for 5 days where we was shown how to use hoists etc but as it was said I would be doing minimal care eg food prepping, cleaning etc they didn’t go into it deeper with me. This was due to me having 0 experience, doing minimal and then eventually start doing the personal care, moving etc

Im lucky in sense that my first call isn’t until late afternoon so I have time to either get it covered or atleast have someone experienced with me.

I haven’t been shown how to remove/replace a pad, dispose of it properly, applying creams. The medication part is worrying me because although it says what they need and how much I do not want anything to go wrong on my behalf.

Its also worrying that they’re happy to leave me to it alone even though they know I have no experience whatsoever

Have a you completed manual handling if you been shown the hoists?

Ok, so it sounds like you've done the training and a week of shadowing. That's pretty standard. Honestly, I have since qualified as a clinician and we also get one day of manual handling training. There is no more "in depth" than a demonstration and a few practice rounds before we are flying solo on wards.
Re medication, you are only required to prompt or assist. Not administer. Just read what's on the chart and hand them the package. There is always a potential for mistakes even for people with a lot of experience so double and triple check. You don't need supervision for that and assisting with meds is part of your role, unfortunately.

I know going solo after, what feels like very little training, is always nerve wracking, however, in practice most clients are absolutely fine and require little more than a warm smile, friendly conversation and a microwaved dinner. If you are not confident at all, you won't be given any more training. Probably best to leave then.

But my thing is I’m now having to do something that I was told wasn’t part of my role? We also do have administer as an option on the plans.

I was made clear in my original interview and onboarding that I will be going in, making a cup of tea, doing light housework and preparing a few meals if required. If they wanted a full on carer they could’ve mentioned that and to be honest, I probably wouldn’t have done it because personal care isn’t something I want to do.

I know it’s part of the role generally but if I’m told one thing why then throw me into the deep end when they know it isn’t what I signed up for.

OP phone them in the morning and sack this off. A 5-day training and a week shadowing if you had prior experience fair enough but not for a first job. Administering medication shouldn’t be done without you being (a) trained, (b) shadowing someone else (c) you administer under supervision and (d) signed off as competent. If they are willing to cut corners now this will only get worse.

I think it’s going that way. I over think and feel bad about leaving so soon but then I think they’d prefer me to be honest now than go in and do things wrong or not to the standard it needs to be.

I didn’t get a check in after shadowing to see how it went etc just got my shifts through for lone working for the days and hours I didn’t want as well

These are the questions you need to raise with them.
I can only base my answers on my own experience as a carer. I was also completely new to the role and received similar amount of training (medication was covered and I was signed off after assisting with medication during shadowing week). It will be quite unusual for a carer recruit to only have light duties as part of their role. There simply aren't enough people to cover all clients needing personal care to have someone who isn't trained to provide it. So either they lied or there has been misunderstanding of some kind.

This sounds like a nightmare. Have you considered setting yourself up to offer a home help type service without the personal care on as self-employed? Advertise locally pick and choose your clients and times.

This sounds like a good idea! To be honest I’m even now debating a bit of volunteering somewhere because like I said it’s more to be able to get out and do something by myself it isn’t necessarily about earning money. But I like your idea and definitely something I could offer on a few Facebook groups etc - thank you

This is temp agency work
Your agency should be working for you. They get paid by the clients for every shift you work. Be clear with them about your availability and if they take the piss then tell them. A decent agency will work with you.

The beauty of agency work is that you set your availability and say no if it doesn't work.

Im lucky in sense that my first call isn’t until late afternoon so I have time to either get it covered or atleast have someone experienced with me.

You don't have to cover it, that's what the agency is paid for.

Leave and report them to cqc. They are putting people at risk.

No disrespect but this is why I sent the "carers" packing whom the agency sent for my end of life parent. I opened the door to two young girls who clearly hasn't had the adequate training and both looked absolutely petrified. It absolutely wasn't their fault, they were being used as cheap labour whilst the agency were coining in £50 an hour. It's absolutely outrageous how these agencies put inadequately trained people into the homes of the really sick and vulnerable. They didn't have a clue what to do and I actually felt sorry for them. The agency got sacked off the following morning and I did it myself. Years later we found an amazing private company to help with my dad, meal prep and light house work. Totally different set up, run by a lady who prided herself on training her small team and she was half the price of the agency. They were with us until my dad passed away and even came to his funeral.
Too many of these "care" agencies are just about making money and nothing else.