Anyone else working in a grossly underfunded position?

[Dontlletmedownbruce]

If so how do you cope? I take a lot of pride in my work and deal with people face to face. I manage to do what I believe is a good job with very little resources. Lately things have gone from bad to worse, things have not been replaced etc and the inevitable consequence is that standards are going to slip. I am angry today because I just found out a junior person who was assigned to help me with a difficult week has been reassigned. Tomorrow is going to be horrific as people are going to get really poor service and will believe its my fault. On one level I am tempted to tell our customers that I'm aware we are providing a shit service because management won't provide funding, despite being profitable. I am aware that's unprofessional but I hate that people will believe I'm incompetent. Some people stop caring and detach but I don't want to be that person. I am literally in a caring role and I really DO care. I love my work and want to be good at it, I can't stand seeing people getting poor service. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

I think that applies to every
Teacher
TA / LSA
Early Years Practitioner
Speech Therapist
Physio
OT
Dietician
Carer
Anyone that works for CAMHS
Anyone who works in any mental health service
Police Officer (and backroom staff)
Paramedic (and all other ambulance staff)
Social Worker
Member of staff in A&E
People who for for LAs - for SENAR, in housing, filling potholes, etc etc
Prison Officer
Probation Officer
Medical Secretary
NHS Admin
GP
GP Receptionist / Practice Manager
Educational Psychologist
Paediatrician - come to that, probably every hospital specialism

etc., etc., etc

Yes, it IS incredibly frustrating, even when you know the person isn't really angry at you personally but is just incredibly frustrated by the system. It is emotionally draining.

Early years - proper funding would mean better qualified staff retention, better resources, more staff to child ratios.

The staff should be the most important resource in early years yet so many highly qualified, experienced staff are moving on because pay vs cost of living means they are looking for work paying more.

Thanks @Freshrain, sorry I never came back to the thread. You are so right. This is probably very common especially in public roles. I'm not in the UK but the situation us much the same. The difference is I'm with a private and profitable place and it seems like they are looking at the model of the underfunded public services and copying rather than doing better. It's pretty disgraceful. I am so tempted to start mentioning it locally, I live and work in very close proximity and know a lot of people in the community. I'd day they would be horrified with the way it's been run when our clients are paying good money.

That's exactly where I work @Bryonyberries. I meant to name change and didn't want to say at first but I'm not sure if I care anymore! As I said in the last reply it's not UK but seems exactly the same. I have been getting donations from neighbours and friends for materials, I sanitise them at home. Almost all the costumes, dolls, teddies etc came from my house or my colleagues. As they get worn out they aren't being replaced. I look at second hand websites and sometimes look in charity shops. Occasionally I see something new I buy but I'm really trying to not do this. A few times I tried to get a refund but was refused as the purchase hadn't been authorised. I sent a firm email to senior management asking if they could pass it to the owner, saying they were not meeting standards under X, Y, Z and I was concerned etc etc. Let's just say it didn't go down well and i was told to mind my own business and let management deal with these things. But they are not dealing with it enough, I'm just trying to advocate for the kids. At one point we didn't have any jigsaw puzzle, literally none. We have empty shelves. It's shocking. The owner is a family who don't give a shit. I'm half hoping they fail an inspection. I won't leave though, certainly not the industry, i could change employers. I moved to this late in life and work PT cos I don't need the money, sorry if that sounds arrogant but that's the way it is. It's a job I'm passionate about and I only want to deliver the best service I can.