Jobs

A day in the life of Lisa-Marie, a Child Care Worker

7.45 am. Waking Night Care Worker gives me a wake up call, get up, wash and dress and go downstairs for handover (update on what has happened throughout night while I was asleep). Nothing too drastic, John disappeared from his room around 1 am. But was found hiding in Jason's bedroom 20 mins later.

8.15 am. Do shift plan and task sheet. The plan details what each Young Person is doing today, chat over ideas with my colleagues, come up with a plan and list all my jobs to do today. Check diary and communication book.

8.45 am. Quick supervision session with Waking Night Care Worker so she can go home. Discuss how she is feeling, how she is getting along with Young Persons, any problems and what I can do to address it.

9.30 am. Lyn is up, give her medication and log in the book. Marie (staff) and I go to the kitchen. Lyn makes us all toast and a cup of tea and we sit and chat about Lyn's plans for Easter. Lyn is in a great mood, I encourage her to come and call her friend and arrange a trip together.

10 am. Start making some calls, first to an agency to chase outstanding shifts not covered due to sickness and then Lyn's Social Worker, to check time of contact with Mum tomorrow. Ask Marie (staff) to chase Sam's Social Worker as she is still missing from care. Waiting for Social Worker to check address.

11 am. Marie (staff) has woken all the boys and asked them to have a shower. Just answered the 4th call on John’s phone. It is a resident from another home wanting to speak with him. I tell her again he is busy (John does not want to speak to her as he is feeling harassed by her constant demands). She gets very rude and abusive calling me names and threatening what she would do to me when she returns. I put the phone down.

11.30 am. Two of the boys come downstairs filthy and smelling really bad! I explain why a shower is really needed, but they say they cannot be bothered and are not persuaded. When they ask what is for breakfast I reply I am cooking sausage sandwiches ready for after they get out of the shower. They are not happy and shout and moan but eventually go upstairs. Marie (staff) follows being very sweet getting towels, running a bath, checking soap etc is in the bathrooms.

12.30 pm. Have cooked boy's breakfast. They come down looking fresh, I do my sniffer dog impression to see if they truly did bath. One passes but the other it becomes clear has tried to fool me with a wash! As he looks a lot cleaner I let it go and sit with them while they eat.

1pm. I call Sam's mobile she answers but when I ask her what she is doing she gets upset and starts crying" it is so unfair I am such a bitch etc." I explain that I am waiting to hear from her Social Worker who I have chased but Sam does not want to listen and puts the phone down on me.

1.30 pm I hear shouting from the young peoples’ computer room and go in just as Joe and Peter are trading blows. I shout for Marie (staff) as I steer Joe out of the room. Marie arrives and stops Peter following us. I take Joe outside and ask Joe what has happened. He is very upset and has a big mark on his face from a punch. A good 20 mins pass while I listen to Joe, as Marie does the same with Peter. In the end they still do not want to talk but agree to leave the argument and ignore each other.

2.15 pm. Marie and Lyn, go out for a walk and a coffee so Lyn can chat away from the home and the other young people. As Charlie (staff) is now back from a Youth Offending Team appointment with Ben, he sits in with the boys to ensure no more punch ups.

2.30 pm. Handover is late, as new staff are on shift. I tell them what has gone on from my shift yesterday 8pm –11pm, through the night when I slept in and this morning 8am –3pm.

3pm. Should have gone home by now but I have not finished writing up the Easter Plan, for all staff and young people so that they know what is happening every day over Easter. Finish that and then call some workers to try and persuade them to do a 5pm –11pm shift today as the Agency has still not found anyone. Eventually get lucky and record these details on a rota.

4pm. Fill in overtime book as I have stayed an hour over my shift. Say bye to staff; say bye to kids - HOME!

Lisa-Marie Cocksedge