Work Colleagues

wobbly

Hi al
Don't know if anyone can give me any advise here but it would be appreciated.
I work in a residential home for the elderly. In the evenings there are 2 carers working. A couple of months ago the boss took on a young girl with sczhephenia (sorry about the spelling!) to work the evenings. Since she has started she has not been consistent in the job, working ok one shift and the next being a bad one! She has had a lot of time of sick, ringing in at the last minute making it hard to find cover and coming in late. When she does ring in sick she can phone me up to 5 times to apologise. She needs constant reassurance. On sunday night she took an overdose. Apparently needed her stomach pumped. I have just heard she is coming back to work on Thursday evening. I now have regular staff really worried about working with her. We deal with the residents tablets. She is also on another 8 week probation. Why would the boss allow her to come back to work? The poor girl is not suitable. The only thing i can think of as we are short staffed and i am due for an holiday next week, which i did say i would cancel and take it at a later date. If there was an emergency at work i am sure this girl could not cope and you would be left on your own. I am worried about the welfare of the residents.All advise would be welcome. Thanks

Conor_3

Have you and the other staff voiced your concerns with the management? Maybe it needs all of you to do it that way it can't be perceived as one person with a personal issue.

Regarding the delaying of your holiday, I'd just like to say that it's nice to see someone with the level of dedication you have to the people you care for. I don't think sometimes people realise just how much care home workers do care for the people in their charge.

wobbly

Hi thanks for answering. Have now spoken to the boss and they are being very careful. Already took legal advice, and the result is that a risk assessment will now be done. Keys to the medication cabinet will be kept on the carer doing the medication. They are keeping an eye on the situation. It alls boils down to that one word - discrimination. Which is such a shame when there are 17 vulnerable people to look after. Now cancelled my holiday to ease the pressure. Roll on to when we have full staff!!! Thanks again

Oldernotwiser

Yes, we always hear such positive things from the disability lobby but it's easy to forget there's another side to things.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

When a similar thing happened to myself (I work with medication too) my company referred me to a company Doctor to access me to see whether I was safe/fit to work.. Does your company have something similar?

Savvy_Sue

Has your employer taken advice from the Care Standards Agency or whatever it's called?