Stress at work and zero support

[Deleted User]

Hi guys I am looking for a bit of advice,
I have been under the care of my GP for anxiety and depression since late last year. I have a history of depression and anxiety but was doing well. I believe pressure at work has led to my relapse. I work as a health care assistant in an NHS mental health setting and have been the victim of a number of assaults from patients in recent months. One client in particular was targeting me and a couple of other members of staff specifically. I approached one of the nursing managers who took me off 1:1 care with this client. The matron then over ruled the manager and stated I had to do 1:1's due to poor staffing levels. The matron also pretty much told me that getting assaulted was part of my job, In a meeting with the manager and matron I stated that I was struggling and suffering with stress but these issues were never addressed.
A few weeks later I received a letter stating that I would be facing a disciplinary investigation around an unrelated matter. I wont go into details as it was later dropped. I had some serious issues over the disciplinary as I was not involved in the incident it referred to and the investigation did not follow trust policy. I stuck to my guns, challenging them and threatening to file a grievance and eventually it was dropped. During this investigation I emailed the director of the unit and stated that the disciplinary, assaults and chronic staff shortages were causing me severe stress but again I was ignored, despite putting my symptoms down in detail and requesting help. As I said staffing is a huge issue, there have been night shifts where there was no qualified nurse on the 22 bedded mental health ward. There was myself, a band 2 HCA and two other band 2 agency support workers. So basically I was the most senior staff member on the ward. A fair few qualified nurses are leaving our ward in the coming weeks as they have new jobs, and no ads have gone out yet to replace them. Soon there will be a total of 3 qualified nursing staff, this small number will not cover the 24/7 service we offer.
In January this year I took and overdose which required treatment at a&e, and have since been referred for psychological input. I spoke with MIND through their advice line which suggested I could write to HR and spell out the support I require. I did this and asked for a stress risk assessment, referral to occupational health and to cut my hours so I do 3 long day a week instead of 2 short days and 2 long days. I also asked if I could be excused from night shifts until my depression was better controlled as these shifts have a very negative impact on my mental health. I also asked that I am able to fit my shifts around my psychology appointments. I sent this letter to HR 2 weeks ago recorded delivery (so I know they got it) and they haven't replied to me or even acknowledged my letter!

Where do I go from here? It seems everywhere I turn for help I am being ignored

ohreally

Given the persisting nature, did you consider joining a union to access support and advice? (I ask as you don't mention union).

poorlittlefish

The trouble with unions (as I recently found out when I tried getting help) is that they won't get involved in pre-existing issues other than let you ring their advice line. This applies to Unison, Unite and GMB, at least.

pondskater_2

poorlittlefish wrote: »

The trouble with unions (as I recently found out when I tried getting help) is that they won't get involved in pre-existing issues other than let you ring their advice line. This applies to Unison, Unite and GMB, at least.

Well, that would be rather like insuring your car after you pranged it.

[Deleted User]

I am a member of a union and am going to give them a bell but also wondered if there is anything else I could be doing in the mean time

the_camanachd_kid

Can you not self-refer to Occupational Health? Where I work you can and I believe most if not all Heath Boards/Trusts are the same

[Deleted User]

No, as far as I know we have to go through a manager and cannot self refer

tgon

What a wretched position you're in and I hope there's some news from HR or some movement from your management in their legal duty of care as an employer. These are the typical human facing stories we read of in the papers and all sorts of rhetoric and blustering in response from bosses. If all else fails and you've any strength left then a call to your local MP is another avenue.

goosey-gander_2

Hi, I can empathise as I too work in NHS in mental health and they too have caused me significant illness due to bullying over a long period of time. I tried the union approach, it was a brick wall. I have now been accused of malpractice and face disciplinary hearing. It seems the NHS do not care at all for the health of their staff unfortunately.

tomtontom

You should be reporting the understaffing to CQC. Please do so, for the sake of your patients as well as yourself.

clairec79

Ring occ health yourself, managers often won't tell you you can self refer but occ health (at least in the trust I work in) are quite happy for self referals

Also Employee Wellbeing