you can chill here

[andrea]

hey all, all had a good day?

[HMEssex]

Hi, it's  been ok.  Working all day for accountancy firm  - not that interesting - came home cooked my son dinner for when he gets home and he's phoned me to say he's staying at his grandma's - got steak, mushrooms and chunky chips going if anyone's hungry lol...

[andrea]

im full to bursting, anyway i live up north so the steak may be a bit dry by the time i get there

[joolz1975]

I got stuck in town with no coat on ( long story) in the pouring rain without my bag or purse or phone and had to walk two miles home!

I'm just getting over a really bad bout of pleurisy so I could have cried!!

[HMEssex]

@ Andrea  -  Ah well,  it's like leather now anyway...At least I can get to the pc for once, it's normally a battle!

@ Joolz -you poor thing!

[Tricksy]

i work at a school, im just cleaning at the moment as im studying soon with the o.u .
im actually a qualified senior carer, but i left as the money is very poor (min wage).
i get more doing the cleaning job, it doesnt make sense!

Its sickening how little carer's get paid. 

My father is quite elderly and has carer's come and look after him. They are a fantastic bunch.  I always try and let them know how much we appreciate them (I have a health condition so I am unable to care for him myself). I make sure they get nice pressie's for different occasions throughout the year and thank them loads. I really hope that they know we appreciate them loads.

Its crazy isn't it that something as important as caring is not properly financially rewarded.

[andrea]

it is tricksy, i studied to get my nvq2 and 3 in health and social care, i was made a senior then went on a moving and handling trainers course, i trained the nurses and other carers on the safe handling of residents using hoists and other aids, and i was paid 6.70 per hour. i clean at a school now and get 7.00 per hour. it doesnt make sense!!! i also worked 12 hr shifts including weekends for the same pay rate.
ive signed for a nursing agency now and do caring when i can on a weekend the pay is better with an agency. i like the job i did too, i was also a personal assistant for a man with physical and learning disabilities, and iam on the assist register, the pay was a bit better for that. but there you go thats life!!

[mb1]

it is tricksy, i studied to get my nvq2 and 3 in health and social care, i was made a senior then went on a moving and handling trainers course, i trained the nurses and other carers on the safe handling of residents using hoists and other aids, and i was paid 6.70 per hour. i clean at a school now and get 7.00 per hour. it doesnt make sense!!! i also worked 12 hr shifts including weekends for the same pay rate.
ive signed for a nursing agency now and do caring when i can on a weekend the pay is better with an agency. i like the job i did too, i was also a personal assistant for a man with physical and learning disabilities, and iam on the assist register, the pay was a bit better for that. but there you go thats life!!

Couldn't agree more with Tricksy.

Due to the appalling reports some social services depts have received across the country, social workers salaries are soaring and numbers increasing. But those on the frontline, caring for elderly, vulnerable, children, are still on low hourly rates rather than decent salaries and hours. Now they're going to want people to volunteer to do it...
It seems those who are really good at being hands on with people are punished for it.
Afraid I've reached the conclusion that it's because this is deemed 'women's work' and they aren't breadwinners, are they? Ha-seething-ha... 

[andrea]

i worked with a lt of male carers and they were fantastic.

care and nursing homes ar damn hard work, literally on your feet for 12 hrs for very little pay.

thats why a lot of homes are in state, because people come into the job thinking its going to be easy, realise how hard it is and leave after a few days. the homes i worked at were always short staffed because of that reason, and the residents suffer, i once did a 62 hr week because we just didnt have the staff. we need to be paid a decent wage then more people will stick at the care jobs.

[mb1]

i worked with a lt of male carers and they were fantastic.

care and nursing homes ar damn hard work, literally on your feet for 12 hrs for very little pay.

thats why a lot of homes are in state, because people come into the job thinking its going to be easy, realise how hard it is and leave after a few days. the homes i worked at were always short staffed because of that reason, and the residents suffer, i once did a 62 hr week because we just didnt have the staff. we need to be paid a decent wage then more people will stick at the care jobs.

And the 'care sector' needs more good men!
(Birmingham City - Refuse workers (mostly men) on almost £40,000 when perks/overtime included. Carers/cleaners (mainly female) £14,000 - and they worked longer hours, including evenings and weekends!)

Decent wage - staff loyalty/less tired/more experienced/lower training costs - better outcomes!

[andrea]

a bin man on 40 grand a year,bloody hell!! i might apply myself. are you male or female mb1?

[mb1]

a bin man on 40 grand a year,bloody hell!! i might apply myself. are you male or female mb1?

Female - of course! Amanda.

Birmingham City was taken to court over sexual discrimination.

Have recently developed a dodgy back for the first time - falling apart at the seams - I really don't know how carers physically do it day in and day out,  let alone the emotional aspect.

My Mother was a psychiatric nurse, as is one of my sister's. My other sister is a geriatric nurse.
They are all 'old school' and think one of the problems is that too many of the younger qualified nurses want to 'play doctor' instead of being hands on caring for patients, meaning non-degree staff etc end up with too much of the workload.
My sister had an agency nurse who told an auxillary she was 'too clever to clear s**t - that's your job'. Over her dead body will that nurse ever be allowed into the home again!

[mb1]

Off for a swim - good for the coccyx - and can then justify a lovely lunch and snooze.

[sunshinemags]

I'm cooking dinner for my husband and three boys at the moment. It's an all day breakfast consisting of rump steak, bacon, sausages, eggs, homemade hasbrown and baked beans.    I'm going to see my mother in law tomorrow. We are making arrangements for my father in law to go into care because he has alzheimers and he has deteriorated. My mother in law is not coping very well with him at the moment.

[andrea]

hi sunshinemags. make you sure you fire lots of questions to the home manager.

ask what their cqc rating is cqc is the care quality commision

ask how qualified their staff are and to what level

ask how many managers the home has had within the past 5yrs

ask if their staff have had any dignity in care training

whatever home you choose, your loved one should be able to spend a few days at the home, so they and yourselves can see how the home is run, you can all then make an informed choice.

good luck