Key workers- do you have one, what do you think of them?!
Question: Hi,
I find i can never contact my key worker when i need her, she is always overloaded with work and I feel pushed to the sidelines. For example today I rang looking to change an appoointment i have planned for this wednesday, i was told by a man on the phone that she was eating and would ring me back (this was at about 2:20). I sat close to the phone waiting on the ring back until after 4pm, when I decided to ring back and was told she was then away out on a call and would be back at 4:45pm. she only works to 5pm so I rang sharly at 4:45 to try and catch her and was then told she was in with someone and that she wouldn't get back to me until tomorrow.
I know I probably sound pathetic but it would be all the same if i was standing with a nouse in my hand ready to jump and lookin for some help from my "KEY WORKER". I am not saying she is responsible for my every move but I find it very distressing that shes never available in times of need!
what do you think of ur key worker?
Answers: Hi,
I find i can never contact my key worker when i need her, she is always overloaded with work and I feel pushed to the sidelines. For example today I rang looking to change an appoointment i have planned for this wednesday, i was told by a man on the phone that she was eating and would ring me back (this was at about 2:20). I sat close to the phone waiting on the ring back until after 4pm, when I decided to ring back and was told she was then away out on a call and would be back at 4:45pm. she only works to 5pm so I rang sharly at 4:45 to try and catch her and was then told she was in with someone and that she wouldn't get back to me until tomorrow.
I know I probably sound pathetic but it would be all the same if i was standing with a nouse in my hand ready to jump and lookin for some help from my "KEY WORKER". I am not saying she is responsible for my every move but I find it very distressing that shes never available in times of need!
what do you think of ur key worker?
It sounds to me there may be some issues between you and your key worker.
In your last sentence you say that 'she is never available in times of need' - and from what else you report she doesn't answer your calls. I wonder if there is a perceived dependency issue here which isn't being managed properly? I think you need to discuss this with your key worker's team leader. If they think that you overly dependent on phone contact then finding alternative forms of support or a behavioural change programme needs to be part of your care plan and understood by everyone. Just ignoring your calls is not the way to do it.
Alternatively, this is a poor performing team which is badly managed. In which case make a complaint to the Chief Executive.
Good luck
well my bf key worker is a joke
but there r Good ones
i did have one a few years ago and she was fine.why not change your key worker,just put a complaint in about her,don't forget to mention that you can never reach her when you need her.good luck.
Perhapes you could ask to be allocated a new one. If your current one is always so busy I would not think that is providing you will the approriate safety net and as such you may as well not have one. You must have acess to support and advice in times of need and if she does not supply it then perhaps it's time to look else where.
I'm support worker (not key worker), and I see that more and more , less people are staying in the job as it's so stressful and mentally draining.
Which results to shortage of staff, putting more pressure on the ones remaining...
Maybe she is too "distractable" by service users issues.
Your best way is to leave a message with who picked up the phone, take note of your message, time and who took the message, and leave it to that. You've done your part of the communication, up to the staff and your key worker to act on it. That would lessen your stress.
I am currently training to be a key worker and would assume
your,s would know the circumstances of your case and may
prioritise cases,although its no excuse for non returning of calls.On another note in fairness to all key workers i cannot believe the amount of paperwork involved in supporting people it,s ludicrous.
Very good answer frenchy. I am also a support worker and a key worker but only to one person so she has my undivided attention whenever she needs it.
well what you say about your key worker. sounds like she is avoiding you. i would ask for another worker.
my husband has one she is overloaded too I phoned her today only got her answer machine she has not phoned back my question was about medication I feel we are pushed to one side