It was great to receive the following message from one of our clients.
“My PA was able to speak up for me, when I got tongue tied, or got confused about how to say what I needed to, or when I felt too upset to talk. It was also really helpful to have someone friendly with a good sense of humour ( & who didn’t need anything explaining to..), to rest & calm me”
Client – June 2018
Today I headed home with a warm fuzzy feeling inside of me after a day that seemed very difficult.
I supported my client with a visit to see their family, something that has not been possible whist they have been fighting their demons. The client was extremely nervous and stressed, which was difficult for me to see as this only makes it worse for them both mentally and physically. We met with certain people before the visit, made the plans to be at the right place and the right time and then I spent almost 2 hours watching this nervous and anxious person flourish and shine. This person who has been fighting their own battles, and has plenty more of them to come, was able to use my support to get themselves to the place they wanted to be – with their family. It may only have been for 2 hours and it will be a difficult road going forward but we all know the power of being with those that you love the most.
I would not be truthful if I said that it wasn’t emotionally draining, I invest myself in to my clients, and the first 10 minutes after the visit I felt it but then I was suddenly filled with immense satisfaction that I had made an impact on that client. I had, within a small period of time, built up a trusting relationship where I was able to have been there to support them and for that I gain great satisfaction. I may not have been the reason they went or the reason it went so smoothly but I was part of the reason and for me that means a lot.
Would it be too cheesy to say that I love my job? Would it be a lie to say everyday is like this? Maybe but days like these just enthuse me and makes me love the work we do as a company.
Cleaning, cleaning and a little bit more cleaning.
In my blogs I have tried to be truthful and today the truth comes in the shape of bright yellow marigolds. On my first visit it seemed that the cleaning list was used to light the fuse of the bomb that destroyed the clients property because it was a bombsite. However with the help of the client and my side kick CillitBang (and the dirt is gone) we got on the job and actually it was a bit of a laugh. We had some music playing as we slowly started at each end of the property and worked our way towards each other and before we knew it the place looked a great deal better. The only downside being the sweaty hands from being in those marigolds for too long.
We would like to thank the parents of Ratcliffe school for participating on the substance misuse course on Tuesday evening.
For more information about the course please click here.
Data protection is changing within the EU and we have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure we abide by the new laws coming in to place on 25th May 2018.
So what does it mean?
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and was designed to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe, to protect and empower all EU citizens data privacy and to reshape the way organizations across the region approach data privacy
Basically GDPR will change the way in which we keep and use information about anyone who uses or interacts with us as a company. This will increase the safety of your information and will see companies and organisations doing more to allow that to happen.
What will you be changing?
As a company we will be issuing new documentation to all social workers, clients and anyone who interacts with us as a company to make sure we do all that we can to keep to the revised laws.
I haven’t heard anything from Breaking The Cycle?
If you haven’t heard from us by the end of June then it is probably because we do not hold enough information about you to make any changes but by all means contact us if you have any worries.
Another great day doing what may seem to be little to you and I but something that makes a big difference to my client.
I have spent the time today with my client and some of their family members walking around a garden centre, I know this seems daft or maybe even a waste of time but that is why I love working for this company. You see for my client being with their family is key to maintaining a “normal” life, raising them up when life seems to always be bringing them down. The journey there we spoke about what was on their mind, what little jobs at home needed doing and finding out what help was needed to keep the voices at bay. There was not much in their replies other than I’m good thanks but asking for help is not always easy so as a PA you have to play the long game a little.
After spending time with family members I asked the same set of questions on the way home and suddenly the answers change. Not because I am good at getting answers out of people but because they were relaxed and happy enough to give honest answers. It was almost like they remembered that they had a reason to answer honestly, a reason to keep themself well and that is what the visit was all about.
So yes my visit was a nice day wondering around a garden centre but this was merely a distraction of the issues and low feelings faced on a daily basis for my client whilst offering a reminder as to why they fight so hard to be “normal”. To make it even more productive it opened up a honest line of communication that has given me a list of things to do to make a difference in their day to day live.
The Humanistic Approach is far more productive than it looks.
Any job has a degree of paperwork but it has been nice to see the company putting a process in place that hasn’t seen us PAs flooded with paperwork and actually I am finding it making my visits easier, just don’t tell the directors.
You see BTC (Breaking The Cycle) has grown over the past year and I have been a part of that growth but this does require some reflection and discussions with local authorities to make sure we are doing a good job. I have loved working for them but actually I enjoy the structure the paperwork has given me as someone who is still learning about the job.
Between me and you it has also helped me with my taxes etc as a self employed member of the company as it creates logs that I can refer back to when logging my millage and hours. Fingers crossed we will see further positive developments as the company continues to grow.
Last week was a busy one for myself, visiting new clients to see if there could be a good enough connection to allow us to work together, visiting current clients, helping one client who is currently dealing with louder voices than normal and making sure that I am putting each and every client at the centre of everything that I am doing.
Working with Breaking The Cycle is so rewarding and they have such a similar vision to myself that I am loving working with them. Take for instance my meeting last week with 2 clients who require PA support, I was asked to meet them to gauge if there could be a rapport built to allow me to support them. I see so many care companies just filling slots with names where as I feel that Breaking The Cycle takes in to consideration what I want and need, what I bring to the table as well as what the client wants and needs. This really empowers me and with clients currently being out of hospital for the longest in their lives I have to believe that BTC’s approach has something to do with that success.
Last week wasn’t my easiest as I had to cram the hours in before half term but reflecting on it I can’t help feeling satisfied by a job well done and a job worth doing.
Are you or a loved one receiving support from mental health and/or social services?
Do you feel out of your depth?
Do you struggle to know what these services should be offering to you and/or your loved ones?
If so this course can help by outlining services responsibility. By the end of the session we aim to provide you with a clear understanding of what appears to be very complex issues thus placing you in a better position to ensure high quality services are offered.
We can help you understand the terms professionals use such as:
Breaking The Cycle feel that it is impossible to have full participation and empowerment unless we all know what the law tells us and what we should expect.
The laws tell us that individuals should be empowered to play as active a role possible in their own care. For this reason, the course uses person centred practice throughout the session, focusing on how individuals are supported to make decisions about their lives.
This course is delivered in a very interactive manner designed to increase knowledge for those who are not professionals by giving you the knowledge to answer some of the most commonly asked questions such as:
Duration: 3 hours
Saturday: 21st April 2018
Time: 11 – 2pm
Location – Braunstone Grove Youth Centre, Cort Crescent, Braunstone, Leicester LE3 1QH
Price – £45 – 2 spaces for £80
Includes refreshments
To book your place or to ask a question please click Contact Us
The company has now appointed an administrator who has been emailing all of the PAs to remind us about sign in sheets etc. Now this may not seem like a positive but it has helped me as I have a shocking memory sometimes.
It does fill me with positivity as making the jump to the company meant making a jump to becoming self employed, something that I have never done before and something that I was worried wouldn’t work leaving me and my family in a difficult position. However there seems to be some positive changes coming in to place which makes me believe that the company is serious about building relationships with local authorities and their clients to make sure they stay someone that people will want to employ.
Here is to positivity, something that is not always easy to come by.