DAY 14: Face Feedback, Breathe Through Reaction, and Change
I successfully
completed my practical driving test about two months ago. It has helped to have
my license in the industry I work in. I work with disability and mental health
clients. Before I had my license, I was using Ubers and/or public transport.
The Ubers were out of my own pocket because the company I work for is not
seeing/realising/understanding that clients should come first before their
greedy ways. Thankfully, Ubers were always quite cheap. The problem I had with
public transport is that some clients did not enjoy riding the bus or having to
wait for it. Which is understandable considering their circumstances. Now that I have a car of my own, I have
greater responsibility too.
Part of the duties
of a support worker is to fill out paperwork. We all do it to keep records of
everything that goes on in our clients lives. The paperwork that is completed
has to be taken to the office. We also have to collect money from the office for
the clients. That task was left with me at the end of the week. I forgot to
take the paperwork last week and made mistakes in documentation for
distribution of money. I was in a rush that day.
When we have to take
care of someone that is very dependent mentally and physically on support
workers it can often be a process of having to multitask. Some tasks in the
day will be cooking breakfast, remaining with the client while they eat,
assisting with medication, keeping them entertained through conversations while
they eat, assisting client with showering, putting used aids in the bin for
dignity of client, assisting client to walk from room to room, assisting them
to pick what they want to wear, assisting them to get dressed, whilst keeping
them entertained as not to feel uncomfortable or have their mood switch into
worry, or a state that sets them off into a break down, etc. Having to take
them out for the day, deal with people starring and maintaining their
confidence in public… there is so much that one has to be aware of when on
shift with a client. It is easy to forget to read the communication book as it
is not really an absolute requirement. So, I forgot to read the book that
stated my documentation mistake.
It is very easy to
make a mistake when having to focus on the client who is fully dependent on you
for their mental and physical well-being. The problem is that we start reacting
to our mistakes and that's where I am being a disservice to myself. Beating
oneself up about a mistake that can be corrected is not best for all. What can
be done is create a structure of what needs to be done when on shift with
client. It helps remember everything without having to depend solely on memory.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to feel embarrassed about making an
error/mistake with documentation and my colleagues having to pick me up on it.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear what my colleagues may think
about me for forgetting to check communication book.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to believe that staff communication is
not needed as my job is to purely assist/support my client on that day
I forgive myself
that I haven't accepted and allowed myself to see/realise/understand that
communication between fellow support workers is a great assistance/support
because we can fill each other in with knowledge/information of various ways to
work with the client, and what is happening in the household.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to feel annoyed about some colleagues
wanting to use a book instead of face-to-face communication.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to feel like I've done wrong for not
reading the communication book when Person A and B could have communicated with
me face-to-face.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to feel bad about making mistakes on
the paperwork.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to take feedback from colleagues
personally rather than constructively.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to have various backchat about my
mistakes that lead to emotions of discouragement, blame, annoyance and feeling
not good enough.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to bully myself for making a mistake on
the paperwork.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear colleagues letting off
emotional steam for making a mistake.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to take the way that my colleagues
behave in emotional reactions or build-up emotional steam personally.
I forgive myself
that I haven't accepted and allowed myself to see/realise/understand that I can
simply focus on the words that the person is saying no matter what state
they're in behaviour wise, or emotional possession wise.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to take colleagues body language and
voice tone personally especially if it is louder than usual, and/or possessed
with emotions.
I forgive myself
that I have accepted and allowed myself to fear facing colleagues after making
a mistake to hear what they have to say about it.
