Not sure if this is normal?
So my apologies is this is the norm. I’m just pretty sure the shifts I’m doing are a bit out of the ordinary for a support worker in terms of length and what is being asked of me. I’m very new to the industry and I don’t really have anyone else to talk to which is why I’m turning to here for advice. (Context, I’m working in Melbournes outer suburbs). I’m just wondering if this is a valid situation to move on from.
So basically I’m rostered with one client. However, during these shifts the provider expects me to also monitor and do notes for their partner who comes along ( they are also a client but only 1 persons funding is used at a time). I get paid like 31 bucks an hour. The clients refuse to engage in personal hygiene, and as a result my van has developed a permanent smell. I am being made to drive at least a few hundred kilometres per day for around 8 hours with these clients for community access and as a result I’ve become quite overwhelmed with the smell. I also can’t enter their home due to dog poop which they don’t want to clean or don’t want help cleaning (I offered to help get cleaning supplies and teach) and they don’t get support for personal care because they don’t want it (the provider and them said this).
I reported the poop in the home and the difficulties of smell to the person above me and a higher management multiple times to maybe come to a resolution to help and was told it would be handled but it hasn’t. I have also provided them with hygiene products but I don’t think they are being used. I have tried very hard to politely suggest they use them.
During the shifts I experience verbally aggressive behaviour from the clients as well, and that combined with all the driving is making me extremely tired.
I’ve asked for reduced shifts with this person but i just keep being given more. In this scenario, am I entitled to ask for less shifts or no more shifts with them at all? I’m casual but working more than full time so I understand they may not replace these hours but at this point ya girl needs a rest. I’m It’s just becoming very mentally draining and I don’t want to experience this level of fatigue being this new to the industry. My shifts with other clients have no troubles like this.
Also just making it clear this client has intellectual disabilities, no physical disability. I’m a bit worried their funding may be being misused because over 600kms of community access per week for activities like shopping and restaurants seems not the norm when they clearly need support for other things