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Possible Work Issues

H

HAPPYKAZ

Active Member
Messages
33
Location
Dundee
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Needles
I have type 2, insulin user. I have recently been moved to another area within Profound Learning Difficulties. Problem is I have been asked to support a voilent service user, attacks and time spent supporting is struggling physically to get the person off of me, whether it be my hair or continually scratching and hitting. Last time I was supporting I took my blood and was 9.4 before I started and when I finished I took bloods again and read 2.7, I explained to senior they listened but hae written to H & S for any hints and tips on how to overcome this problem??? I am sure they think I am at it but seems the more I struggle and lower my bloods go, My concerns are what if I do hypo properly or i need help and cannot get to my alarm in time. Also when I am on nights ts there is no place to store my insulin apart from fridge in kitchen and they wont allow this. Would be obliged for any direction where to go next. Thanks.
 
First off, I am not a lawyer, so anything from here on in is my opinion, rather than based on employment law expertise. With that said, to be honest, if you have voiced your concerns and they are not acting on it, it sounds like they are opening themselves wide to being sued. If they won't let you keep your insulin in the fridge, they should provide an alternative means of storing it somewhere cool (e.g spend around £40 on a mini fridge). If you were open about your diabetes when you took on your original job, they should have considered this before moving you to such a physically demanding role. There are reasons we cannot be firefighters or police officers, and in my opinion they are to do with similar potential scenarios you could face in your line of work. It's easy to be made to feel like you're creating a fuss over nothing, but the fact is that we do have additional needs. Your employer should discuss this with you and offer support, changing procedures where necessary. Otherwise, they are discriminating against you.
 
[email protected] said:
I have type 2, insulin user. I have recently been moved to another area within Profound Learning Difficulties. Problem is I have been asked to support a voilent service user, attacks and time spent supporting is struggling physically to get the person off of me, whether it be my hair or continually scratching and hitting. Last time I was supporting I took my blood and was 9.4 before I started and when I finished I took bloods again and read 2.7, I explained to senior they listened but hae written to H & S for any hints and tips on how to overcome this problem??? I am sure they think I am at it but seems the more I struggle and lower my bloods go, My concerns are what if I do hypo properly or i need help and cannot get to my alarm in time. Also when I am on nights ts there is no place to store my insulin apart from fridge in kitchen and they wont allow this. Would be obliged for any direction where to go next. Thanks.
Click to expand...

There's a lot in here. What is your main concern?
  • Your swinging bloods?
  • The violent nature of your patients/clients?
  • Or storage for your insulin?
As your employer is seeking guidance, from H&S, they are not ignoring your concerns. They needs to be a fair amount of time allowed for H&S to respond. They may be extremely supportive towards you.

In your previous role, how were your clients/patients different?

If insulin storage is concerning you, could you use a Frio pouch, or even a very small lunchbox, style cooler, perhaps?

Sorry, not being an insulin user, I'm not too au fate with your protocols.
 
Hi, Think my main concern is that my bloods go too low and I am in the middle of being attacked and cant get to my alarm, what do I do?? apart from crawling about on the floor. I have been working with mental heealth/learning disabilities for years but this person is permanently voilent and only recently have been working with them.. I have been open with employer from beginning however my bloods have never fluctuated like this but I know others have refused to work under these conditions and am feeling I am being "encouraged to continue". Thanks again
 
[email protected] said:
Hi, Think my main concern is that my bloods go too low and I am in the middle of being attacked and cant get to my alarm, what do I do?? apart from crawling about on the floor. I have been working with mental heealth/learning disabilities for years but this person is permanently voilent and only recently have been working with them.. I have been open with employer from beginning however my bloods have never fluctuated like this but I know others have refused to work under these conditions and am feeling I am being "encouraged to continue". Thanks again
Click to expand...

Can your alarm be upgraded to something you would have on your person at all times? On a belt clip, for example; certainly not anything around your neck, by the sound of it!! That's certainly something H&S or Occupational Health could advise on? Have you spoken to then yourself?
 
H & S were first contacted about 6 weeks ago, no reply so far. My senior sent another email last week again no reply. Apparently this is typical of them but not helping me out much.
 
Re the insulin storage open pens ie those which have had a needle attached shouldnt be kept in a fridge - a handbag or draw will do.
are you not pair working? in my (limited experience) someone with this level of violence should never be lone worked.
 
[email protected] said:
H & S were first contacted about 6 weeks ago, no reply so far. My senior sent another email last week again no reply. Apparently this is typical of them but not helping me out much.
Click to expand...

I think you have to start getting your own act together and not rely on your manager to appear to be taking all the steps. Should this go to any form of grievance or disciplinary issue, and I really hope it doesn't, you must be able to demonstrated that you have taken all credible steps to alleviate your own concerns. If you leave it to your boss, or others, it will look like you are setting them a challenge, rather than trying to resolve matters. I'm sure that's not the case, just presenting what I would look for as a hearing or appeal manager is such a circumstance. And I would consider 6 weeks to be too long for a response to any email. There must be an escalation process in place.

So, the steps I would take would be:

  • Contact H&S, and Occupational Health, if you have one, yourself, to raise your concerns relating to your circumstances. This must be in writing. That way you can review it to your heart's content and be sure you are including all your important messages. It's easy to become emotional or side-tracked on the telephone.
  • Concentrate on the core issue. Don't muddy the waters by mixing in things like your insulin storgae. Certainly mention it, but almost under a heading of "other concerns"
  • Always add yourself as a primary recipient to any correspondence you send, to reassure yourself it has gone, and is likely to have been delivered. If you get it, the other recipients are also likely to receive it. You could also ask for a system generated read receipt.
  • Set a diary reminder for your actions, so that it doesn't drag on.
  • Make notes of every conversation, memo, interaction relating to this issue
  • Ensure you have accurate blood reading records, and behavioural stress records, which can be reviewed to see correlations between blood glucose activity and potentially violent episodes.
  • If you are unable always to reach your alarm, it may not be fit for purpose, given your current circumstances. Could your alarm be upgraded/modified to be worn, on say a belt, at all times. Obviously you would not be advised to suspend anything from your neck.

So, a few actions for you there. Some or many of them, you may already have in hand, but record keeping can be critical if this moves onto something formal. The view can be taken that is it isn't written down, it didn't happen. It's harsh, but we're talking balance and what a reasonable person might do in any given circumstance.

Good luck. I can't imagine spending my working life working with violent people. I take my hat off to you.
 
[email protected] said:
I have type 2, insulin user. I have recently been moved to another area within Profound Learning Difficulties. Problem is I have been asked to support a voilent service user, attacks and time spent supporting is struggling physically to get the person off of me, whether it be my hair or continually scratching and hitting. Last time I was supporting I took my blood and was 9.4 before I started and when I finished I took bloods again and read 2.7, I explained to senior they listened but hae written to H & S for any hints and tips on how to overcome this problem??? I am sure they think I am at it but seems the more I struggle and lower my bloods go, My concerns are what if I do hypo properly or i need help and cannot get to my alarm in time. Also when I am on nights ts there is no place to store my insulin apart from fridge in kitchen and they wont allow this. Would be obliged for any direction where to go next. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Your employers should not be relying on H@S to decide the problem as it is their problem. Nobody should be put in this situation and they need to know, loud and clearly, that they are putting you at risk. An alarm is all very well but if you are being assaulted/attacked then it is not always possible to activate an alarm. What does this client's care plan say? If it says something like, "one to one' at all times then that proves that they have not done a risk assessment. Are they short staffed and decided that you are the muggins that will be least likely to complain.

This is an atrocious situation and one that would not be tolerated in a Hospital setting where people are at risk from attacks/assaults. There would be at least two staff looking after him.

I hope you are reporting the incidents and that they are being recorded as you will need documentation if things should escalate and you suffer injuries,

I am gobsmacked at your situation.:arghh::arghh:

Edited to add. Have you been taught any control and restraint techniques? In the situation you are in then you need to know these techniques. You employer seems to have a very lax attitude to staff safety There is another issue that also needs to be addressed. This client could compromise the safety of other clients if he is in communal areas.
 
Last edited:
AndBreathe said:
I think you have to start getting your own act together and not rely on your manager to appear to be taking all the steps. Should this go to any form of grievance or disciplinary issue, and I really hope it doesn't, you must be able to demonstrated that you have taken all credible steps to alleviate your own concerns. If you leave it to your boss, or others, it will look like you are setting them a challenge, rather than trying to resolve matters. I'm sure that's not the case, just presenting what I would look for as a hearing or appeal manager is such a circumstance. And I would consider 6 weeks to be too long for a response to any email. There must be an escalation process in place.

So, the steps I would take would be:

  • Contact H&S, and Occupational Health, if you have one, yourself, to raise your concerns relating to your circumstances. This must be in writing. That way you can review it to your heart's content and be sure you are including all your important messages. It's easy to become emotional or side-tracked on the telephone.
  • Concentrate on the core issue. Don't muddy the waters by mixing in things like your insulin storgae. Certainly mention it, but almost under a heading of "other concerns"
    catherinecherub said:
    Your employers should not be relying on H@S to decide the problem as it is their problem. Nobody should be put in this situation and they need to know, loud and clearly, that they are putting you at risk. An alarm is all very well but if you are being assaulted/attacked then it is not always possible to activate an alarm. What does this client's care plan say? If it says something like, "one to one' at all times then that proves that they have not done a risk assessment. Are they short staffed and decided that you are the muggins that will be least likely to complain.

    This is an atrocious situation and one that would not be tolerated in a Hospital setting where people are at risk from attacks/assaults. There would be at least two staff looking after him.

    I hope you are reporting the incidents and that they are being recorded as you will need documentation if things should escalate and you suffer injuries,

    I am gobsmacked at your situation.:arghh::arghh:
    Click to expand...
    catherinecherub said:
    Your employers should not be relying on H@S to decide the problem as it is their problem. Nobody should be put in this situation and they need to know, loud and clearly, that they are putting you at risk. An alarm is all very well but if you are being assaulted/attacked then it is not always possible to activate an alarm. What does this client's care plan say? If it says something like, "one to one' at all times then that proves that they have not done a risk assessment. Are they short staffed and decided that you are the muggins that will be least likely to complain.

    This is an atrocious situation and one that would not be tolerated in a Hospital setting where people are at risk from attacks/assaults. There would be at least two staff looking after him.

    I hope you are reporting the incidents and that they are being recorded as you will need documentation if things should escalate and you suffer injuries,

    I am gobsmacked at your situation.:arghh::arghh:
    Click to expand...
  • Always add yourself as a primary recipient to any correspondence you send, to reassure yourself it has gone, and is likely to have been delivered. If you get it, the other recipients are also likely to receive it. You could also ask for a system generated read receipt.
  • Set a diary reminder for your actions, so that it doesn't drag on.
  • Make notes of every conversation, memo, interaction relating to this issue
  • Ensure you have accurate blood reading records, and behavioural stress records, which can be reviewed to see correlations between blood glucose activity and potentially violent episodes.
  • If you are unable always to reach your alarm, it may not be fit for purpose, given your current circumstances. Could your alarm be upgraded/modified to be worn, on say a belt, at all times. Obviously you would not be advised to suspend anything from your neck.

So, a few actions for you there. Some or many of them, you may already have in hand, but record keeping can be critical if this moves onto something formal. The view can be taken that is it isn't written down, it didn't happen. It's harsh, but we're talking balance and what a reasonable person might do in any given circumstance.

Good luck. I can't imagine spending my working life working with violent people. I take my hat off to you.
Click to expand...
 
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