social worker

support worker

home care worker

case worker

teaching assistant

Stockton--on--tees-Borough-Council

Staff and kids are 5 star! Service manager is -5 star! 

If your face doesn’t fit with higher management you will be pushed out the door, the experience of multiple ex employees! 

Fictitious issues will be raised and you may be accused of them even when proving your innocence, you may be made an example of by being punished for things other employees were not punished for, not that they should have been. One rule for one..................

The fact you may have over a decade of an exemplary record working in Children’s Homes will be deemed insignificant. A common sense, logic or rationale approach by higher management is non existent. 

Higher management will be dishonest if the agenda is to remove you from the company! But in the same breathe will make out it is for your best interests and well being, even if that means the potential of being unemployed with a home and family still to support. 

The staff are not valued by the service manager in anyway! 

Hence driving various employees out of the company, largely deputy managers and registered managers. 

You may be discriminated against for having tattoos (not offensive either) and told to conceal them, you will also be discriminated against for having a beard! Subtle comments will be made in an attempt to oppress you and make you feel uncomfortable. 

11 years of hard work, personal development, ambition,  passion and commitment temporarily derailed unnecessarily and unjustifiably. 

This horrendous experience will not derail a career as easily as one might expect, think or hope.

A typical day at work would be me arriving at the office and turning on all the computers. I would then unlock drawers and the safe. I would then give the couriers their van keys. Once the couriers had all left I would then sort out the post and deliver it to all different sections of the building. When I return to the office I then sit at my assigned desk to check my emails. Once I have responded to all my own emails I then check the office account. In the office account we receive emails to book conference rooms through out the building. To do this I use outlook. Throughout the day I also answer the phone. Phone calls involve different enquiries and transferring the customer through to somebody in higher authority.
The hardest part of the job is being on your feet all day. It is very tiring and you can go a while without sitting down.
The most enjoyable part of the job is being part of the job is getting to speak to so many people. Walking round while delivering post gives you a chance to talk to different people.

It depends on which building I am working in.
The duties depend on the information received from the public/public authorities and this determines the how busy the office is. Sometimes there is a lot of confidential/personal/sensitive information which needs to be scanned in appropriate batch and then indexed to the person’s account. This is so the person’s documents are on the right file and are indexed in the correct way so that the team can see what type of information has been send it and this can be dealt with promptly and accurately, you do this by using the company's various in-house databases. Also dealing with all aspects of post, distribution, sorting, delivering etc.
The administration team in each building work closely, but have they own particular tasks to perform, but we all help each other to complete the tasks. I have learn many skills particularly in the use of company's in-house databases, in-house ordering system.

Management was ok but not always consistent in their dealings. Would put on those who where willing and capable but didnt challenge, develop or address under performing staff. Most colleaques where great to work with but some did things their way just because they were able too.

For me it was all about the service users / families. To put a smile on their faces, meet and exceed their expectations, support and help them with difficulties all that was total reward in itself. The administration and levels of procedures to deal with just increased expotentially over the years.

Learnt to see past the issues and always deal with people in a humane, supportive and dignified way dispite the issues and challenges that are presented.

The hourly rate is quite good but no enhancements for weekends or bank holiday. Far too many weekends worked on the trot (4) with 3 off. Work structure could be better...start time and finish time only known 1 day in advance. Usually start at 7 but could be as late as 9.15 which means finish time will be later. Also if work is thin on the ground you have to look for other ways to fill in your time. If you haven't got your hours in pay will be docked or taken off your annual leave.Hours worked are logged on a mobile phone system. Not much opportunity for overtime as being asked to change your shift to cover a shift which is short can happen from time to time, and if you don't the management resort to bribery i.e if no one is willing then told the whole rota system in place  will have to be changed. Sometimes feel undervalued and used.

My current role as an Advanced Telecare Installation Officer requires a very calm, thorough and professional approach to a wide range of situations, and can cover anything from dealing with an elderly person in distress, to a family member who is not aware of how to make the best practical arrangements for a relative, and needs guidance on the types of risk associated with maintaining a relative in their own home. This is then followed through with providing and safely installing the assistive equipment, and ensuring it is correctly installed and working. I complete a risk assessment for each property to ensure that staff and others are aware of the hazards and controls for attending the property (e.g. lone working with distressed/volatile clients, hazards within the property and state of repair of the property etc.).

Case loads are enormous (40 cases when working 18.5 hrs per week) some full timers had 100 cases which is just ludicrous.  Then you’re on two or three duty rotas a week so there’s little opportunity to whittle down the work that needs doing. All you can do is firefight the incoming calls, you can’t get any actual work done unless you do it at home.  You’re expected to be contactable by phone at all times so you’ve even less chance to do anything constructive.  Managerial expectations unrealistic and it was commonplace to get shouted at in corridors in view of other colleagues.  Managers and staff alike just looked perpetually exhausted and bad tempered.  After 10 months I’d still never had even a brief conversation with 4-5 of the team as you were too busy.  Felt utterly miserable and stressed every minute I was there.

If you’re conscientious don’t apply. If you want to feel valued don’t apply. Not listened to and had to escalate concerns which were brushed under the carpet. Some very decent staff and some that took advantage and were carried along. Again, not listened to. 
Much happier in a team that promotes your skills and passion rather than coasting along in this one. Lack lustre management who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk when they say they listen and support but then do nothing!  Front door team very disillusioned and  unsupported. Shame on you!

What is the best part of working at the company?
None. Everyone makes you feel you are inexperienced and find every opportunity to intimidate you.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Lack of support with women gounv through menopause.
Supervision was all about fault finding and negative reports from colleagues.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Toxic and unwelcome. I was made to feel isolated in the office.


What is a typical day like for you at the company?
No two days ar we the same. Busy and stressful.

Typical day was escorting children to school and centres, learned a lot about childrens different needs, and through training was able to deal with different situations.

Management were always helpful if I had any concerns and dealt with problems efficiently.

Culture was open for everyone and held no discrimination,

Hardest part of job I felt was keeping the children safe from harm, but enjoyed the feeling I had with the responsibilities of making sure there travel was a pleasant and happy one.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Social worker 34 salaries reported	£40,910 per year
Support worker 6 salaries reported	£28,855 per year
Home care worker 11 salaries reported	£29,184 per year
Case worker 11 salaries reported	£33,261 per year
Teaching assistant 8 salaries reported	£23,338 per year

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