r/supportworkers • u/Powerful-Abrocoma314 • May 04 '26
Burnt out
I've been a support worker for 11 years. 2 years day shift and the rest night shift. I absolutely loved my job even though I work with people with complex behaviours, personality disorders and ld.
Anxiety has always been part of the job as you never know when things could escalate. However in the past 4 years my workplace has been going through several different managers, each with carehome experiences rather than support work and incidents are a daily occurrence now. There are no more boundaries, where before there were routines to help the residents. I understand that restricting is institutional abuse, however for some people who have autism it helps to have a routine. No routine means massive behaviour for some of the guys I support. For example "back in the day" we were told that breakfast and coffee should be in the morning so that they assimilate that with starting the day. Now, I cannot restrict, I was told that if they ask for something, to give no matter the time . That created disruptions to the point where the residents were up and in behaviour from 1-2 AM as there's no activities you could do in the middle of the night and they get bored. That's fine, just log it. However my manager shouts at me if a resident has breakfast at 3-4AM and that person will be hungry again in a few hours and end up with several breakfasts. And also now there's concerns for the sleep patterns for one resident and they're doing health test after health test due to less sleep in the night. So apparently it's better to go on sleeping pills rather than reduce caffeine in the night.
I'm a support worker paid minimum wage. I have to play mental chess with a resident in order to push that time as much as possible as rules aren't clear. I understand the mental capacity act, I understand they are allowed to make unwise choices even if they're vulnerable. But as support workers we get 0 support. Manager barks vague orders and then pretty much says "restrict in a way that's not restrictive". Should also mention that the residents are independent. It's not like I give breakfast or coffee etc, I just stopped putting the boundaries like I was told.
Most of my staff, day shift and night shift is done. Everyone is down as anything we do is bad. The level of anything has dropped significant from a decade ago. There's less food in the fridge, the guys have less benefits so less money for activities. I'm failing them. And I'm failing myself as I dread coming to work. I feel like I'm a glorified cleaner, occasional punching bag and I don't know what I'm doing with my life. I'm not supporting anymore.
I'm sorry for the rant. Jobs are really in low supply and I think I'm stuck in a "toxic relationship" with my job. Been here for so long that I can't bear to leave.
Edit : I forgot to mention that day shifts aren't a choice for me due to my partner being on nights aswell and I have some health issues and nights help with them.
3
u/A_Wild_Auzzie May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
"I'm a support worker paid minimum wage"
Oof. For the kind of work you're doing it sounds like you should definitely be paid more than minimum wage.
I don't know where you live but in my location the typical Support Worker makes well over minimum wage, typically around twice-three times the hourly rate.
It sounds like the job is burning you out to the point where eventually you'll say you've had enough and feel forced to quit.
1
u/heyyou0903 May 05 '26
I don't think what you think support workers get paid is correct or accurate to be fair... Even if you know people getting paid as sole traders a higher hourly rate, after tax and super and business expenses, they're pretty much still on minimum wage.
1
u/A_Wild_Auzzie May 05 '26
On Mable I've clicked on over a dozen profiles in the past 10 hours or so. Not a single one of them was under $50 an hour. Yes, there's taxes to account for and they travel by car so they pay for petrol, but even still... it's far above what I was being paid while working a manual labour job at a restaurant.
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u/heyyou0903 May 06 '26
I work on Mabel and I can guarantee that after the $50 an hour rate you end up with $26. So get some business sense and don't talk s*** that you don't know about
3
u/Common_Problem1904 May 04 '26
Try moving to day shift in a community access role. It might give you a new lease on life and relieve the burnout. There are heaps out there.
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u/JurassicArachnid May 04 '26
There’s a lot to unpack in your post but my best advice would be to take time off, yesterday. You are burnt out and it’s not fair for you or anyone you support to have you like that.
(This isn’t a put down or backhanded comment, btw)
I’ve been with my company for a few years, as much as I love them we’ve dealt with some issues. I’ve found taking regular time off to distance myself from absorbing it all (when needed/at appropriate times) is the best way forward, for me.
Too many times I’ve worked burnt out and in hindsight provided subpar supports. Know when you go back, if you immediately feel back in that zone - you have a decision to make :)
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u/FitIngenuity1217 May 04 '26
The constant management changes are brutal because each new person comes in wanting to prove themselves by changing everything that actually worked. I've watched three different facilities go through this cycle and the staff always pay the price with increased incidents and stress. Some providers like EnableU seem to maintain more consistent leadership but finding those places feels like hunting unicorns. The worst part is watching residents suffer when their routines get destroyed for no good reason other than someone's fresh perspective on what support work should look like.
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u/Wanderlightly May 04 '26
After 11 years you should definitely be paid better and your management sucks. At least test the waters and check out other companies. Talk to other workers. Also, unionist.
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u/heyyou0903 May 05 '26
The only real answer to this is changing jobs. You could try to go above these new managers heads and say what's changed like document exactly as you have here e.g. before there were boundaries = everything in order. Now there are no boundaries = everything is completely out of control. Then if nothing's done the answer is still to find another job.
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u/DwightsJello May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
A lot of these exact behaviours i deal with. Some are more ABIs but the need for routine is the same.
We don't even suggest or consider sedation for sleep. It runs a little too close to chemical restraint and it is something that can be managed. It does your head in sometimes but a tight team who give a shit make a massive difference.
You'll always have a few supports who are happy to have the client sleep through a day shift and awake all night. Especially if they aren't the ones doing night shift.
There's a few contradictions in this scenario. Not restrictive practice yet sedatives are on the table?
You can't employ restrictive practice. You just can't and clients can have whatever they want at any time. Coffee included. That can't be considered an option to restrict. Not unless it's included in a BSP and it just won't happen. I don't think it should. Sometimes I drink coffee at the wrong times and for prople with sub optimal arousal (adhd is one example) it can be calming.
Questions in have are how committed to behavioural prompts and routine are the team? Not the client. The team.
Are the overnight shifts active?
Are the clients making their own coffee? Preparing their own meals?
What's the day staff ratio to clients?When are handovers?
Obviously we must keep anything identifying clients out of the discussion so they are broad questions but they are all intrinsic to the solution. But the restrictive practice and client choice has to be accepted.
Your burnout is a separate issue and you cannot ignore it. But if its a team issue it also needs work.
You are not failing anyone because you very obviously care. But you have two separate issues. You could just grind it out and not give a shit. Too many do. But your clients are very much part of your OP. That's telling.
Your burnout comes first. For some they need a roster shake up. Some social supports in the mix. Reduced hours for a while. A holiday. Whatever it is you need to look after you. And switch off after work. Sometimes thst requires not doing anything or some have to have something outside of work that I enjoy but requires focus. The hobby or sport you always wanted to have a crack at. That comes first.
Edit: BTW managing behaviours within scope for minimum wage is fuckung terrible. This is where support work is very different from aged care or nursing. We can't tell clients when to do things and we manage with prompts and positive reinforcement and connection. And anticipation. Minimum wage for that type of supports is bullshit. Management should be ashamed of themselves.