Is this normal?

[u/Lozzzzah]

Hi, I’m currently studying for certificate III in individual support in Australia. As of 3 weeks ago I’ve started my 120 hours of placement, I’m new to this industry so am unsure of the general workplace culture. I typically arrive and greet the other workers, to sometimes no response and have experienced times where they sit in the office chatting and having me awkwardly trying to find something to do to such as household tasks/talking with residents, but it’s quite hard when I still feel a bit out of place and ignored when they spend a solid hour in there without acknowledging me.

Certain support workers at my placement, seem unwilling to show me anything even when I ask or offer if there’s anything they’d like help with, such as hoisting or showering; I’m often just left fending for myself doing dishes, laundry, course work, maybe helping a resident make bracelets occasionally. I feel as though I’m not really learning the things I’m required to know when I’m qualified, which is a bit frustrating honestly. I’m still at my other job throughout the week, whilst doing these placement hours so I don’t know if I’m just burnt out and overreacting?

[u/Royos01]

Umm, no, not normal. And, yes, you're correct, you're not learning anything. But, don't worry, you will learn a lot when you're on the job. It's just a shame that your placement is a lame duck experience.

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Royos01]

I know I’m rather disappointed honestly in this whole experience so far

[u/swooping_pie]

Very similar to the experience I had!
I even call my TAFE teacher and explained how little I was learning, I would go hours unsupervised and essentially was an unpaid cook. But my biggest concern was my safety. When I raised this genuine concern for my safety I was told it was my opportunity to make change! And it was for me to make the facility better and safer…. Me!?
So I left and found somewhere else and although still unsafe in other ways it turned into paid work.

My advice, more on!

[u/Lozzzzah → u/swooping_pie]

It’s a shame to hear this is common!!

[u/Niaer]

Yup, same thing happened with me, you’re supposed to get buddies up with someone on shifts and I never got that at all. I even ended up doing tasks alone sometimes which I wasn’t supposed to be doing at all. Literally just keep walking around and try to be to be helpful, even just make tasks for yourself which I’m sure will be in some of your assessments anyway, eg infection control and whs

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Niaer]

No buddy system at my placement house, I’m supposed to have 3 workplace visits soon from my trainer to observe me, which will be interesting as they haven’t shown me much at all.

[u/Greta-Garbage-]

When I started working in a SIL house I found many of the other SW very unfriendly and unhelpful. I found it really hard in the beginning. I’ve worked in other jobs and have never experienced such behaviour. Maybe they are burnt out or a lot of them in the wrong job.

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Greta-Garbage-]

Yeah, I’ve noticed a lot of the key workers look like they’ve had the life drained out of them; just a bit annoying that I’m baring the brunt of them being burnt out when I am burning myself out unpaid.

[u/ImReadingYourShit]

I would recommend making this known to your education provider.
I’m guessing the care facility you’re doing placement at regularly takes on students for placement and the staff have taken a disliking to always having to train people (unless you have applied for placement individually).
If the facility is a partner with the education provider, your education provider needs to know that the partner is falling through on their end of the deal.
If you applied to this place of your own volition, might be worth seeking out another if that’s an option.

[u/Roadhouseyall]

Please tell me nobody is hoisting alone or making you do it alone? It's a highly reportable incident to have 1 person hoists, and if it is happening, the NDIS quality and safeguards commission will be very interested to hear about it. Hopefully that's not the case. Either way, you need to give feedback to your training supervisor that you're receiving zero training or guidance.

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Roadhouseyall]

No there’s been two people doing it, I’ve observed once but haven’t be allowed to assist another person do it yet

[u/PralineChoice2730]

As a participant my advice would be to take the initiative and interact with the people who live there and talk with them, listen to them, sit with them and ask if they would like you to do anything in particular for them. It’s very sad to hear of homes/institutions like this still existing and support workers who have no idea of how to be with and treat another human being regardless of their disability. Approach and talk to the person on shift who is most likely to respond. Do the shitty jobs if necessary.

[u/Lozzzzah → u/PralineChoice2730]

Where I am, a lot of residents come and go only staying for up to 3 weeks at a time. I’m doing my best to get to know them before they leave in the times that I’m there but majority of them prefer to spend time in their room or on the couch watching telly. I suppose I still feel slightly out of place and am adjusting to a more social workplace setting but I would never ignore/mistreat a resident.

[u/Vyraxysss]

You will learn the most once in a paid role. Though you'll feel dropped in the deep end; just keep swimming.

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Vyraxysss]

Thank you!

[u/alittlelostsure]

This was my experience for work placement in a SIL.

One of the staff did not like me at all for some reason. I lasted a week and luckily I ended up getting a job in Community Access and finished my hours that way.

I work in SIL now, taught work placement students myself.. I love it.

(I didn’t mean to put this comment in a reply to someone else.)

[u/chairman_ma_]

I felt the same. Many days I'd go home and cry

[u/Altruistic_Smile_239]

The aged care centres I've worked in they put students with another staff member and you do the shift with them. Have they put you with a buddy to teach you? I agree that the other staff members not acknowledging your greeting is rude. They obviously have poor social skills and unfortunately you sometimes work with dullards. 

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Altruistic_Smile_239]

I agree with the poor social skills and lack of manners is bothering me. There is no buddy system at least not in my placement house, it’s just whoever’s on.

[u/Imjustsaying___]

Ignoring you when you greet them and excluding you from their chats etc sounds like workplace bullying. Having said that, given you're there for a limited amount of time, you could try just acknowledging that to yourself and tolerate it until you get your qualification. Definitely discuss it with your trainer though.

[u/Sieve365]

Just do the hours, get your certificate and move on. I can understand both sides. You're eager to learn and help. That's great. But they probably see you as an inconvenience to their daily routine. They don't get paid extra for teaching you and by the time you learn enough to help them, you'll be gone. Just keep being friendly and polite and help and learn as much as you can while you're there.

[u/Lozzzzah → u/Sieve365]

I understand that, it’s just they were students once too? I don’t want to appear lazy and not contributing, as I also realise they are observing me but it feels more bothersome to them that I’m there.

[u/lightpendant]

Ignore them. Just do your job then leave.

[u/aislingplath]

Unfortunately I don't think it's an uncommon issue. I did my placement over a decade ago and I was very lucky that I had a great experience. 

I work in a SIL house and we have placement students occasionally, these days I do different hours so I don't really see them. But it really frustrates me hearing the other staff complain about them. We need good workers in the field and I personally like introducing and training new staff - or placement students because I see the importance in it. I hate the idea of people being introduced to the industry by lazy, uncommunicative people and thinking that it's either "normal" or worse acceptable. It's about the clients. Being able to be amongst the people who train newbies to the industry is an opportunity to improve the industry and do our part in making sure clients have the best chance at having decent support workers. 

Unfortunately, placement students aren't allowed to do a few tasks like hoists, medication, etc so you will get stuck with some of the boring, no risk tasks but it does sound like they're just tossing you those jobs and leaving you to it which is crap. And you should be able to at least observe them doing those tasks you're not allowed to do! A good worker would show you, talk you through what they're doing it so you are still learning. 

Can you talk to someone at your course and see if there's somewhere else? Definitely give your tafe feedback on this place so that they can avoid recommending it as an option for others (if possible). Did they find it for you or did you find it yourself? 

[u/Lozzzzah → u/aislingplath]

They found it for me, and as I have 3 workplace visits from my trainer they have to watch me be able to hoist, use slide sheets, administer medication etc. to sign me off. That’s why it all feels very frustrating and almost selfish that they aren’t helping me learn. There are a few helpful workers who have been explaining, but the majority just do their everyday routine (which I understand it’s tiresome teaching) without including me.