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Working with challenging adolescents can at times be extremely stressful, with this in mind Southern Adolescent Care Services offer an array of different support mechanisms. Formal supervision, staff meetings, and extensive training are all part of this process, counselling is also available in certain circumstances. However, probably the most important aspect is the continuous informal guidance and assistance available from colleagues and senior staff.
Fortnightly supervision with your team leader or line manager is the ideal forum to discuss any issues you may have. These can include strategies for working with residents, the continual intellectual and ethical dilemmas the role presents you with, as well as areas such as training and working relationships with colleagues. Supervision is also an opportunity to voice personal feelings about how the work is affecting you or any other difficulties. Although supervision is given every two weeks, staff can request an extra session at any time.
Attendance at staff meetings is a compulsory and extremely beneficial element of the job. It is the only occasion when the entire staff team are together and is a chance to share experiences and to develop approaches to problems as a group. Consistency is a vital part of caring for young people and knowing that your colleagues are “singing from the same hymn sheet” gives you confidence. It also helps to prevent individual staff from being targeted by young people.
Training with Southern Adolescent Care Services is a comprehensive and on going process. From the initial induction and foundation programmes through to therapeutic and counselling skills, and boundaries and ethics training, plus the option to take an NVQ3 in Health and Social Care and much else. A high level of knowledge and understanding will increase your confidence as well as your ability to cope with the wide variety of the situations the work will present you with. Of course, you can always ask for additional training and guidance in any area you wish to develop.
On a day to day basis staff depend on the support of each other and good team work is essential, both during stressful incidents and afterwards. When a volatile young person is directing their anger at you, just the presence of a colleague nearby can make all the difference. The aftermath of difficult incidents can involve late nights and substantial amounts of paperwork, at these times the good humour and empathy of other staff can help greatly. At any time of day or night there is always a senior member of staff on call and ready to give you advice and if necessary come to the home and help you. Southern Adolescent Care Services operate an “open door” policy, every single member of staff’s telephone numbers are contained in the staff handbook and individuals are welcome to discuss matters with all colleagues and management regardless of their seniority.
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