Bob Stevens
How could I reasonably ask for more?
That’s the question I posed in my last post, where I cited the rewards I receive as a direct care worker. Actually, it isn’t a very good question because one could respond “move your lips.” Instead, I meant to ask “WHAT could I reasonably ask for?”
My answer? Quality care for all who need it.
Quality care requires quality caregivers and there aren’t enough to go around. Conversely, there are too many direct care workers who should be doing something else. We need to recruit and retain people who are best suited for the demands of direct care work, but this is a difficult task given the negativism conveyed by the DCW community.
Internal to the DCW community, there is an imbalance weighted toward the negatives when workers express their feelings about their jobs and their lives. Words and actions frequently indicate that being a direct care worker is one of the most miserable and sacrificial jobs one could have, when in fact, it can be one of the most rewarding.
External to the DCW community, we are sometimes perceived to be uneducated, unreliable and unprofessional…and like it or not, sometimes they are right. There is no question in anyone’s mind that there are many direct care workers who really care, enjoy what they do, and perform in an outstanding, reliable and professional manner. However, there some direct care workers doing what they do because it gives them the highest compensation possible for their education and skill level.
Direct care workers shouldn’t expect to achieve satisfactory wages, benefits, training, respect or anything else until we seize the initiative with two basic actions. First, those of us who truly believe in what we do need to portray ourselves, our jobs, and our lives in a more positive light, a light that shines bright. We deserve it. The DCW community deserves it. Second, those of us who don’t believe in what we do or, for whatever reason, wish there was something better, need to find a position or a vocation for which we are better suited.
I was taught in more than one management class that if I have a problem, I’m the first one I should look to for a solution. Accordingly, before we go asking others to meet our needs, we as the DCW community need to first ask if we have done everything we can do ourselves.
As I reported in my last post, my experiences as a direct care worker have been very positive. I wish the same for all direct care workers and I believe it can happen. So my next postings will address the issues we face and offer solutions for each. Meanwhile, be positive, get your co-workers to be positive, and offer solutions of your own. I have some, but maybe yours are better. Until next time…
Very well said Bob. There are many DCW’s who love their jobs and deserve to have our “lights shine bright” and we certainly need to portray ourselves as professionally as possible. Many times even though we do this we still are not seen as professionals but I truly believe that this will all change in the near future. I know many DCW’s who are only here because of the compensation they receive and not because they have a genuine love for this work. To them I also say find where your passions lie and move on. Yes we need to look to ourselves for solutions to problems and not wait for someone else to solve them.
I agree wholeheartedly that there is too much negativity among direct care workers. Unfortunately there are several reasons for this which are unavoidable considering the current systems that many States have adopted to deal with staffing individuals with special needs. Some states have done very well in dealing with these issues such as the ones that have made direct care workers State Government employees with great benefits and competitive compensation packages. Other States lag behind retaining the same old antiquated systems that use a direct care company that acts as a middle-man in providing services to said population. The real issue is one of image and respectability. Clients deserve the best care available and the most qualified individuals to provide it. The largest barrier to providing this level of quality care is a systemic one.
Having worked “direct care” for over 6 years and for several different agencies, I can say with some level of authority that States who use private companies as providers are missing the mark. It is a shame that the people who have the most influence and are most responsible for the quality of a client’s life are the least trained and often undercompensated. Very few “direct care” workers take pride in what they do and have a sense of it being a career. It is difficult to take pride in a job that is thankless and pays little more than the minimum wage. Providers are not usually concerned with the quality of their employees nearly as much as they are concerned with them being able to pass a background check and show up for their scheduled shifts. How could they be expected to hire the best possible people for the job and retain them while still turning a profit? It isn’t possible for most of them. But, when direct care workers are employees of the State, they can be held to a much higher standard. The State can set minimum standards of education and experience for “direct care” workers. Workers can be compensated fairly and offered all of the benefits that other State workers enjoy. This provides a sense of “career” to the employee and allows them to take great pride in what they do. That is how you provide clients with the best possible care.