Hi all just looking for some advice really, I work in a supported living environment all males and cover a lot of 24 hr shifts and overnight shifts. According to my manager there isn’t a designated toilet for the staff (female staff also) and they state there doesn’t have to be, also when some customers hygiene is poor and they use all seating within the house, staff have nowhere to sit and rest/eat without having to sit in the same unhygienic areas as manager again states “it’s their home and you have no right to a clean chair, room or toilet” . Is this correct if yes please could someone explain why and if no please could seomeone guide me in the right direction for the proper rights for employees. Thank you
It is their home - why is it so dirty ? Personally a pair of gloves and cleaning material should be available . Not in supported living I have lived with many males and females in shared housing at university etc . The place was spotless mostly if we kept it so . My concern is that the residents are in this unhygienic home - has it been inspected.
As a Supported Living service it may not be inspected - the care provider would be inspected at their office. There is absolutely no requirement for separate toilets and I would question why you would not use the same facilities as the people whose home it is - what does this say about how you value them? I agree with the other responder regarding hygiene - there is a duty of care to support people to be hygienic and to have a clean home.
I also agree with Ady. My severely disabled son lives in Supported Living. The people that live in supported living are the tenants of their accommodation and so therefore protected by the provider who provides the care it is therefore the support workers that have to keep the property clean and the people in it cared for. This can be anything from a few hours care a day to 24 hour one-to-one care.They are also under CQC who do inspect the properties. It’s been a little lax this last few years due to the pandemic. They seem to be coming around now and so I think they should be contacted. Our Support workers keep the bungalow lovely and clean and they share the facilities including eating with their clients and supporting them with cooking and cleaning, toilet facilities,shopping and going to activities.
CQC can inspect but I once managed 70 ser ices under one office so they would only inspect a few. Also, if the person does not want to let the inspector in there is no right of entry. Otherwise, yes, it does sound as though the service in question could be brought to CQCs attention. The other avenue is to talk with the commissioners who could also .o it or quality and outcomes.
Care/support environments shouldn’t have separate staff toilets, if it isn’t clean enough for staff, it isn’t clean enough for the people who are supported.
Sorry, I am still struggling here - surely you are kit saying that you need separate toilets so that you can justify leaving tenants’ toilets dirty?
I have no idea how you are coming to that conclusion at all. I came on here for genuine advice, I am seeking advice on my actual role as a support worker and my rights as an employee and a human being as I respect the rights and needs of the individuals that I provide support for, but don’t seem to be receiving any useful guidance from my manager and clearly not from others who I assumed would give genuine responses. I am a support worker who always provides the best quality care for my clients, respecting them, their needs and their choices and I treat them with equality and inclusivity. No one has the right to assume incorrectly about myself all because I am asking for genuine helpful advice as I can’t seem to find it.