Job Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Intakes - when the client arrives the Detox Worker takes down
all the information. ie. past history, medical history, referral
information, family member that brought them in, came on their
own or were court ordered. Next. What are they using? How much?
Symptoms?. Other medications prescribed? The program of
education, counselling and group participation is explained and
even though it is a voluntary unit their participation is
required. Now a drug search is done and personal effects are
locked up. If they are able to shower great, then the Detox
Worker takes them down to see the Nurse and then gets them
settled in a room and to bed.
Charting -a continual duty on each client and all charting is
handwritten by the Unit Doctor, Nurses and Detox Workers. Other
duties include: liasoning with Social Services, Police,
Probations, Treatment Centers and programs, Transition Houses or
the Hostel if needed. Referrals are done for clients who want to
continue in their recovery when they leave the unit.
Chores - laundry, making beds, getting lunch and supper from the
hospital and preparing breakfast and night snack. Keeping the
kitchen, lounge, office, smoking areas, laundry room and
bathrooms clean.
Day shift - Many hours on the phone, as well as putting on
educational videos twice a day and leading a group afterwards.
We did as much ??one on one?? as we could so that the client was
able to set goals and put plans into place upon discharge.
Discharge paperwork is required to be completed and filed.
Night shifts - bed checks were done every half an hour as well
as organizing the units supplies, stocking shelves, ordering
supplies and hours of cleaning. Detox Workers worked with the
Nurses calling the paramedics. and helping out during seizures
and other emergencies.
Time Management & Multi-tasking ?? because of the crisis aspect
of the unit it is difficult to be accurate on the amount of time
spent each day and week on specific responsibilities. We had
very ill clients who at times needed to be taken over to
emergency and at times we had violent clients who needed to be
taken by the police to cells overnight. Also all the clients
were at different stages of their withdrawal so the Detox worker
worked with them on a need related basis. As there was not
enough staff and too many clients when I worked there the shifts
flew by and all the tasks set for the day were not always
completed. Simple tasks like getting everyone up for breakfast
and then down to the Doctor for their morning medications could
be very time consuming depending on your morning charting,
kitchen duties, phone calls, discharges, and staff changeover.
We did (12hour shifts)-8 am to 8 pm and 8pm to 8am.
|
Job Requirements
I took the Social Services Program, two years of University
courses at my local College and then I went on to get my
Bachelor of Social Work through correspondence. The 2 year
program was a 5 day a week commitment with four day classes and
1 night class every day. Homework assignments were ongoing and
papers to write and rewrite with lots of research included.
To get into the program there was a panel interview and an essay
required .I had already been working in the field for many
years, first as a Transition house worker then as a Counsellor
with sexually abused women so I was familiar with some of the
material being taught.
The courses included Social Services, Disabilities (physical and
mental), Child Development English, Sociology, Psychology,
Family Structure, Alcohol and Drug, Youth and more. (I now have
a head injury due to a car accident and seizures so my memory
isn't top drawer) and I can't remember the rest of the courses.
Practicums were 3 months and we set these up ourselves by
researching agencies and interviews. During practicum you were
graded by your agency and wrote a paper for your class. What
work you accomplished and how effective you were with your
chosen agency was very important in the grade you received.
The expectations of the 2 year program were class attendance,
papers in on time, tons of research and class participation.
The classes were taught by an assortment of different teachers
and professors some better than others .I found that at the time
I was taking these courses that some professors were not
professional i.e.: papers were expected to be in on time but
exceptions were made for certain students and this was unfair to
the rest of the class.
The classes were large and some of the research material was
limited so this was a problem.
The papers were graded fairly. Because of our course material
many papers were expected to be of your own personal experiences
which could be painful and difficult to do. If I had not had
some of my own personal growth beforehand, it would have caused
me to quit .When you go back to school as a mature student and a
single mother the challenges you face are intense, so the
courses being so personal was difficult.
The wonderful aspect about the Social Services program is that
upon completion there are many options and different directions
in which to go.
|
Uppers
I think the best part of the job for me was being able to apply all I had
learned and be confident, competent and successful at making a difference in my
client's lives.
I was able to gain the trust and respect of my clients by my no nonsense and
caring approach.
Strange as it might seem a sense of humor will get you through really rough days
and the clients liked to laugh at themselves and at times laugh with you.
If you are an accepting person with a non-judgmental attitude you could be right
for this job.
|
Downers
The hardest part of the job is all the goodbyes - so many deaths
due to alcoholism and drug overdoses. Also the relapses were
hard when you saw someone you cared for and worked hard with
gain some ground only to have to start over again.
|
Lifestyle
This is a growing field and until supervised home Detoxes
becomes available it will continue to grow.
Advice: This profession tugs at your emotional heart strings so
be prepared to grow as you help others to gain steps in their
own recovery.
|
Compensation
It was a few years ago now that I worked there, but the salary
was good to start and just kept getting better. It helped that
we were a union job protected by the HEU. I started at around
$19.00 a hour and by the time I left my wage were around $26.00.
We had 1 bonus and holiday pay. Our benefits included things
like all immunizations and bi-weekly draws. We could sign up for
superanuation but to recieve it upon departure was difficult.
|
Advice to Jobseekers
This is a growing field and until supervised home Detoxes
becomes available it will continue to grow.
Advice: This profession tugs at your emotional heart strings so
be prepared to grow as you help others to gain steps in their
own recovery.
|
|
