GUNDERSON- this sounds like a fascinating job. Can you say a little more about what it's like?
Hi Gunderson. Nice to meet you.
There is a segment of the population which are not just criminally insane (old term), but also diagnosed as developmentally disabled. The official diagnosis is mental retardation. This makes this group eligible for some additional services. They come off as schizophrenic, bi-polar to most, but it's far worse. They are never really in reality due to the retardation. This allows them to do things not necessarily without a conscious, but without the proper understanding of consequences. The magnitude eludes them. They hardly ever, if at all, learn from experience. It might not be evident at first but the retardation is there. Hence why they are more dangerous. Because they imagine danger where it is nonexistent then act on it hurting innocent people.
I work for a Vendor of the State. It's a private company of around 100 employees.
There are 3 corporate offices in the State
I oversee only 3 people & their 24 hr staff.
Actually one has reduced her staff by 4 hrs a day,
due to new support from her family after I trained them.
Each individual lives in subsidized housing
Since all had 24 hr staff already, spending the night wasn't part of the supervisor duties
unless their staff was absent and we had no one to fill in
Thus I needed to fill in as staff.
Then get a supervisor to back up the other clients
Both clients had emergencies ...yet called me at this clients home
Instead of contacting the other supervisors.
Being within 5 minutes n the same apt complex made all feel more secure
So the phone call was all they needed
"fires" were put out quickly.
70-80% of their criminal behavior was regularly subdued during my shift
The most expedient use of time wasn't a supervisor drive over
But be nearby, in another clients home,
While another supervisor was truly available but has never been called (except by cops)
By the time you'd drive down
Cops would already be on the scene because it escalated quickly
The anxiety and panic can be curbed by meds but not 100%
I am at one of the clients homes at all times
They each live by themselves, in their own apartment with staff
I have a good relationship with all of them.
The lady I am with most of the shift
stole a pickup and drove it into a shopping mall killing 3 people
She spent most of her life in and out of jail, homeless, or in mental institutions
We spend a few hours watching a Christian movie or reading the bible each shift
She has a strong faith
I get paperwork done later at night between 10-midnight
Each shift, I stop off at the homes counting their lockbox, ensuring bills are paid, house is fairly clean, logs are completed, handle medications, talk to clients about their staff, their day, goals, etc.
She goes to bed at 10:30- 11pm
Won't wake me up until around 7am.
Sometimes I sleep better here than at home
Nice comfy bed, desk, fridge, private bath w/shower.
So there are some very good aspects to the job
yet the pay isn't one of them
.