Recruiting

Circle Back to 2024

So, I thought I should circle back to part of why 2024 was such a shit show. I started the year with a really good support coordinator. I thought no issues on the horizon so why not bring in a third carer agency to take the pressure off one of my other two, so I get some more variety with carers.

Since the start of Covid I was getting one carer for four shifts per week which I worked out quickly was three too many.

Having carers over the year you work out over time and pretty quickly who you mesh well with, who you can rely on and who you can be flexible, because sometimes it is me and my expectations. Can I work around different personalities, or should I not need too? When I asked if I could have less of this carer, I was told it was her or no one. I was also told they were recruiting. The number of times, I’ve been told they are recruiting in the last fifteen plus years, if I had a dollar for every time I’ve been told that I would be living in a house not an apartment.

Alas, my support coordinator No.1 for 2024, set me up with a new agency, we did the three-way zoom intro meet and greet thing. (Never done one of those before) Then I went to the countryside for about four days to help clear out my father’s house in late January. WHEN I RETURNED TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON THE NEW CARER, I WAS TOLD SHE HAD TAKEN EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE! Then, I was told they had a lack of carers in my area and would keep me on the books. You bet I was told they were recruiting in my area.

Just a FYI. It’s now a year later and I’ve not heard from them again. So, I digress, my really good support coordinator was promoted to Team Leader. It is the only progression for that position in a company, so I think it was my third in about five years I’d lost my Support Coordinator to being Team Leader. Although they always moved on, I gather soon after.

AND YES, IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME I’D BEEN TOLD THEY WERE RECRUITING MORE SUPPORT COORDINATORS ID HAVE A GOOD HANDFUL OF GOLD COINS.

The new support coordinator, in July we were already discussing and planning a request for a review of my NDIS funds.

Always Recruiting for My People

You know those moments when Crazy Cat Ladies just can’t help themselves? I’m sorry in advance.

I was recently in an apartment standing in the bedroom, my carer measuring an area that was quickly deemed too small for my bed. The real estate guy asking why I need such a big bed? My Dad made my bed when I was about twenty-four and I’m not giving it up. Even more so because he’s gone, so he can’t make me anything else. I mentioned as much but four days later he was showing us another apartment and I’d thought of a better response, telling him, “It’s for all my future cats!”

Yes! C’mon! If I didn’t just nail crazy cat lady, I don’t know what will. He asked how many I have? Just one, so far.

You know those days you feel people you interact with will never forget you? I mean for good reasons; I like more of those please.

I’m hoping this young guy will help me lock in my forever home and if he can work for me as much as he will work for the seller, he’s got pudding coming his way. Pudding is not how I recruit my people, but it never hurts. Is that a bribe?