Had a very busy and productive day at work today - mostly because I wasn't trapped behind my desk doing the million and one admin tasks that social workers are expected to fit in amongst the real work we have to do with people.
Today I was out and about. A welcome relief despite the god-awful weather!
My last visit of the day was one to remember.
I have mentioned this client on my blog before. His Mum died last year and he will have to move from the home he's lived in for most of his life to a residential care home. Its going to be a difficult transition for him to make and naturally he is scared about it.
This client is very nocturnal - his days and nights had been actively switched by his carers so that it was easier for them to manage him - especially when he was asleep for most of the day. Getting him up before midday is something of an impossible task.
This client has traditionally taken very little interest in services - and never made any attempt to contact social work at all in the last 45 years!
Yesterday a really cool thing happened. This client asked his carer to phone me and ask if I would take him out to get breakfast.
This may not seem like such a big deal to most of you - but believe me - this is something that I never thought would ever happen with this client. For him to want to contact anyone is nothing short of amazing. Add to that the fact that he has been housebound for the best part of 25 years and it is even more amazing that he contacted in order to arrange to go out!
So I hastily rearranged my schedule and this afternoon I picked him up from his house, along with the agency carer, and we all trundled off to a local cafe. No big deal for most of us - but for this client - it was a huge adventure.
I don't think I have ever seen such a massive smile on anyone's face. It made all the crap issues at work worthwhile.
OK - now I remember why I DO like my job!
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