Sending out an SMS

I have been supporting a client for the past month and a half exclusively by text message.  Has anyone else done this sort of thing?  Usually we would discharge a client if we went more than 30 days or so without face to face contact, but in this case the client is at a high risk for suicide, so we wanted to try and stay connected any way we could.

And it seems to be paying off.  He finally consented yesterday to go to a hospital - not just any hospital mind you, but one hospital in particular, in the next city.  If we could send him in a taxi (not something we normally do) and if I could guarantee that they would admit him, and guarantee they would be "better" than the other hospitals in our area.  I told him no way I could do that, but I did get approval to send the taxi.

I'm glad I did.  The admitting psychiatrist actually called me this morning to get some history and let me know my client would be admitted.  This is unprecedented!  Last time I sent out the local Mobile Crisis team and they took him to our local hospital, they had discharged him before I even got back to work in the morning!  I know there are lots of reasons this may have happened, but it's still very frustrating and also compromised my therapeutic relationship with the client.  It's so rare that hospitals follow up with us in this way.  The psych even stated that he could see this client needs long term care more than a hospital stay, but was willing to admit him in hopes that we can facilitate that while he's in.

I love when things work out this way.  It remains to be seen of course what will come next with this client, but so far so good.  And after I worried that my texts were just floating in the abyss, probably not affecting him at all.  It's still not my favourite way to practice, but just goes to show any connection is better than no connection.

What a great start to my long weekend, happy summer everyone!

Top Fashion Prize

for the day goes to the client who came in wearing the bright yellow t-shirt that reads

I'M WELL ADJUSTED

x10 000 000 points!

A New Record!

Eight out of eight intakes showed up this week!  True, we had to cancel one due to an interpreter failing to show, but this is still a record for me.

Anyone in social services is bound to know that client's not showing for scheduled appointments is one of the most long-standing problems in our work.  If we don't make our numbers, programs may lose funding or we may not get paid.  It also means delays in clients getting the help they may need.

What a great way to go into the weekend!

Updates

I really do love getting updates about my old clients.  Especially when it is good news - like hearing that they finally got a subsidized apartment we were waiting for/fighting for for the past 2 years! (she was waiting 10 years for housing, I was only around for the last 2)  Or got promoted to a full-time position at work, when last I saw them they were considering quitting the part-time position, as they were sure the employer was unimpressed with them.

Keep the good news coming!

Eye of the Hurricane

For the first time in over 5 years, I have no clients.  I have officially discharged everyone that was on my old case list for my old job, and am waiting to be assigned the clients for my new job.  It feels kind of...weird?  I have work to keep me busy, but in the meantime there are few appointments to attend, no follow ups to arrange, and no messages on my voicemail (that part I really like).  I'm trying to take advantage of this time to get myself ready for whatever comes next.

Maybe her social worker

suggested she write a letter to "show her feelings"  

Original photo at Jeff Simmermon's photostream

I first saw this on And I Am Not Lying

New Year, New Job

...except it's my old job.  Yep, I'm going back to intake!

I'm looking  forward to seeing new faces on a regular basis.  Also, my case load will be shifting to short term supports instead of long term, so I will be leaving all of my current clients.  I'm not looking forward to that part so much.  Telling client's you are leaving them is never easy, and some of these folks I have worked with for 4+ years.

Wish me luck.

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Social Work Edition

Like absolutely everyone else, those of us in social work often find the days leading up to Christmas to be particularly hectic.  It can be a hard time of year for many of our clients, so they may need additional support.  There are many charitable goings-on that we may be involved in, and most of us hope to get a couple days off with our own families.

Here's a little ditty to give you an idea of what the holiday rush looks like for us.  Feel free to sing along!  (I'm not typing out the verses over and over, you all know how it goes!)

Twelve grocery gift cards

Eleven overdue assessments  

Ten client Christmas parties  

Nine home visits 

Eight food hamper deliveries  

Seven flu shot clinics    

Six church hall turkey dinners  

Five volunteers!!!!!    (we love our volunteers)

Four donated toy drives     

Three office potlucks  

Two emergency room visits    

And one last minute crisis call!

  

I did it!

Today is November 1.  And I got all my October contacts entered!*  On time!  Aaaaand---I made my numbers for the month!  The last time these two things BOTH happened?  I have no idea.  But I can tell you that it's been a while.  So Imma celebrate and high five myself.

*yeah, so the notes that belong to those contacts haven't all been written and entered yet, but I'm working on it.  At least they'll get counted.  This will not spoil my celebration!

The Greatest Day

Client quote of the day for sure:

Client: It's the greatest day of my life!  I can't hear anything anymore!
Me: What? You can't hear?
Client: I can't hear the voices anymore, they're gone!

What it's worth, will it work?

Sometimes (often) we feel we just can't do as much as we'd like for clients.

One client of mine was facing particularly difficult financial straits this month for reasons outside of her control.  I offered to provide some grocery gift cards to help bridge the gap.  I was only able to get a $25 card, and felt a little sheepish giving it to her - I mean, you have a $0 bank account balance and need to eat for a whole month - how far is $25 bucks gonna go?  When we met again she told me she really appreciated my help and the card.  The day she went to the grocery store with it they had a "dollar sale".  How perfect!

Sometimes we worry that the situations our clients are facing are too difficult, and we worry about the barriers they face.

I helped this same client make a call for emergency rent bank help.  We were both surprised to find out how long it would take to complete the assessment and get help approved and processed.  She let them know the homeless deadline she was facing and they actually called her back really quickly.  She got in for an interview and to receive her money.  She called me several times that day distraught because it was a very dehumanizing experience for her.  But she got the money.  Got it to the landlord and secured new housing.

The next day the workers who called her back so quickly and processed her request went on strike.  If someone had not deigned to give her priority, what would have happened?  Sometimes when we think we face the impossible, the improbable happens.

When we work hard, sometimes it just might work out.

Field Trip!

It's a very frosty morning out, but I'm still looking forward to going with a group of clients to the farm today.  Now if I can just get AM to stop making jokes about sending me to the "funny farm"!

System Shock

The thing that never happens HAPPENED. The system saved the day!

Allow me to explain.

My client is on long-term disability from his job due to his mental illness. His wife works full-time at a fast food restaurant. They have had subsidized daycare for their 6 year old daughter for the past two years.

They received notice recently that their subsidy would end as of September, as their daughter will begin attending full day school. They asked me to call Children’s Services to advocate keeping the subsidy, as they can’t afford the full rates. Children’s Services explained to me that once a child is past the preschool age, and in full day school it is presumed that they do not require the same level of care, and the parent should be able to manage this. Apparently, this is policy. She said she had never heard of any exceptions being made. I kinda see their point, but have these people never heard of P.D. days? Winter and spring break? Summer vacation???? There are many days when the little one will not be in school.

My client is doing well in his recovery, but is not yet able to take care of his daughter by himself for extended periods. He has appointments with various therapists, doctors, clinics pretty much daily, and has difficulty staying awake for long periods of time and handling stressful situations.

So today, 3 days before they are to be cut off the Children’s Services worker calls me back. Apparently the department has just finished approving a new policy which states that approved disability leaves will continue to qualify for supports beyond preschool age, and this already applies to this family.

Hallelujah! We must have saved up some good karma or something. I was all set to do battle with the higher-ups if need be, but they pre-empted me! Any of you readers who work in or receive social services will know just how rare an event this is indeed.

Not bad for a Monday morning.

Vacation Countdown

20 notes
3 phone calls
2 client visits
2 assessments
1 consult
And 7.5 hours are all that stand between me and a glorious 5 day weekend!

Happy Summer Solstice!

One of my favourite days of the year! We Canadians tend to get particularly excited about the arrival of summer.  I try to convince as many clients as possible to meet me outside and sell them on the fact that the light exposure is good for their mental health.  Not to mention we should soak up some vitamin D when we get the chance!

Admittedly, the nice weather around here has kept me away from the computer and my dear little blog of late, but I haven't forgotten completely.  New posts on the horizon...
Hope you all get out today and enjoy some sunshine! 

Important Things My Work Has Taught Me

#1 - How to say "I don't know".  No point pretending you are an expert when you are not.

The Snow Day that Wasn't

If your boss sends out an email on Tuesday warning of an oncoming snow storm and advising that if the schools are closed the office will be too, that should be taken as a definite sign that the office will be open on Wednesday. The warning email officially “jinx’s” the chance of a snow day.

Oh, it snowed alright. All night too. Just not quite enough to close things down. More than enough however to turn a 25 minute commute into a 75 minute heart attack.

On a happier (personal) note, my niece was born last night! Kiddo was excited because it was the day she picked in the baby poll. Apparently the whole family is doing well, and hopefully the roads will be cleared enough for us to go meet her tonight!

No more sleeps

Today is my last day of work before I take some much needed vacation time. It's been a busy week (as usual) and I've tried to ensure that I would have everything in order before I went away, as I didn't want to spend today rushing to finish. I had a nice, quiet office day planned, with only one in office intake, and a supervision meeting in the afternoon. So I admit it: when I walked in this morning and saw my phone flashing with a voicemail message, I rolled my eyes. My brain wondered what kind of emergency or last minute mini-crisis was going to disrupt my day...

Turns out, it was just a client calling to say "Merry Christmas!"

I can't believe I made it to...

Seriously.  I really didn't know if I would stick to it with this blog long enough, but I'm glad I have.  I still find it cathartic and enjoyable to post into the great nether-world of the web my daily notions and mutterings to an audience of whomever happens to stumble across it.  That's good enough for me! 

I thought that to mark this special occasion, some good news was in order.  Edmond Place in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto will be having an open house this week.  This remarkable housing project was completed in only three years due to community collaboration and support from the municipal government.  The project is named for Edmond Yu, a man with paranoid schizophrenia who lived in the building when it was a derelict rooming house in the 1990's.  He was evicted, and was later shot and killed by police when he caused a disturbance on a city bus.  The building suffered a fire in 1998 leaving many more homeless. 

I sincerly believe that supporting people with mental illness to stay safely housed can help to avoid such tragedies.  Of course there are other benefits as well - Saving money to the health care system, safer neighbourhoods, community and dignity for the people living there.

I look forward to seeing more projects like this.

Whoa, Stop the Presses!

Or maybe "hold the phone!" would be a better choice of phrase, as the presses do seem to be working which is precisely the point of this post.

Ah, maybe I should just get to said point.

I faxed some consent to release information forms out today in hopes of getting some hospital records for a file before I present it on Wednesday, knowing full well I'll be extremely lucky to see them before the end of the week.

But lo and behold, one hospital faxed the records to us within the hour! Within the hour!

I have never seen this before. I was so excited I wanted to tell somebody, and since my partner-in-crime is on vacation I went to make my supervisor my witness (I'm sure she didn't have more important things to do).

Of course they weren't the psychiatric records, they were some medical records we wanted as supporting documentation. It would have to be a medical hospital that we almost never NEED records from who would be timely about it. But hey, I'll take what thrills I can get! (sad, isn't it?)