The worst part is to be with someone in such distress and loss of control it is necessary to use restraint. Restraining is horrible and distressing for the staff involved as well as the service user.
The down sides are numerous and a lack of funding in mental health services is making the job unbearable and having a negative impact on the mental health of staff.
Hours are long, breaks are often missed so can be working 12+ hours straight. Breaks are not paid and it is hard and often impossible to be compensated for missed breaks.
Staffing is minimum making the wards dangerous and level of care low.
Verbal and/or physical assaults on staff is a daily occurrence.
Higher management do not seem to care for ward staff wellbeing.
The company seemingly puts profits above care.
Service users do not get the quality of care they deserve.
Hard working staff are not rewarded. Ward staff moral is very low and staff turnover is high.
The wards are in need of major maintenance with cracks in plaster and holes in walls as well as mice found in service users bedrooms.
If a friend or family member had to be a mental health in patient I would not want them at a Cygnet hospital.
There is a horrible bullying culture between staff and hard work is not rewarded. Generally hard working staff who care about the service users and speak up when something is wrong are treated with malice by the management and pushed out of the company.
