My mundane job

Writing my last blog made me think about how mundane my job can be and how much I miss the buzz of emergency medicine and the way no two days are ever the same.  Not just that, but doing something that can potentially make a difference to someones life.  As opposed to the job I do now, where one day is often very much like any other. 

I work in adult social care commissioning.  In layman's terms we buy the care services that people who's care is funded by their local council use.  From residential and nursing homes, to carers that visit people in their own homes.  We don't just buy the services but we check up on them too, make sure they are giving good quality care and make sure the tax payer gets what he's paying for. 

Much of my working week is spent in front of a computer, sending emails, generating reports, analysing information and occasionally problem solving amongst other things.  Some of the time I get to go out and visit the services, and see the people that use them, I love that! Talking to people, talking to staff, getting their view on the service and often on life in general. Doing that reminds me why I do the job. I want people to get good services, and to be happy, some would say I'm quite passionate about it.

From time to time I get to put my slightly stroppy hat on, and tell people how its going to be. Strangely enough, and I know there are people that would dispute it, but it's not something I'm entirely comfortable with. I'd like to say its because I'm too nice, but I'm not. I think it may be because deep down I like to please people, and not pleasing people doesn't come easily. I'm getting better at it though! Sometimes it's a social worker, and nothing is guaranteed to wind me up more. I'm actually getting quite good at not pleasing some of them! Other times its contractors, you want our money then play the game!

Occasionally we get involved in planning new services. We might influence the design of a building, or get someone to plan a service around a person, watch something grow from the ground up from building site to finished article or even just write the specifications, the nitty gritty that makes sure someone gets the right service.

I seem to get involved in a lot of Safeguarding of late too.  Helping to keep people safe. Some of the things I see and hear make my blood boil, and I never cease to be amazed and shocked by things that go on. Maybe not all days are the same then?

A colleague and I were talking today, reflecting on some of the projects we've done in the past, and discussing current issues. It slowly dawned on me that what we do does make a difference. We have changed people's lives. When we get it right it changes lives for the better. When it goes wrong it changes lives too, just not in the way we'd like. Sometimes there's nothing we can do about it either, we just have to help pick up the pieces afterwards. But ultimately that makes a difference too!

Ok, so it's not the instant gratification that you get on the front line, seeing immediate results, good or bad. It takes longer for people to feel the effects of what we do. But you don't have to be at the sharp end to make a difference, it's just a different difference we make!

It doesn't make me miss it any less, just makes me see what I do now in a slightly different light!

C xx