Lifeways Group

While I did spend six months working for Living Ambitions, I spent the last three looking for work elsewhere.

My team leader was unfair and towards the end began to lie about me to superiors and my colleagues alike to get herself out of trouble. When I voiced any of my concerns, she told me that I was imaging things and even went as far as to imply to me that (dispite no training and less than the legal requirements of observations before I was signed off to medicate) I had made a medical error with a Service User on purpose so I could be moved to another house and away from her. Probably the most insulted I've ever been in my life.

The colleagues in both houses I worked in are extremely unprofessional. There is no sense of team work, nobody wants to pull their weight - they'd much rather stare at their phones all day and it is all VERY catty and two-faced. I requested to move from the first property I worked in for this reason, but it was even worse at the next place. 

The management have no problem calling you at all hours on your days off to ask you to cover, but they turn their own phones off on their days off. 

Nights, weekends and Bank Holidays are all still paid at £7.83 per hour. Just mentioning this as they don't tell you before hand. 

During the day - often 13 hour shifts - you do not get any break entitlement. At all. I mean, you can use the toilet, but you eat and drink with the Service Users and that is that. 

Then there's the fact that THIS JOB IS NOT SUPPORT WORK. There are palliative / end of life Service Users, many Service Users are nonverbal and not weight baring. There is a LOT of medicating to do. This is a CARE role, not a support role. Most of the Service Users are totally unable to live without 24 hour support. That is not what they "train" you for. Countless people did a shift or two and never came back while I was employed by Living Ambitions, because it simply is not the job they applied for / was trained for.

In summary, my advice is to avoid like the plague.

Assisting individuals to access the local community and aspire to complete everyday tasks by themselves ,helping them to become more self aware.
I have gained a range of skills which have helped me provide valuable and productive support for clients with complex needs.
Team working environment has helped me to engage both sides of the work place ,assisting with shift leading and medication prompting .Keeping work colleagues motivated and positive about how the team and house functions .
The hardest part of the job in my view is managing challenging situations when the surroundings are not suitable for the client .
The most enjoyable part of the job is when you see how the clients enjoy their daily routines and feedback their views about how we can progress to do different things.,this cuts down the stress levels of staff ,helping them to motivate themselves and the client ,this produces a relaxed and calm surrounding for staff and client to progress in .

Very chaotic, un-organised, unprofessional and completely un-caring attitude to care. 'Seniors' have no idea what they are doing as they have far to many jobs to do so forget everything they promised they would do for staff and they do not come out when service users are at risk! They employ anyone whether they are caring or not! Nobody checks whether staff are doing their job or not, there were some staff that did their job an cared a great deal, however it was their job to take on all the other jobs that were not done by staff that think its acceptable to come to work and just sit on sofa watching television and not interact or engage with service users. Ultimately this company is disgusting the way they treat colleagues because when you say you have done a shift the senior who asked you to do it denies the fact you done it! It's a complete joke!

This company is bar far the worst company I have ever worked for. 
I feel sorry for the people under there organisation, underpaid, undertrained staff members looking after vulnerable people, HEALTH AND SAFETY for every individual is a real problem, being put in LIFE THREATENING situations is not what I was told or TRAINED for. 

The only thing a have taken away from working here is PTSD, after care for its staff members is an embarrassment. 

This company is a prime example on how some management and HR turn a blind eye to anything that may put the company at risk over the safety of its tenants and staff members and get away with it. 

Please who ever is applying for a role with this company seek another because this job is definitely one to avoid for your own HEALTH and SAFETY. 

Get client up, bathed, dressed, medication administered, taken out for the day and then home, personal care, tea, medication administered, cleaning up, paperwork.
 I learnt more about different conditions that people suffer with, or have making them find it hard to do what most take for granted.
  Management are happy to help once we could finally get hold of them, and other staff members where very supportive of each other.
  the hardeswt part of the job for me was the personal care and the long hours (often there for 24 hours plus inc sleep in). The most enjoyable part was knowing I was helping those that needed the support to have a healthier, action packed life.

Supporting Adults with Learning Difficulties in their own home
Providing all aspects of personal care
Administering medication 
Accompanying on days out to medical appointments
Dealing with their finances and record keeping records
Supporting individuals to maintain dignity and privacy
Providing emotional Support
Accompanying on holiday both in the UK and in Europe
Assisting with preparing and meals
Carrying out House work and Laundry supporting them to do their own
I enjoyed getting to now different people 

 


I worked for Lifeways for 4 years and worked my way up to team leader, in the space of 18 months I had 6 service managers, lack of consistency for staff and tenants, shocking work/personal life balance nobody seemed to know what they was actually doing, severe lack of support, constantly changing paperwork, shocking to say that they are a charity BUT THEY ARE A PROFIT CHARITY AND MAKE MILLIONS PF POUDS EVERY YEAR BUT NEVER REINVEST IN TO THE COMPANY! Treat there staff like work horses, pay peanuts and never get your wage right and they try to confuse you in to thinking you are wrong and they are right!

We are in the middle of a virus pandemic and this company has to be the only one making up their own rules for it.
If a child has to self isolate because they are showing symptoms of the coronavirus, the parent has been told that has long has they are not showing symptoms they still have to go to work even though this is going against current government advice. If a parent is off  because the schools are shut it's unpaid leave, they are telling you that you are only allowed to self isolate once and that you will only get sick pay if you are the one with symptoms

Although it was easy work, I worked on the bank and got plenty of extra hours due to management not wantinv to do so if was stuck for workers. You was Given the managers work to do as extra and clean to High standards which left little time to spend with the PWS. When we actually did it was nice to get out and not be stuck in, the pws loved getting out but hardly ever went out into the community. Never paid correctly if you did extra hours, never did get it sorted out. Management haven't a clue what they're doing, expected too much in the little time you have!!  Hence 0* for management 

Over the years I have seen staff come and go, even returned. The management we have now are more supportive, this has been tremendous. Each service is different. Working along side staff who want the best for the people we support. Delivering the best support and care within there homes is the best reward anyone can give. And seeing your efforts being recognised is an amazing feeling. Working in Any care setting is hard work.

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