TIP of the WEEK: Appreciating Staff

“Choosing to work with and support people means that you are choosing to step outside of yourself, choosing to fill your day with meeting the needs of others, choosing to listen to voices that others prefer not to hear – choosing this means that you, willingly and knowingly, are opening up yourself, your inner’I’, your you-ness, to the life and to the will and to the dreams of another. That is an extraordinary choice” -Dave Hingsburger

I am in awe by the work I see happening everyday by the staff working with the children and adults at Latham. Staff come on shift leaving their own worries at the door and give everything they have to ensure that the children and adults in their care get the best care possible. I have seen staff come to work in blizzards, hurricanes and in perfect beach weather because they know how much the people they support depend on them. It is not an easy job. It is not a lucrative job but the rewards are far reaching. There is nothing like seeing progress made and milestones met as a result of your efforts. I have seen staff call on their days off to check on a sick child. I’ve seen them memorize lyrics to music that they despise just to be able to better relate to an individual. But the day I saw a 25 year old man playing Barbies (high pitched voice and all) with a little girl to cheer her up was the day I knew that I was in the right place! Being a direct care staff is one of the hardest jobs around but knowing that you have made a difference in the life of another person is priceless.

Submitted by:
Patrice Carroll
Manager of PWS services