14th August 08

Yesterday afternoon I rang my prospective employer, with a few concerns that had been bought to my attention after tlking to a friend about my new up coming job. The job description was "cleaner" when I attended the interview on monday I was told what was expected frm me. I spent approx 1h 25 mins there going over things. I was to clean the main day area, dinning area, main toilet used by majority of residents, hallways & bedrooms which are unsuite. I was also told tht myb once or twice a day i'd be required to clear & clean faece & urine spills. And was also told how to clean such spills ( i'll spare you of these details ) Although.. my initial thought was ooh my life, I honestly thought I had the stomach to do it.

After tlking to my friend who is a fully qualified regisitered nurse. I was told tht under NO circumstances was I to handle/ clear such waste & tht it was the job of carers as such waste was to be cleared in an appropriate way, face mask, long armed gloves & placed in the appropriate sanitation bag & disposed of in a correct manner, We also tlked about a few other conerns I had & she told me to contact my new upcoming employer with these concerns.
To which I did...
I asked Mrs x if she had heard anything back about my CRB ( Criminal Records Bureau ) check. Which you MUST have when working with children & other vulnerable members of soicety & she said tht she really hadn't the time to send it off... ( Mhmm... right I thought )
I asked her why I was having to clear feaces & urine spills when really it shouldn't be my job but tht of a carer  and tht I was under the distinct impression tht I was to use my bare hands to clear such messes up. Her replie was " I thought you had a strong stomach" I also mentioned tht during my time there on monday. I wasn't shown the fire exits or was told basic hygiene on reducing risks on handling such health care waste. Her replie " your not completely stupid are you...?"
Tht was enough for me.... My blood boiled. I said thku Mrs x but after carefull thinking & consideration i'm going to have to decline your job offer & for your information i'm not stupid & put down the fone.
I rang my lone parent adviser this morning & told her tht I had declined the job offer & my reasons why, she is going to notify & report such matters to the local authoritys.

So now i'm back to square one jobless... :(
I can't thk my friend enough for filling me in on certain information, as I would of started this job on monday & thought this is how things are suposed to be. I'm also saddened to think about the attitude of Mrs x I could of been anyone or had god knows what on my CRB check ( Like to add, I have no police record, convictions or warnings ) & she was prepard to possibley put them at risk & possibley my health.

My job hunt continues :) & needless to say i'll be having words with my ex sister law as to her recomending me for the job. Mhmm... myb its always best to keep the "ex's" out of anything they recommend