Friday, August 14, 2009

Workforce... what workforce?

How do you overcome the challenges of staff turnover?

Over the last month or so, the clinic I work with has lost 2 case workers and 1 outreach worker, and is about to lose a doctor and a social worker within the next 2 weeks. We have advertised, and there has been some promising interest, but even when we recruit we are still faced with that lag time as the new staff members learn their jobs. All this whilst trying to maintain care to a population that is often difficult to engage with.

Drug and alcohol work is not glamorous and is often frustrating, and yet when you get a win (as rare as they are) and you see someone that you are working with get better you really value it.

When you look at the work environment, the people who work in the AOD sector are often faced with aggressive behaviour, emotional distress and people in crisis situations. Is it surprising that people don't stick around?

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