Friday, September 26, 2008

Challenging job

Sometimes we have to live with the decisions we make, and right now I'm beginning to question if it was wise to leave my job at Trillium for my new job at Kerr. Let me clarify that I don't hate my new job, but it is more difficult than I could have imagined. My job at Trillium was pretty cushy compared to my new one.
I can't possibly count how much time I'm spending doing paper work. In fact, that is a majority of my job. Every time I feel like I'm beginning to get it, more papers comes my way that I have to learn.
One of the things I need to work on is some organization. My office is a mess. And it seems like when I start to get a head, more paper work comes down.
On top of the endless paperwork, there is documenting the endless paper work. Basically, one document seems to produce another. On top of being a desk jockey, I also have to write treatment plans and lead treatment meetings which consist of lawyers (I hate lawyers), as well as other professionals. Then there is the reports and the psychological testing. Some reports I don't mind, but I've never written a comprehensive assessment before (those are usually done by people above my pay grade).
With all this paper work, I don't actually see much of the children that I'm there to help. My home visits are basically interviewing and going over paper work with the foster parent. Most of my clients don't have a clue who I am.
I guess I'm just venting because this week has been pretty rough. I've put in well over 40 hrs. and even missed Woogy's first open house. But I'm hanging in there. I don't like to back down from a challenge.
Things sure have changed around here. Between getting the kids to where they need to go and having to get to work a lot earlier, I've given up shaving (since I don't have the time).
My coworkers say that it will get easier as I learn and go along, but they could just be saying that so I don't run out of the office screaming. I don't mind keeping busy, but this is a little of an over kill. I think the days of blogging during half the work day are over.

5 comments:

GoldenSunrise said...

Hang in there. It is always stressful the first few months that you start a new job.

T said...

The paperwork should be done by admins. That's what we're here for! To free up the "non paper" people to do the "people" stuff. Bummer that you can't hire yourself a good admin for the paperwork and you do the people stuff. That sux.

shakedust said...

I think someone needs a poster of a cat hanging onto a rope. :)

I was in a similar situation with my current job when I started. It took a while, but I eventually found ways of reducing the amount of time a lot of the stuff I do takes out of the day.

I hope things get better.

Portland wawa said...

Hang in there, babe.

roamingwriter said...

hope it's getting easier. I took on two administrative committee jobs in June and felt all I did was go to meetings for awhile. I still feel more admin than creative but it's getting better.