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it shouldn't have to happen...but what to do?

One of the things that has puzzled me in my job is knowing that there are many homeless who don't sleep in shelters, and yet not knowing where they are sleeping. As I've gotten to know more and more people I've been able to gain insight into...

Published 27 Mar 2009 10:28 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: alcohol, intoxication, IPDA, sleep, substance use, van patrol, winter, work
laughable

When I interviewed for my job at the work placement team (yay for new job) I really did NOT think I had done well. I knew I had gotten some of the questions bang on, some of them half on, and only completely made up one answer (oh how I wished I'd...

Published 26 Mar 2009 10:42 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: death, intentions, intoxication, IPDA, learning, life, me, suicide, work
it's almost spring

I can't believe I haven't posted in a week. Things are not going well in dreamerville, and writing just seems like too much, that and I just haven't seemed to find anything I really want to write about, I know I'll feel better if I write...

Published 8 Mar 2009 7:45 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: IPDA, life, me, mental health, sick, sleep, social work, the enforcer, thoughts, whining, winter, work
I felt his pulse stop...

Most of the people reading this have probably taken CPR at some point in their lives. Most employers require it these days and even if they don’t, many people take it for personal interest. Most of the people reading this have never had to perform CPR...

Published 24 Feb 2009 12:02 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: first aid, firsts, intoxication, IPDA, thoughts, work
self injury and personal bias

Self evaluation and reflection is a good thing. It helps us become better at our jobs and it helps us become better people. When I was in school we had to spend copious amounts of time examining our attitudes and our biases. It's not that I've...

Published 12 Feb 2009 10:43 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: IPDA, thoughts, work
old and drunk

Whenever pension cheques come out the drunk tank fills up with those over sixty five, many of whom are definitely elderly. Some of them are still quite spry, but others are just WAY to old to be sleeping in a cold cell on an inch thick mat. And yet, every...

Published 9 Feb 2009 2:07 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: alcohol, health care, intoxication, IPDA, substance use, thoughts, work
digging deeper - treating people as people

I'm not entirely sure why, but this photo evokes really powerful emotions in me. Tonight was my night off, and I spent some time working on a project for church. I was looking for photos which so a variety of different people from a variety of different...

Published 5 Jan 2009 12:38 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a (not quite) Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: attitudes, church, intentions, intoxication, IPDA, me, thoughts, work
it's almost over

Well, Christmas is over now, and my five in a row work week is almost over. That may sound pretty normal to most people, but because of the nature of my job, we almost never work more then four in a row. I can't remember the last time I worked a five...

Published 28 Dec 2008 2:19 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: detox, IPDA, me, shelter, sleep, work
overwhelmed - or something

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed these past few days. The enormity of the problems I see on a daily basis can be kind of consuming. For the most part, I'm quite good at maintaining a healthy distance, putting things in perspective and staying...

Published 16 Dec 2008 1:24 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: church, crying, emotions, first aid, firsts, homelessness, intoxication, IPDA, me, nights, social work, winter, work
when bennie won't bathe

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Published 12 Dec 2008 4:45 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: attitudes, ethics, IPDA, necessary evils, pet peeves, the enforcer, thoughts, work
false alarm

I think I've written about this before, but it happened once again. When people come into IPDA, they're supposed to be searched. This may seem rather trivial, but a bad search can lead to bad consequences, hangings, cutting, or fire. Yes, that's...

Published 26 Nov 2008 2:29 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: intoxication, IPDA, nights, shelter, whining, work
gong show

Sometimes, the only way I can get through my shifts is to have a mantra that goes like this "i love my job, i love my job, i love my job". And the truth is, I really do, it just has it's moments... take one of the days this weekend for example...

Published 17 Nov 2008 6:22 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: crisis, intoxication, IPDA, nights, whining, work
Halloween in the tank

Friday was one of those nights on which I had to remind myself numerous times why I like my job. Friday night was not a day on which my job was likable. Why? Well, it was Friday, it was Halloween, and month end welfare checks had just come out. Oh, and...

Published 3 Nov 2008 6:21 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: homelessness, intoxication, IPDA, work
sad story

We have some frequent fliers in the drunk tank. They're people who wind up there time and time again. Some of them are shelter goers, street people, people who've gone through detox and treatment many, many times, and some of them aren't....

Published 9 Oct 2008 3:30 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: alcohol, attitudes, intoxication, IPDA, thoughts, work
Drunk Tank Ethics

Mr. nice guy and the enforcer got in an argument a few nights ago. It's a common discussion, but things got pretty heated with both of them saying that management was on their "side". I've never heard mr. nice guy be so outspoken about...

Published 26 Sep 2008 3:26 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: ethics, homelessness, IPDA, mr. nice guy, nights, thoughts
dear intoxicated person

Dear Intoxicated Person, It has come to my attention that there are some issues we need to address. You've been getting upset a lot lately, and frankly, it's starting to get to me. Here are some basic ground rules to follow during your stay in...

Published 10 Sep 2008 1:12 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: intoxication, IPDA
over confidence

Okay, so I just slept from 4PM to 8AM with only minimal interruptions. That is so, so, not healthy. Neither, apparently, is my over confidence. I've noticed at work, that my favourite supervisor has been really laying into me about putting myself...

Published 1 Sep 2008 4:06 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: attitudes, first aid, IPDA, learning, me, mental health, sleep, work
bad bad day

I had a bad day at work last night. There's no other way to describe it. Yuck. Part of it is that I'm really stressed about packing, cleaning and moving, but part of it is just that last night sucked. I went into it with a really good attitude...

Published 30 Aug 2008 2:58 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: emotions, first aid, IPDA, mental health, nights, work
sexual harassment and me...sigh

I'm mad enough right now that I'm going to post a fairly real story. As usual, details and stuff have been changed, but really, I don't know how I could even begin to make this up. Did you now I have "buffalo breasts"? Because I...

Published 7 Aug 2008 3:13 PM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: intoxication, IPDA, me, mental health, paperwork, policy, whining, work
Lazy Sunday

I'm having an awesome lazy Sunday. Or well, I suppose it's not so much lazy as just very pressure free. I don't work tonight, so I have no agenda - well, i want to stay up late, but that's not the point... Church went really well this...

Published 4 Aug 2008 12:50 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: church, intoxication, IPDA, nights, sleep, work
money on the streets

I'm on permanent nights now. It's awesome. I'm really rather pleased with the entire situation. I like the clients, the staff, the time, the work. Yay! Last night was a normal CRAZY night in the life of IPDA. Intoxicated Person must be Detained...

Published 3 Aug 2008 2:04 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: intoxication, IPDA, nights, work
light as a feather, stiff as a board

For those of you who are my age or a bit older, you probably remember that after the movie the craft came out, people used to try and do the "game" "light as a feather, stiff as a board". Well, an IPDA I had a little while ago reminded...

Published 29 Jul 2008 6:59 AM by Awake and Dreaming - The Ramblings of a Brand New Social Worker

Filed under: first aid, IPDA, work

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