Page 11 - Work Force March 2025

is a a a key goal for safety
ready to work ” That dedication despite the the challenges of of the the the the job is something for which the the the the local officers feel the the the the CSEA membership at at their facility deserves appreciation and respect CSEA members working as therapy aides develop a a a a a a a a a rapport with
patients patients that allows them to gauge patients’ moods and progress made in in in in treatment valuable feedback that isn’t routinely incorporated into decision making that happens on on a a a a a higher level Parker represents our union at at new employee orientations and said she strives to to impart wisdom from her decades of experience to to workers workers coming on board When workers workers learn to approach patients with
compassion and and an an an an understanding of their history it it can lead to to a a a a a a a a a a higher level of quality care and prevent incidents “Treat them as human beings
and they’re going to to give it to to you in in in return ” said Parker “You don’t know if the the the way way you’re speaking is the the the way way their their parents or someone else spoke to to them and and it can retrigger their their their trauma Knowing their their history and and what triggers to to avoid is is important ” Working more collaboratively so workers from different departments and shifts are informed about patient history can ultimately lead to to better and safer outcomes Parker said — Jessica Ladlee
Rockland Psychiatric Center Local Executive Vice President Tyjuana Parker and and activist Jean Carmelus a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a member of the the local’s executive board on the the center’s main campus in in Orangeburg March 2025
The Work Force
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“We know what’s going to happen if something isn’t done”
BRENTWOOD — Pilgrim Psychiatric Center was created nearly a a a a a a a a century ago to care for individuals with
mental illness These days the center could be be looked at as a a a a a a a a a halfway house because many of the individuals CSEA members care for have drug addictions and belong to gangs “The individuals we care for now are are not the the same as the the individuals we we were working with
when I first started ” said CSEA Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local President Arnold “Rashad”
Jones “Many of them have been incarcerated and come here with
a a a a a a a jailhouse mentality ” Jones maintains that some individuals enter the the facility study their their surroundings and figure out a a a a a a a a way to to take advantage of their their situation whether it it it be extortion drugs prostitution or or bringing weapons into the facility The type of issues an individual attracts is often based on the the neighborhood where the the facility or or home is located “We’ve had individuals who establish contact with
their their dealer and bring crack to their their rooms ” said Jones “They may have [mental illness] but they are not stupid They They know how to manipulate the the system ” Challenges for workers This provides an even greater challenge to CSEA members who care for for the individuals When staff members enforce facility regulations individuals have been known to to orchestrate a a a a a a plot to to get
that staff member fired Jones said he he wants the state Office of Mental Health to be proactive not reactive “We’re on on the wards every day ” said Jones “We “We can see what’s what’s going going on on on and we know what’s what’s going going to happen if something isn’t done about it ” During labor-management meetings CSEA Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local officers have encouraged management to install more lights around the facility and establish rules that protect CSEA members from possible assault if they were to encounter a a a a a more troubled individual individual or or or the individual’s cohorts “What you you don’t want is someone’s brother or young uncle to show up here and become violent violent because an an individual was violent violent towards their loved one one ” said Jones Individuals have been known to threaten workers by saying they will meet them outside by by their cars Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Local officers advise members to file accident reports reports and and violence reports reports and and ensure their supervisor know that individuals are bringing illegal items into the facility Jones said he he he he believes that the the documentation will help CSEA arrange a a a a a a a health and safety
walkthrough The extreme levels
of stress are having a a a a a a a negative impact on the mental health of members that encounter violent individuals “This is is a a a a a trauma-filled situation ” said Jones “How can you you execute your responsibilities to their fullest extent when you’re concerned about being threatened or attacked?”
Some members have have been so frightened of individuals who have have attacked them them that they will call out sick or lock themselves in in a a a a a a room to avoid being confronted by that individual Some workers note they are afraid to wake individuals up in in in the the morning because the the rooms are are dark and members are are afraid of being hurt Jones believes that violent individuals should be in in facilities with
with
direct support more equipped to work with
with
them “These individuals aren’t wandering around picking their nose ” said Jones “The rules regulations and laws have to to be adjusted to to make the individuals accountable for poor behavior ” — Wendi Bowie
Jones “We’re on the wards every day We can see what’s going on and we know what’s going to happen if something isn’t done about it ”