Should I Stick With This Or Report It?

I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong section but this situation is causing me a lot of stress. I have started my job. I work as a Support Worker with vulnerable adults with mental health issues and an incident happened. I really need advice.

A week ago I was working with an experienced member of staff, taking four service users out for a day trip. She was aware that I shouldn't be left alone looking after service users. I am still training in my job. She ignored what she was told. Left me on my own to look after two service users for two hours. We sat waiting in Burger King for her to pop to the Post Office. The service users were very agitated and moaning. I tried to pasify them over by talking to them and keeping them active. I had no communication via phone from W whatsoever. I was very vulnerable myself. I was scared, annoyed, all sorts. Three different men came up to us asking to sell things and change for a meal. B was frightened because there was a bird flying around in the building. She was screaming with fear. Two hours later W came back and apologised.

Working with this member of staff has been very difficult at times. I asked her a question on the bus that same day. She looked and turned her head away. She excluded me and made me feel very umcomfortable. She pushes, snatches and has no manners.

M made some comments that applied he felt umcomfortable around her. Last week I wrote out what happened when I knocked on his door to let him know his food was ready. He told me he wouldn't come down until the same woman had left the house. Mum urged me to report everything to the manager.

I saw the manager this Wednesday. I told her everything. She told me that staff wasn't allowed to leave me on my own.

Came back the same day and the manager had told her. Her name is W. W sat me in a room and apologised for making me feel uncomfortable. Her attitude about the incident of leaving me alone was, she informed me where she was going. She apologised for it and that's that. I was honest and explained how I felt. She was crying. Got up and walked out of the room. She ignored me the rest of the day.

The manager made a comment that M had asked W to take him to the cinema. That made me look like I was liar.

The next day we worked in the house on our own. The manager made it clear that we have to work together for the sake of the service users. I carried on and tried to work with her. The atmosphere was very cold. I wanted to help her to make the dinners for the service users. But she kept making excuses like there isn't anything for me to do. I stood round like a lemon just wanting to help. She made it clear that she did not want to work with me. I stayed upstairs on my own just reading policies.

Two staff members came in to work. She told each member what I had done with reporting her to the manager. They sat downstairs talking to her. When they came upstairs they were incredibly wary around me. I could feel they felt tense around me. I felt isolated, dirty and confused. She shouldn't have told them. I pulled one of them up about it. Making it clear that there are two sides of the story. It's wrong to make judgements before knowing the facts.

I was glad that M came downstairs to ask if W was in the house and where. One member of staff witnessed it. It showed that I wasn't lying.

I just don't understand. My number one priority is making sure each service user is safe. Am I wrong for reporting my concerns and reporting that incident to the manager?

W knew full well that she wasn't allowed to leave me on my own to look after service users. I am unexperienced to deal with them alone.

If a service users told you, they wouldn't come down to eat their food until a particular member of staff had left the house. Also if the same service user asked you if the same member of staff was coming in the next day. Wouldn't you find it strange? Wouldn't you report it to the manager if you were concerned?

I believe you should always make the manager aware of all incidents especially abuse. I am being treated like I did wrong. I was being judged before being asked for my version of the story. It's wrong. I am now feeling I did the wrong thing. Maybe I should drop this allegation? The manager wants me to write up a full report about that incident where I was left on my own. It's causing me a great deal of stress. Mum thinks I should stick with it. Because what W did was wrong. She left two vulnerable adults alone with an unexperienced person. Anything could have had happened to us.

Am I wrong? Did I do the wrong thing? Should I stick with this or drop the allegation? Because right now I am confused.

I've worked in a similar type of setting before and what this comes down to is that you are a victim of politics. The policies will state that you did the right thing, and it's confusing because you're seemingly being reprimanded for it.

Whenever you have problems with your shift partner, bring it up with them first. Don't tell another coworker, and really don't tell the manager unless it's a clear-cut case of abuse. You need to tell the person precisely what they're doing that bugs you and try to reach an understanding so it doesn't happen again. If it keeps happening and either you or the clients are in danger as a result, that's when you go to the manager.

Above all, keep personal documentation of what happened, when it happened, who was there, and what you did to address it. If it's appropriate, make an entry in the staff log book as well.

It sucks, and it's hard to deal with. It's unfortunate you've been paired with such a self-absorbed shift partner, but if you can deal with this and come out with flying colours, the rest is going to be so easy!

Good luck.