In counselling emergency service workers I have found many of the veterans of
long careers feel caught in a time warp arising from massive changes in their
fields over the past fifteen to twenty years.
It is common for these
workers to lament times gone by when their service was run at a neighbourhood
level - from the raising of funds to the dispatching of crews. They often recall
feeling more supported by management who had more realistic expectations than
they feel exist today.
Whilst skill levels, response times and outcomes
may have improved, members of these services often report that they used to feel
closer to their communities, more valued and more fulfilled in their work "in
the old days" than they do now. Standards and practices have moved forward but
with these changes has come inevitable depersonalization and workers often feel
like little cogs in a big impersonal wheel.
The workers often blame
"management" and a common cry is, "They didn't support me when I needed it and
now I am on my own". Mediation before the situation becomes so critical could be
the answer for some of these workers.
For others, counselling will be
more effective. I often encourage these workers to liken their career experience
to a successful relationship that has been mutually rewarding for a long time,
but may have run its course. I help them consider all available options and look
at other ways they might be able to utilise their skills and experience -
perhaps even outside emergency services.
Denise Britton
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