Social workers work in unsocial setting

THE offices from where Ministry of Health and Social Services social workers do their work at the old TB Hospital in Khomasdal are in a terrible state of decay.

The carpets are dirty, old and torn, as are the chairs in the reception area. There is no one at the reception desk to receive people who need to make use of social services.There are three toilets for men and three for women, but the ones that are broken are just covered with black plastic bags and not repaired.The showers are used as storage rooms and the bath is smothered in filth.About 20 social workers work in the offices, and there is only one functioning toilet for women.The same goes for the men’s toilets, where the urinals are covered with black plastic bags.”If I have to go to the toilet I get into my car and drive home, no human can make use of those toilets,” said one social worker.”Our job is already very depressing and then you still have to look at these offices and the filth and decay around you each day.It is just getting too much for me and I will resign soon.I just cannot cope anymore,” the social worker said.”Our clients are people who are traumatised and who are going through rough patches in their lives, they don’t need so be in such terrible and depressing surroundings when coming to us for help.”Outside, right in front of the entrance, rubbish spills from an overturned rubbish bin.It, and its contents, appears to have been lying there for quite a while, as there is no cleaner employed at the building.There is no one at the reception desk to receive people who need to make use of social services.There are three toilets for men and three for women, but the ones that are broken are just covered with black plastic bags and not repaired.The showers are used as storage rooms and the bath is smothered in filth.About 20 social workers work in the offices, and there is only one functioning toilet for women.The same goes for the men’s toilets, where the urinals are covered with black plastic bags.”If I have to go to the toilet I get into my car and drive home, no human can make use of those toilets,” said one social worker.”Our job is already very depressing and then you still have to look at these offices and the filth and decay around you each day.It is just getting too much for me and I will resign soon.I just cannot cope anymore,” the social worker said.”Our clients are people who are traumatised and who are going through rough patches in their lives, they don’t need so be in such terrible and depressing surroundings when coming to us for help.”Outside, right in front of the entrance, rubbish spills from an overturned rubbish bin.It, and its contents, appears to have been lying there for quite a while, as there is no cleaner employed at the building.