Sep 9, 2026 · 30 min · 8 segments
Working in residential childcare is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be emotionally demanding. In this episode, we explore the weight that comes with caring, why looking after ourselves and each…
Chelsea BaileyHost
Carmel SaulbreyHost
Because again, you know, we talked about sometimes there's all ice cream and fun stuff-
... and then sometimes you go, "Wow, this thing is really hard." What can people, what can adults working the front line, working with kids, especially with kids in, kids in trauma or really challenging childhoods, what can they do to look after themselves?
Well, it's about looking at where, where do you work and what's available to you at work is really important, because there should be systems in place and, and things to support you at work, places that you can go where, where on days that feel trickier.
Because if your working week becomes, "I just go to work, and then on my days off I'm just recovering, so I'm sleeping, I'm, I'm, I'm having a lie in," you know, you're not filling your cup, and we can't pour from an empty cup.
So it's about looking at what you're doing when you're not at work, as well as what is available to you at work.
And I would, I would argue that it is our responsibility as leaders in, in our settings, so whether you're a registered manager, a supervisor, um, or, you know, a senior leader, you need to take some responsibility for checking in, how are your staff looking after themselves when they're not at work as well as when they are at work.
And I think that the first thing that our staff need to think about and recognize is why is it heavy, and what makes it heavy? Um, so I think the, for me, the underlying message in all of it, and it's quite a nice thing to remember why it's heavy, is the reason it's heavy for you is because you care.
My shift's over, who cares? I'm not taking it anywhere." And we do lots to make sure we don't want people taking the difficult stuff home with them.
But we don't forget, because they're our children and we love them, and so their heavy stuff does become our heavy stuff, and so we have to find ways to manage it.
But I also think, just to make you feel a bit better about it [laughs] on those heavy days, is that the reason it feels heavy is because you care, and that's a gorgeous thing.
That's a great way of looking at it, isn't it? Like not, not that you can't ignore it by saying you're a really decent person, you're an empathetic, kind person.
'Cause it does, it does amaze me sometimes just how much our team cares, and how much they love these kids, and how much they connect with them quite quickly.
Even in the face of sometimes, you know, behaviors that make it, make it challenging.
And I guess that thing, and in, and in the world we live in now as well a little bit, is we do have to do our self-care and fill our cup.
Because again, you know, we talked about sometimes there's all ice cream and fun stuff-
... and then sometimes you go, "Wow, this thing is really hard." What can people, what can adults working the front line, working with kids, especially with kids in, kids in trauma or really challenging childhoods, what can they do to look after themselves?
Well, it's about looking at where, where do you work and what's available to you at work is really important, because there should be systems in place and, and things to support you at work, places that you can go where, where on days that feel trickier.
Because if your working week becomes, "I just go to work, and then on my days off I'm just recovering, so I'm sleeping, I'm, I'm, I'm having a lie in," you know, you're not filling your cup, and we can't pour from an empty cup.
So it's about looking at what you're doing when you're not at work, as well as what is available to you at work.
And I would, I would argue that it is our responsibility as leaders in, in our settings, so whether you're a registered manager, a supervisor, um, or, you know, a senior leader, you need to take some responsibility for checking in, how are your staff looking after themselves when they're not at work as well as when they are at work.
And I think that the first thing that our staff need to think about and recognize is why is it heavy, and what makes it heavy? Um, so I think the, for me, the underlying message in all of it, and it's quite a nice thing to remember why it's heavy, is the reason it's heavy for you is because you care.
My shift's over, who cares? I'm not taking it anywhere." And we do lots to make sure we don't want people taking the difficult stuff home with them.
But we don't forget, because they're our children and we love them, and so their heavy stuff does become our heavy stuff, and so we have to find ways to manage it.
But I also think, just to make you feel a bit better about it [laughs] on those heavy days, is that the reason it feels heavy is because you care, and that's a gorgeous thing.
That's a great way of looking at it, isn't it? Like not, not that you can't ignore it by saying you're a really decent person, you're an empathetic, kind person.
'Cause it does, it does amaze me sometimes just how much our team cares, and how much they love these kids, and how much they connect with them quite quickly.
Even in the face of sometimes, you know, behaviors that make it, make it challenging.
And I guess that thing, and in, and in the world we live in now as well a little bit, is we do have to do our self-care and fill our cup.
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