COMPARE THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS:
Scenario 1: You arrive at your child’s residence for a routine visit. When you walk in the common room, staff are on one side of the room and the residents are on the other. The staff are speaking with one another, not interacting with anyone that lives there. Scenario 2: You show up for the same
visit, but you arrive to find the staff members actively engaged with your child and others who live in the home. They’re participating in the same activity that the residents are – perhaps they’re watching your child’s favorite TV program or helping them complete a puzzle. These tangible differences in your child’s overall experience in their home can reflect a potential difference in a program’s training, approach, and philosophy. Scenario 1: When you visit your child’s home, you see both staff members with their attention on their cell phones. One has a headphone ear bud in one ear, and the other is scrolling short form social media videos. Neither are giving your child or their roommates their full attention. Scenario 2: While visiting your child, you see them discussing a favorite sports team with a member of the staff. They won last night’s game, but your child unfortunately missed the TV broadcast. The staff member takes out their cell phone to look up the final scores, sharing them with your child and enriching the conversation. Few residential programs have blanket bans on staff cell phones. A house staffed by people with no cell phones can pose a safety risk. However, there is a big difference between appropriate and inappropriate phone usage when staff are on duty. Nevertheless, a quality residential program should have a clear policy on cell phone usage. In short, cell phones should not interfere with any staff member’s ability to serve, support, or supervise the residents according to their level of need and their ISP.
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