“What are ‘House Politics’?”
Most group homes, especially DHS direct care, are a panacea of staff, manoeuvring, backbiting, lore, intimidation and peer pressure – generally referred to as “house politics”.

“How to stay out of ‘House Politics’!”

1. Stay on the Casual Pool, or move to the Casual Pool.
2. Become a Domain Manager.

“How to stay in ‘House Politics’!”

1. Attempt to provide real quality of life care for the residents.
2. Become a House Supervisor.

“What is a ‘House Supervisor’?”

1. The meat in the political sandwich.
2. The scapegoat for managers above, and staff below.
3. The person told to ensure contented staff, at the cost of resident care.

“What is ‘Reactive Management’?”

1. That which maintains the above factors from the very top of the management pyramid.
2. That which only captive market organisations can afford.
3. That which ensures and maintains covert operations.

Comment: I have seen a lot of the things you described such as intimidation, backbiting, back stabbing.. Even as a casual you go in with good intentions, you want to provide good quality of care for the residents but whatever you try to do for the residents you are ridiculed by the permanent staff, who always know better because they’ve done it for 20 years. Or when you walk into a new house you hear them giggling, see them rolling their eyes saying ‘oh it’s the casual’. No shame! There is a high level of unprofessionalism amongst direct care staff. Every so often you walk out of the the house feeling disheartened.