Tin - you can do what you like in your own home! I think some carers will let you get on with it if you want to, but most good carers should offer to do the 'hard work', if that's what you want them to do. When I had to have more help with mum, I realised that they are not mind readers and if I didn't tell them what I wanted, they didn't know. One lady arrived, did a load of silly things which wound me up, made a load of noise, and generally it wasn't of much use to me - she didn't come again, and one of our regular carers told me it's a ploy - when she is sent to the more 'difficult' clients, she does it on purpose so that people complain and them she just gets the easy clients! Must be annoying for those carers who know she does this!! A few others didn't take the lead, but I made it clear to them that if they were here, then they were to wash mum and clean her up after toileting, if need be. Anything that can reduce our load a bit all helps.
Whitehead - our agency also offered me some kind of training at their offices, but it never came about, and I think I've probably go the hang of it by now!
I think once you start having agency carers in to help, it takes a while for them to get to know you, the client, where you keep towels, how you like things done, etc. It takes a while for it all to bed in, and then of course you quickly learn which carers are good. It doesn't take away the fact that I would rather not have any of them stomping through my home, but needs must.