What is attractive to a private carer in a job?

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
My mum's got vascular dementia. She's "very forgetful", but some things "stick". She's got big mobility difficulties, and can probably go about 10 metres on a frame, someone needs to be there there to reassure/guide/help if need be, provide company and general help. Not sure whether she can go to the loo on her own. She needs a carer, full-time four days a week, and probably someone to get her up each morning. Days would probably be around 8:30 to 4:30. Mornings an hour, say.

I want to post an advertisement for someone to fulfill this requirement, and also to try and find someone/some people to cover possible gaps. I have not done this before.

What might be useful to put in the ad.?

Where job is.
Hours.
Days.
Pay.
Duties.

Erm....?


Is it likely that someone might be interested, have you experience of employing someone like this?

This from a real beginner.
 

Bod

Registered User
Aug 30, 2013
1,958
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I think you may do better going to a home care agency.
The staff will be(?) trained, vetted, and experienced. Any staff problems are for the agency to sort out.

Bod
 

cragmaid

Registered User
Oct 18, 2010
7,936
0
North East England
Hello, this is not something I can help with very much, never having employed someone myself, but would you want them to be CRB ( police) checked since they are going to be caring for a vulnerable person.
What about holiday pay? Would they be able to extend their hours on request in an emergency, have they any first aid knowledge or training?

and have they current references, which you can and must take up?
Good luck.
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
I think you may do better going to a home care agency.
The staff will be(?) trained, vetted, and experienced. Any staff problems are for the agency to sort out.

Bod

Thank you. This has been considered. It costs too much.

Edit: It could be considered in the absolute absence of other possibilities!
 
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User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
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would you want them to be CRB ( police) checked

Yes. This will be arranged after a suitable-seeming person has been found.

What about holiday pay? Would they be able to extend their hours on request in an emergency, have they any first aid knowledge or training?

A firm would be retained to "do the books". This is not expensive. Some family members have experience of employing people.

Yes, "cover" has to be arranged.

have they current references

Good point, thanks. That should be included in the ad.


Good luck.

Thank you! I hope to report back on what happens. Perhaps it will help others. Not sure if there are such reports "here" already.
 

cragmaid

Registered User
Oct 18, 2010
7,936
0
North East England
Have you put in a claim for Attendance Allowance...every little helps, but also have you contacted the Local Authority for a Needs Assessment. It may be that Mum is entitled to other benefits either by means test or right, but remember they are only testing MUM's income not yours.
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
Have you put in a claim for Attendance Allowance...every little helps, but also have you contacted the Local Authority for a Needs Assessment. It may be that Mum is entitled to other benefits either by means test or right, but remember they are only testing MUM's income not yours.

Thank you. Mum receives Attendance Allowance at the higher rate. I do not know whether, as a self-funder, she qualifies for anything else. That may be worth a look.
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
0
London
Have you thought about day care in a centre specialised in dementia care? OH goes to one and they are brilliant. Age UK do a befriending/sitting service. It entirely depends on the LA she is under what she would have to pay for this, but if you are going down the private carer route, I think the first thing you should mention is experience with dementia!
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
Have you thought about day care in a centre specialised in dementia care?

Unfortunately Mum's mobility and likes won't permit this:

a) She can only go a few yards.
b) She's always hated such things, and shows no sign of changing!


I think the first thing you should mention is experience with dementia!

That is on the nail I think. Possible "personal care" too I should think.

Thanks tor your post.
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
Thought: Is a live-in position more attractive than a four-day-a-week position?
 

Pickles53

Registered User
Feb 25, 2014
2,474
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Radcliffe on Trent
Thank you. Mum receives Attendance Allowance at the higher rate. I do not know whether, as a self-funder, she qualifies for anything else. That may be worth a look.

She should entitled to a reduction on council tax( the SMI disregard); your local council will be able to tell you how to apply. This can be backdated at least to date of diagnosis which GP will need to confirm.
 

patchworkamber

Registered User
Jan 6, 2014
45
0
south east wales
I just wanted to go back to the self funding issue. I may well be wrong but when my OH had his financial assessment, even if he had over the allowed amount for savings or even chose not to declare his assets he would only have be charged the maximum rate of £60 per week by our local authority (south Wales). We get a care package of 33 hours. We also employ someone via the direct payment scheme and the rest of the hours are via an agency. Hope this helps.
 

mancmum

Registered User
Feb 6, 2012
404
0
Yes there are people who want work.

I have directly employed two people one a psychology student and one an older redundoed woman. Both were fantastic. When I need more help I would consider employing a team - possibly with one agency worker so that if cover was needed that would mean we already had experience of each other.

I try to keep shifts to no more than six hours to avoid the need to cover a statutory break.

I am flexible with regard to starting and finishing times where possible. I talked about how we communicate before hand to try and minimise mixed messages e.g. Would you like to Friday this week, means exactly that. I would like you to do Friday or it is essential that you do Friday also mean exactly what they say. Its good to sort this out before hand and to empower your carer also to say they mean or need.

We try and plan diaries in advance.

I try to leave some food at least semi prepared.

I have wondered in the future about possibly looking at a job share so that where there is a good relationship people can cover for each other.

My sister does all the HMRC stuff.

We pay an extra week each quarter to cover for holiday pay and everything goes through the books.

The carer who is not qualified but who is brilliant and interested in learning and finding out more enjoys the work. First couple of weeks she wanted to pay for her tea and coffee when they went out together so had to explain that her costs were paid for while she was on duty. Having been a civil servant for 20 odd years she thinks it is brilliant to be able to go on walks round the park, trips to local museums etc.

I have paid for some training.

I do make sure that I affirm her when something has gone particularly well, or I have appreciated something she has done. My dad absolutely loves her.
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
I try to keep shifts to no more than six hours to avoid the need to cover a statutory break

Shifts! Well, there's a thought. I wonder whether it would be easier to get a morning and afternoon person.

There would have to be some sort of "handover". Perhaps that is not too much of an issue.

One thing is though, I think it is desirable in several ways to be good to the carers.
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
Would it be fair to just put out an advertisement and talk to anyone who responds, I wonder?
 

mancmum

Registered User
Feb 6, 2012
404
0
Not a bad idea

How about downloading some of the job specifications from other carer advertisements to see what framework people are using in the private sector.

We agreed a target number of hours per week which woudl then be annualised to cover overnight stays and holidays.

Some people might want regular hours each week ..especially if they are claiming any in work benefits.

Quite frankly it has worked so well for us that I am thinking when the time does come to go into a home that I will maybe look for not the most expensive home and supplement by paying for 'visitors' to go in daily and ensure father gets some enrichment.
 

User

Registered User
Mar 23, 2015
25
0
How about downloading some of the job specifications from other carer advertisements to see what framework people are using in the private sector.

That's a good thought.

Where's a good place to look? I have seen ads. on "Gumtree", like this:

https://www.gumtree.com/search?q=private+carer&tq={%22i%22%3A%22private%22%2C%22s%22%3A%22private%22%2C%22p%22%3A0%2C%22t%22%3A15}&search_category=all&search_location=England&distance=0.0001

Where else is possible? Anyone?
 

mancmum

Registered User
Feb 6, 2012
404
0
Gum tree and maybe major care providers

Gum tree has a lot of ads for carers but a lot of them don't give much documentation I would also think about looking at the major care home chains and local authorities.

In a way you need to move away from becoming a relative and into becoming an employer. Personally I would find it really useful for there to be some sort of form contract that could be downloaded on a site like this.
 

Selinacroft

Registered User
Oct 10, 2015
936
0
I would recommend going through an agency. The staff will have experience, be trained and have their pensions covered. Cover would be arranged if they were unavailable at short notice. You need to be careful what you sign in the contract because some agencies charge a finders fee, but once you find someone who "fits" you might be able to come to a private arrangement with them depending on their other commitments. Worth a try because all the background checks have been done and you know what you're getting. If the agency is useless don't be afraid to swap . I've just swapped and wished I had done it sooner but then I did give myself time to put out plenty of feelers for a good agency.

I've kept one of the good carers from the old agency on privately. She issues me with invoices like an agency so is working self employed which avoids pension hassles and other things which go with employing someone.
 
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