Providing the best possible care |
| ...in your own home in the South West |
Carers' Frequently Asked Questions
I have little or no care experience. Could I be a successful carer? You must understand and speak English very well. Inexperienced carers will initially be allocated ‘light care’ or companionship/ housekeeping roles. We will be happy to organize and give further training for those who wish to learn more and increase their earning potential. You must be prepared to put your social life on hold for the duration of your assignments. You should be a reasonable cook. You must be happy to do housework and laundry and to keep the home you are staying in clean and tidy. You must be prepared to undertake personal care such as helping people to wash, dress, bathe and use the toilet. Caring is a very satisfying vocation for many thousands of people. Some simply enjoy helping others and take the physical and emotional demands of the job in their stride. To be a successful carer you need the right maturity and passion for the task. You also need the presence of mind to deal with changing and sometimes demanding situations. Most of our clients are elderly and many are confused or in poor health so you must be capable of patience and good humour at all times. You will be a genuinely compassionate person; always dependable and with plenty of common sense. There is no upper age limit to becoming a Sunshine Care nurse or carer but you should be energetic and fit enough to help your clients get out of a bath, for example, or to push them in their wheelchair. At all times, for your own and the client’s protection, you will need to follow our manual handling guidelines. Sunshine Care has hundreds of clients and it is highly unusual for us not to be able to offer good carers as much work as they wish for. Licensed car drivers aged over 25 are particularly popular and this is essential if you wanted to do domiciliary care work. Why should I have a driving licence? Many of our live-in care clients own their own cars and may ask you to drive them to visit friends, for example. Consequently we have less work for carers who cannot drive. If you are from overseas you may be able to use your own driving licence for a year after entry into the UK but it is worthwhile purchasing an easily identifiable international driving licence for use in this country. It is essential for domiciliary care workers to have their own transport and business car insurance. This is because you may have ten clients to see in a day and will need to get to and from these clients quickly, this would not be possible if you use public transport. Photo driving licences are also widely accepted forms of identification. With live-in care you can choose a pattern of work that best suits you. Some people like plenty of time off between assignments others want only a week. Some carers work only a few weeks each year but may return to us time and time again for an enjoyable and worthwhile ‘working holiday’. We have new assignments starting on every day of the week (usually ending on the same day two weeks later) and we aim to offer you work that coincides perfectly with your other commitments. Domiciliary care workers usually work between the hours of 7am and 10pm . You would be required to work at least every other weekend. Where will I work as a Live-in Carer? Most of our live-in care clients reside in the South West of England . You are likely to stay in some of the most beautiful places the UK has to offer. For consistent work and the greatest choice of assignments you should be prepared to travel. Sunshine Care live-in clients often prefer more mature carers who have experience managing a home, consequently we rarely employ people under the age of 21. In practice, carers aged over 25 are preferred because clients’ cars are often not insured for drivers under this age. We have no upper age limit though older carers must be fit enough to help frail and disabled people with their mobility and weight transference. Do I need to have a police check? Healthcare workers in the UK must obtain a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure and Protection of Vulnerable Adults check before they are allowed by law to work in the healthcare sector. Both are obtained by completing a form that we will give you. If you have lived abroad you should also obtain a police check from that country. Where will I live when not on assignment? If you are a live-in carer you must have somewhere to stay when you are not working and you may have friends or family with whom you can live between bookings. The websites http://www.visitbritain.com/, http://www.visitus.co.uk/, and http://www.britainexpress.com/ can advise on local accommodation including ‘bed and breakfast’ hotels and hostels.
Live-in carers will normally be paid weekly by BACS so you need to have a UK bank account. Domiciliary carers will be paid fortnightly by BACS and will also need a bank account. What daily rate will be paid to live-in workers?
The daily rate for Live-in Care Personal Care workers is currently between £60 and £80. What will I be expected to do while on a Live-in Care assignment? Personal care needs will vary from client to client and you will be briefed about a particular client’s needs before you go. Tasks may include helping your client to dress, wash and bathe, helping them with toileting and perhaps assisting them to eat. ‘Personal care’ also means providing emotional support and generally helping them to enjoy a better life. Some clients may only need companionship, a reminder to take their medication or an arm to steady them when walking, but for regular work you must be prepared to do some physical personal care. Only district nurses and registered nurses are permitted to carry out nursing tasks such as wound care and injections. You will be given as much information as possible about a client before the booking commences. It is Sunshine Care’ practice to keep in touch with carers by phone to make sure they do not get out of their depth. Each booking will probably also involve cooking, shopping, and housekeeping. Carers are expected to keep the client's home clean and tidy with particular attention to the kitchen and bathroom. Often, the client has a car that they need the carer to drive on their behalf. It is essential that carers in these bookings hold the requisite driving licence and that the client arranges for the appropriate insurance cover. You will probably work an average eight- to ten-hour day (not necessarily consecutive hours) but you must always be on hand to help the client if they need you. Any time off (usually two hours each day) must be agreed between you and the client or their representative. You can claim an agreed additional sum if you are regularly called during the night. At the end of the assignment you will be expected to meet any replacing carer and update them on the client’s needs and routine, etc. This will usually take place at 11am on the day of arrival/departure. What is the employment status of live-in personnel? Unlike most other companies we directly employ our staff and we are responsible for making the relevant deductions for Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions. We give both you and the client Codes of Conduct, and we expect these to be followed if we are to retain your services. We undertake regular reviews on the client’s care needs; and conduct regular supervisions to ensure that the carers level of work is acceptable and that they are supported adequately. Our care staff are protected by Employment Law, unlike those who are self-employed. Travelling expenses are paid for staff to travel to and from their base, (or previous assignment), up to £30 each way. This is paid directly to the carer by the company with their wages. We will agree the amount with the client before invoicing them. As expenses will probably not be reimbursed until the end of the first week or the end of the booking it is necessary for carers to ensure that they have enough money to pay for the fare to the client’s home. Depending on circumstances, carers leaving a booking at short notice may have to pay their own return travel costs. What happens if a carer or client is unhappy with the arrangement? If there are difficulties with a booking or a clash of personalities between carer and client, either party may contact Sunshine Care. If necessary, we will arrange for a replacement, usually to arrive within a day or two. You should never leave a booking until her replacement carer arrives and a proper handover has taken place. We may refuse further work to anyone who does so. Please remember that the office is closed at weekends except for real emergencies. What accommodation does the client provide? A separate clean and comfortable bedroom. Most clients also provide a TV in the bedroom or second living room. You will also have full access to the kitchen and bathroom. The client will meet the cost of the room and three meals a day and will make no charge for gas, electricity etc., however you should not make calls or connect to the Internet on the client’s telephone line, even if they give you permission to do so. We advise the client to set aside £30 per week towards the cost of your board and lodging.. Can a live-in assistant smoke? Most clients do not smoke and carers are usually asked not to smoke in their homes. Wherever possible, we do not place carers who smoke in non-smoking placements. What is the dress code for a live-in carer? Carers are expected to dress neatly. To meet their client for the first time, women should wear a skirt or dress and men smart trousers. Clean casual clothes are normally acceptable while on duty, though employed carers are often expected to wear a uniform (loaned by Sunshine Care). A good outfit should be taken for special occasions. Facial piercing and excess make-up are not acceptable. Does Sunshine Care offer permanent employment? Sunshine Care does not usually arrange for staff to work for any one client on a permanent basis. However, if a client wishes a carer to remain permanently an introduction fee will be charged to the client. What are Sunshine Care' office hours? Office hours are 9.00 am to 5.00 pm , Monday to Friday. There is a mobile number that may be called in genuine emergencies. |
Sunshine Care Ltd.
Tel. 01752 242454, fax 01752 567850,