The gamble also runs to the way the company treats You – the care worker. Will you be treated fairly? Will you be respected, valued and supported by your chosen company? …All too often stories suggest this isn’t the case. Below are 10 basic pointers to bear in mind when deciding which care provider company to apply to and choose to work for…
…Don’t always choose the first one you come across… Ask some questions – this is YOUR career – with the right care company you’ll have the chance to succeed and progress…and YES! enjoy your work!
10 Questions you need to ask your homecare employees before you sign that contract
Always check the CQC rating of the company you’re intending to make contact with. Don’t just check the ‘Overall’ rating; importantly check out the broken down ratings too e.g. whether they’re ‘well led’ or ‘safe’).
Does your chosen company have good independent client reviews?..These will provide you with idea of what the company is like from the client’s viewpoint…Check out your chosen company’s reviews – for example on Google or Care Sourcer
Ensure you’re paid for the time traveling between your calls.The amount paid can vary between Providers, but should be in additional to the standard hourly pay rates.
Always make sure there’s a separate fuel/mileage payment made to you extra to the standard hourly pay rates.This is an extra payment to pay for your fuel but should also be sufficient to help financially maintain your vehicle. A good care company will offer an allowance of between 40p-45p per mile.
Ask about the level of training you will be provided with and ensure this time (your time) will be paid by the employer.You need to be equipped and confident to deliver care. Does the company just sit you in front of a computer and ask you to work your way through a training site/book or is training face-to-face where you have the opportunity to meet other new staff and ask questions when you’re unsure? A good care company will not only provide the required training free of charge but will pay you for your time whilst training.
You’ll require support whilst delivering care to a client, as well as a reliable and friendly point of contact on the phone.Make sure you check out how your chosen company will provide this support. Will you have your own personal senior staff member to call upon if you’re uncertain or concerned? Will there always be someone who will answer the phone when you need to call for help both during the day and if you work out of hours, during evenings and weekends?
The planning of your daily client visits will be key to the smooth running of your day and in maximising your time with clients (and therefore your pay).We interview many prospective carers who have left previous homecare providers because they’re fed up with poorly planned and continually changing daily rotas. Will your chosen care company ensure you have enough travel time between calls with a minimal number of gaps in your day (Beware- many don’t…)?Avoid any company which gives you a list of calls to complete during your shift without specific call times or call times without travel time allowed. In this scenario clients will quickly become dissatisfied with the level of service the company is providing and the uncertainty and chaos this causes. The client is likely to blame you as the first-line representative of the company.
Does the Care Company have a Career path?If you’re looking for a career in care where you can progress from carer to senior carer or care supervisor and into management, it’ll be worthwhile asking the company about the prospects of progression and if there’s a defined career route you can follow. If not, and you’re ambitious you may find the company is not going to give you the long-term job satisfaction you’re looking for.
Ensure you’ll be provided with a sufficient level of ‘shadowing experience’ before being expected to visit clients on your own.A good care company will recognise the value in ensuring you feel confident and equipped to go out alone, visiting clients. Be aware…some care providers only provide 3 or 4 days shadowing. 2+ weeks of shadowing is far more helpful in helping you to build your confidence and get to grips with your new Homecare worker role.
Ask if your available working times will generate for you, the hours you are hoping for. Many carers tell us they have been offered work with a Homecare company only to find they are not then provided with many hours – or are rostered to work outside of the times they have stated they are available. Ensure your chosen company has a robust rota planning team – one which is able to stick to the times you have suggested you are available to work and who are honest with you about the hours they have available.