Practicalities

Practicalities

• Always get receipts for the food and household materials that you buy, and keep them safe so that they can be checked against your entries in the cashbook. Also, have a duplicating receipt book so that you can give the Client a formal receipt showing all the details whenever there is a payment, whether in cash or by cheque.
• If the Client (or the Client’s Representative) pays you direct, as opposed to paying the Agency, it may be better to present your invoice each week rather than at the end of the assignment. The invoice will thus be smaller and more acceptable, and any delays in making payment can be discussed before you leave.
• You are not there to do major cleaning in the house. If you feel that the state of the house is unacceptable, ask the Client (or the Client’s Representative) to arrange for a cleaner to come in.
• If your Client has a car for you to drive them to the doctor, to go shopping or just to have an outing, check that it is fully maintained, road legal (see, “UK Life/Client’s Car”) and suitably insured for you to drive.
• To call the Emergency Services, i.e. Police, Fire Brigade or an ambulance, dial: 999 or 112. Make sure you can give the location (house address, including postcode), the phone number and say which service you require before describing the problem.
• If find your Client lying on the floor having had a fall, think carefully before trying to help her get up because, first, she may be injured, second, you may not have the strength to do so and, third, you yourself may cause an injury. It may be better to cover the Client with a blanket for warmth and ring for an ambulance so that the Client’s condition can be properly assessed.
• A Client’s condition will, inevitably, deteriorate over time. If you feel that the nature of the support required is outside the scope of the level of care you agreed to give, advise the Agency both by phone and letter. The Agency can then discuss this with the Client’s Representative.
• There is a possibility, however remote, that your Client may die. This will be emotionally very difficult for you, but you need to handle the situation responsibly. You should first contact the Emergency Services explaining that you think your Client may have died. This will ensure that the time and nature of the problem is officially noted. They may decline to send an ambulance if the Client is already dead, so you will then need to phone the Client’s doctor who will come to certify the death (at night, only the Emergency Doctor may be on call and he may also have higher priorities). The Client’s family and the Agency need to be told, of course. If the death occurs when the Agency is closed, you need to ring the Commission for Social Care Inspection (“CSCI”) directly on 01903 222950 and give them your deceased Client’s name and address. Be aware that, if the doctor has not visited the Client within the last 14 days, there may have to be a post mortem.