INTERVIEWING AND EVALUATING CARERS

[ReverendBadger]

We have found a local self-employed carer who is available for 2 or more hours a day. Thinking of giving her a trial contract for maybe 4 weeks. Haven't met yet. Anbody got any tips/advice for the in person interview or indeed anything else ?

[FredaE]

a good carer is worth their weight in gold many times over and a bad one is an expensive waste of time . i have had both

KINDNESS

KINDNESS

certain obvious problems. you need good and reliable references. if you have found them by recommendation that is best, if not take up the references carefully..

willingness to learn about MSA is essential particularly if they are something like a retired nurse as you will be asking them to go againt some of their basic ideas like the immutable relationship between temperature and infection

having checked on reliability, competence,compatibility and honesty as best you can (don,t set traps by leaving money around, if they are honest they will be hurt and take umbrage and if they are intending to rob they will do the same)

probably cctv is the best you can do, if you want to catch their private reactions if they are being hostile ..it can also be a check on YOU if you are being rude and demanding at times of stress. you MUST tell them it is there and never in the loo, It is a basic human right to shut the loo door and swear.

it is up to youwhether you discuss installing this with them for them to monitor you when they are out of the room ,getting food for example, or pretend you have always had it,.........

respect their needs - Small children MUST not be kept waiting at the school gate for example. sort all this out in advance. if like me RADIO 2 AT HIGH VOLUMEis not acceptablesort it in advance

[poshbikerchick]

Do make sure that they have all the relevant mandatory training and have an up to date DBS check. You would also need to know how you are going to cover the times when that person is unavailable such as illness and holidays. It might be worth asking them questions around what their expectations are, to ensure that they match up to yours.

[Polesden11]

Stumbled across this this morning and wondered if you'd employed her and if she had made your life easier I do hope so

Sue x

[Paul_and_Sue_Wood]

Rev

Like taking on any employee you never really know.

If you can get references then follow them up.

It will be about your gut instinct and managing them.

Set the rules out at the start with clear defined tasks.

Set a probation period and accept that they will have never heard of MSA but see if they have helped any Parkinson's patients.

Good luck.

Paul