Employing & finding new carers

[Burgerman]

Just replaced a carer that helps me in a morning. Eric leaving for temporary employment, then the Army in a month or so, that he is waiting to hear from. And replaced with a 27 year old very pretty girl who is half Greek Cypriot. Thats definitely not why she got the job, but she should be much easier on the eye than Eric first thing in a morning!

Cant believe how many applications and phone calls I got from 1 night in the local paper. Never use job centres etc. I normally have a few in mind, more often than not barmaids (or girls I meet out and about). Anything from 19 to 30 years of age seem to be ok, and they are use to working late. Had at least 4 this way. Worked out great every time. I never go to bed till about 1am. Married, or older, always a problem with hours, reliability etc. Younger ones seem more full of energy and less worried about late hours...

What do others do for carers?

[Burgerman]

PA/Carer/cleaning/other to wheelchair user in private home. Approx x hour per week. Mornings/late/alternate weekends, permanent position. Must be reliable, and enthusiastic and prepared to have a go at anything! Care experience and car or live close to Bargate area of Grimsby an advantage. Call 01472 XXXXXX for info.

Heres what I put in the local newspaper.

You want to try a local paper, on jobs day! Phone rang off the hook with good applicants.

So many calls though that the best method is to take their rough details by phone for 2 days. Don't yet arrange to meet. Make a list of important questions - to you. (For e.g, criminal records checks. Means nothing to me. Ian Huntley had one, and murdered 2 girls!)

About 35 people called, about 25 were interesting. Include phone numbers and age, where they live, previous exp and tell them whay they are needed and make it sound worse than it is. You want rid of the ones that are a bit workshy now! And then call back 4 or 5 that sound the most likely for an interview a few days later. At interviews include physical description in your notes or use a go pro in the background as in 2 days time you will not know who was who... Mark them out of 10. Be warned, 1/3rd will not turn up...

If non of those are suitable/ideal, call the next 4 or 5 later on... And rinse and repeat. Don't employ anyone yet.

If you don't do this it gets very confusing, and you may employ someone only for a better match to turn up later. Don't be in too much hurry. Been doing this 20 years, never failed yet.

[Burgerman]

Contracts.

Always add 6 months trial period, it can take that long to find out if someone really is suitable. Or if you don't get on. Then either party can leave for any or personal reasons without reasons given. And 28 days notice required, as it can take that long to find and organise a replacement.

And retain the right to change hours, times /flexi hours, even if things are regular for long periods or years of time, no guaranteed hours, etc + all the usual yada yada...

[Irving]

Pretty similar to what I've been doing tho mine are live-in.. main differences are 3months probation/3mo notice/1 yr rolling contract.. I've used local paper + gumtree + carer internet sites. mine need sci bowel management training as given by st johns ambulance so most are ex-agency wanting better salary. incidentally what rate do u pay (and cash in hand or proper paye)? Almost all interviewees are eastern European, never anyone from uk but maybe that reflects London-bias - best are ones from Prague, seemingly always good looking, young and very open-minded

[Burgerman]

£8.00 per hour. Thats normal here. All above board, rates are because that's what the direct payments decide! But this is one of the cheapest places in the country to live. Almost all of my carers have been English. But you live in the most diluted bit of the country. Theres few white faces left!

[Irving]

Actually where I live is 15miles out of the centre and not that 'diluted' at all - on my side of Harrow there is a high percentage of non-Brits but most are EU and white, the west side is more colourful. But, unlike you, I don't see that as a problem.

One thing I have learnt - if you want the job done well, use someone with a strong work ethic. All the UK carers I had through the agency were slapdash and needed a lot of managing; the Eastern EU ones just do it right. That's why my electricians are a German (woman!) and a Pole, my handyman is a Pole, my gardener is Czech, my plumber is Latvian and my carers are currently Estonian and Czech. And I can say unequivocally that none claim benefits - they see it as a negative thing to do so; contrast that with the 'I'm entitled to my benefits' attitude of some 'English'. Well I pay more tax than most people earn and I say you're not entitled to anything out till you've put something substantially in, either as tax or physical effort.

I pay my carers £10/hr approx. but that reflects London cost of living.

[Burgerman]

One thing I have learnt - if you want the job done well, use someone with a strong work ethic. All the UK carers I had through the agency were slapdash and needed a lot of managing; the Eastern EU ones just do it right. That's why my electricians are a German (woman!) and a Pole, my handyman is a Pole, my gardener is Czech, my plumber is Latvian and my carers are currently Estonian and Czech. And I can say unequivocally that none claim benefits - they see it as a negative thing to do so; contrast that with the 'I'm entitled to my benefits' attitude of some 'English'. Well I pay more tax than most people earn and I say you're not entitled to anything out till you've put something substantially in, either as tax or physical effort.

I absolutely agree with all of that. My ex was former Yugoslav republic, Eric that is leaving is Filipino. My plumber is polish too. And very efficient. My town here is almost entirely white and English - 95 percent according to the census. I am not racist.

What I do have problems with are religious nuts of all types and I see some as dangerous, primarily Muslims. (contrary to popular leftist opinion muslim/islam isn't a race) And anyone that doesn't integrate and accept our way of life/laws and live as we do here. That also tends to be Muslims. And where excessive immigration forces our society to change its character for the worse. You too have seen those areas where the English people no longer recognize the place and few speak English and they are forced to move away. Many Muslims are not compatible with western values. The rest get judged on work ethic, ability etc regardless of race, colour. But that has to include language too.

the west side is more colourful. But, unlike you, I don't see that as a problem.

It depends. If its primarily people that integrate and live as we do, there isn't a problem. But many don't. And then a quick look at the crime and rape and violence figures can easily show that there's a big problem.