It seems a perfectly natural thing to do, doesn’t it? At the end of a day you and your client settle down to a glass of wine with your meal, perhaps a glass afterwards before going to bed. But should you do this, and more importantly, can you do this?
There are several things to consider before popping the cork and pouring two glasses.
Are you working for an agency?
If so, what are their rules? If you are directly employed by an agency, they will have guidelines which state that you must not drink while you are working. This also includes the time when you go out for your break. Some agencies are more lenient than others, but you must make sure that you know the rules of your agency before you do anything.
If you are self employed by the agency, you will find that they ‘recommend’ that you do not drink. They do not attempt to enforce this because you work for yourself and can do what you like, within reason. However, if your agency learns that you regularly drink on your breaks and with your client, you may find them reluctant to place you elsewhere.
If you work privately
Here you and the family or next-of-kin will be the people to decide whether you have a drink or not. It is up to you and what your own conscious tells you.
So, why would you refuse a drink?
As a live-in carer, you should be aware that people watch you. Family, your client’s friends, and even the neighbours. You may not realise it, but people watch and talk. If someone sees you regularly heading to the local pub during your break they will gossip. You may only be going there to access the internet and have a cup of coffee, but people will put two and two together and come up with the wrong answer. Word will soon get around and even if you are completely innocent, they will assume the worst.
Another situation that can happen is that you and your client have a glass of wine in the evening. On the way up to bed, your client falls, and you call emergency services. They see two wine glasses in the kitchen and – again wrongly – assume that you have been drinking and could be the reason your client fell. Unfortunately, they may blame you for the fall. This will be written into their report and will get back to family. You may find yourself out of the placement for this.
To sum up
There are several other situations where having a drink with your client can come back to harm you. Although it may be tempting to have a glass at Christmas, you should remember that even one glass can cause you to be a little less sharp and less aware of problematic situations. While it is great to be included in the family celebrations, you are there to take care of their loved one.
Although at the end of the day you must do as your own conscious dictates, sometimes it is simply not worth it doing something which can put your client in danger and leave you without work.
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