As any live-in carer will know, sometimes being away from friends and family can get lonely. For carers who live in other countries, staying in touch with loved ones in mostly done via the internet.
For carers who live and work in the UK, there is a good chance that you may be at a placement where it could be convenient for your friends to visit you.
So, can friends come and visit?
If you are wanting your friends to visit you at your placement, then the answer to this question is no. They should not visit you at your client’s home. In fact, they should not even know your client’s address.
The reason for this is because your client is classed as a vulnerable adult and as such you should not give out any personal data and information about them. You may be overheard by someone with bad intentions, who then may go on to burgle the house and possibly harm you and your client.
Can your friend meet you in town?
Absolutely! You should encourage them to meet you. You may even post on the various carer forums that you can meet in a certain town and possibly hook up with other carers. This happens frequently and is a good thing. It gives both of you a chance to chat over coffee and possibly become friends.
Meeting up with other carers and your friends will show you that while your placement may be lonely at times, there is still life outside that door. People are still around who care for you and friends still enjoy catching up with you. Problems that you may have with your client will seem to fade away, even if it is just for a few short hours. You will go back refreshed and ready to face the evening.
The only time when it is acceptable to invite someone to your client’s house is when you have permission from the family or next of kin. It is not a good thing to make a habit of inviting people to the house, but sometimes there may be nowhere else you can meet. You should discuss this with family before you invite anyone to the house. They need to have the final say about who comes into their loved one’s home.
Most agencies that place you will have a policy that you do not invite anyone to the house of your client. This is to protect you as well as your client. Should anything go missing while your friend is there, both you and your buddy will be seen as thieves, even if you know nothing about it.
One thing you should remember is that what may look inexpensive to one person may be worth money to another person, and what is simply a sentimental bracelet to your client may be extra pocket money to an unscrupulous person.
To sum up
It is far better if you avoid a situation where you and a friend are accused of stealing – whether you have or not – than to have to answer questions possibly from the police and certainly from the family.
Sometimes it is better to avoid a situation because you know that it could turn out potentially to be bad. Rather meet your friends elsewhere than find yourself out of a job because something has disappeared from the house.
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