How do I get to my client and back?
This is often one of the questions to ask when you accept a live-in carer position. How do I get there? If you are arriving from another country such as South Africa or Europe, then you will most likely fly into one of the major airports. There are several around the London area. There are also several international airports further north and into Scotland.
Once you have landed at the airport you will need to find the train station. Most airports have train stations close by or accessible by using a rail link.
Gatwick provides a free tram link service from North Terminal to South Terminal where you will find the station.
Stansted airport has the railway in the basement of the building, meaning that you can walk down the ramp and right onto the platforms.
Should you need to travel by underground you will need to buy your ticket beforehand. The underground works well because the trains run so frequently. If you miss one, you will only have a few minutes to wait.
Oyster cards are used for buses in London, and you can buy them at any underground station. They are a good way to travel, as you can add money to them, and use them to fund your trip. This saves you opening your purse at any time.
Before you board a train, you need to buy a ticket. Outside every major railway there is either a ticket office or a ticket machine where you can buy a ticket. If you can book your train ticket online even before you arrive, all the better. You can then simply use the debit card and reference number to collect your ticket at the office or machine. Be aware that you need to use the same debit card to collect tickets as the one you used to buy them.
Make sure that you do not board a train without a ticket, because there is a fine for doing this. If the ticket machine is not working, all the waiting passengers will have the same reason for not having a ticket so no fine will be issued.
When booking your tickets, it is worth noting that the end destination is what you should look for. While you may want to get from Stansted Airport to Saxmundham, the end stop is Lowestoft and that will be what you look for on the destination board at the station. You can also find an assistant and check that you are getting on the right train.
Depending on the time of day or if you travel at the weekend, the train routes may change. This is due to peak times when other quieter routes may need to be used. Make sure that you listen to instructions at the station which may send you over to a different platform or to make a different change.
Having arrived at the train station of your choice, you will ned to get to your client’s home. Often there are taxis waiting outside larger stations, although small country stations are unlikely to have this service.
It is a good idea (and recommended by agencies) that you contact your client beforehand to introduce yourself. This is the time to ask how you get from the station to the house. Often the outgoing carer will come and collect you, although this may not happen all the time. She will certainly tell you the best way to get to the house. If she advises a taxi, you can call them when you are two stops away on the train so that they will be there or arrive very soon after you arrive. This will save waiting time.
Buses in the UK are normally reliable, although they may not be very regular if you are heading out into the country, so be sure you check the times.
Once you have completed your journey there are a few things to make life easier when you leave. If you have caught a taxi from station to house, make sure to get a business card with contact number on so you can call again.
Make a note of the changes in your rail journey in case you come back again. Pick up a map of the underground. These are available at all ticket offices and are free. You can keep it in your handbag or pocket for the next time.
To sum up
Travelling around the UK is very easy most of the time, although you should allow for delays in winter, normally due to snow and rain. Common sense should prevail about keeping your belongings near you, and your handbag safely out of reach. With a few simple precautions, you will arrive at your client safely, and in good time.
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