When starting out as a new live-in carer it can be very daunting to be on your own with a new client. Everything is new and strange, and you feel like you have had far too much dropped into your lap.
Suddenly you are the person who is responsible for taking care of the house and all that this entails. It is you who are shouldering the burden of hospital and GP appointments, arranging for prescriptions to be refilled, shopping to be done, meals to be cooked, laundry handled and the house to be clean. All this even before you realise that your new client has more needs than you ever thought possible!
Why doesn’t my agency call me?
Many agencies will call a new live-in carer once a week or fortnight to see if all is going well. In fact, most agencies will do this as a matter of routine because they are genuinely concerned about your welfare. Remember that it is their name that is on the line and they want to know that you are working as they tell their new clients.
What is important to remember is that agencies often have several hundreds of live-in carers on their books and they are always faced with issues such as carers who become ill, clients who pass away and carers who need work right away. Not to mention a weekly influx of brand-new carers who are all looking for placements. Little wonder that they don’t call as often as we may like!
The truth of the matter is that agencies, once they have ascertained that you are safely in your placement, doing the job they asked you to, and are somewhat satisfied with your client, will tend to leave you alone.
What if I need them?
Unless you instigate a conversation with your agency or support group you may find that you very seldom hear from them. Literally they are leaving you to do your job because they have other things to do. Carers must be found for clients and often carers are needed urgently to fill placements. They may simply be running around themselves.
If you do genuinely need your agency for anything, they will listen. You may need to be very straight with your support team and explain very clearly that you need help with your issue. If you are vague about ‘not being very happy with Mrs A’ they will simply advise you to try a little longer.
If things are not working out or you have any other serious problems, you must phrase your conversation in a positive yet definite way. There is no point in saying that you don’t get along.
You will get a better response when they realise that they will have to intervene on your behalf. ‘I don’t like the way my client treats me’ will not get you very far. However, a sentence like ‘my client constantly swears and shouts at me’ is a very definite issue and prompts a response.
To sum up
If your agency leaves you alone, it also means that they are confident that you are doing a good job, also that you can be left alone to do it without being checked on every week. Take that as a compliment.
Remember that if you do have serious issues you should contact your agency. Also remember that they have their own jobs to do and can be very busy. If all is well with you and your client, then enjoy it and be happy.
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