Frequently Asked Questions
I have
little or no care experience. Could I be a successful
carer?
What training can you offer carers?
Will I have enough work?
Why should I have a driving licence?
How often will I work?
Where will I work?
How old must I be?
Do I need to have a police check?
What should I bring to my interview?
I live in South Africa; can I have an interview
in SA?
What advice can you offer applicants living
outside the UK?
Where will I live when not on assignment?
Do I need a bank account?
What daily rate will be paid to live-in
workers?
Can I get work as a live-in nurse?
What will I be expected to do while on
assignment?
How can I make bookings even more enjoyable for my client and me?
What is the employment status of live-in
personnel?
Who pays travelling expenses?
What happens if a carer/nurse or client
is unhappy with the arrangement?
What accommodation does the client provide?
Can a live-in assistant smoke?
What is the dress code for a live-in nurse
or carer?
Does Consultus offer permanent employment?
Why should I consider temporary work?
What are Consultus' office hours?
I have another question, whom should I
ask?
I
have little or no care experience. Could I be a successful
carer?
Caring is a very satisfying vocation for many thousands
of people. Some simply enjoy helping others and take
the physical and emotional demands of the job in their
stride, others have their hearts in the right place
but realise that the work may be beyond them. To be
a successful carer you need the right maturity and passion
for the task. You also need the presence of mind to
deal with changing and sometimes demanding situations.
Most of our clients are elderly and
many are confused or in poor health so you must be capable
of patience and good humour at all times. You will be
a genuinely compassionate person; always dependable
and with plenty of common sense. There is no upper age
limit to becoming a Consultus nurse or carer but you
should be energetic and fit enough to help your clients
get out of a bath, for example, or to push them in their
wheelchair.
You must be prepared to put your social
life on hold for the duration of your assignments. You
should be a reasonable cook (or be ready to invest in
an English cook book!) You must be happy to do housework
and laundry and to keep the home you are staying in
clean and tidy. You must be prepared to undertake personal
care such as helping people to wash, dress, bathe and
use the toilet.
You must understand and speak English very well.
Inexperienced carers will initially
be allocated ‘light care’ or companionship/
housekeeping roles. We will be happy to recommend training
organisations for those who wish to learn more and increase
their earning potential.
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What training can you offer carers?
Training for your role as carer/companion is important to give you the knowledge and skills you need to tackle any eventuality, though as a self-employed carer what training you opt to do is your choice.
Consultus offers a variety of certificated distance learning training schemes at heavily subsidised prices (£5 each – the first is free!), including:
- Diabetes
- Dementia
- Fire Safety
- Food Hygiene
- Infection Control
- Promoting Continence
- Care of the Dying
Each course underpins NVQ level 2 in Care, so will prove useful should you go on to take the qualification.
We will be happy to recommend further training opportunities for those who wish to learn more and so increase their earning potential including certificated courses in safe manual handling practices (highly recommended).
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Will
I have enough work?
Consultus has hundreds of clients and it is highly unusual
for us not to be able to offer good carers as much work
as they wish for.
People with several years driving experience are particularly popular. Regrettably there is little demand for male carers, particularly men who cannot drive or who have no care experience.
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Why should
I have a driving licence?
Many of our clients own their own cars and may ask you
to drive them to visit friends, for example. Consequently
we have less work for carers who cannot drive. If you
are from overseas you may be able to use your own driving
licence for a year after entry into the UK but it is
worthwhile purchasing an easily identifiable international
driving licence for use in this country.
Photo driving licences are also widely accepted forms
of identification.
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How often will
I work?
You can choose a pattern of work that best suits you.
Some people like plenty of time off between assignments
others want only a day or two. Some carers work only
a few weeks each year but may return to us time and
time again for an enjoyable and worthwhile ‘working
holiday’.
We have new assignments starting on every day of the
week (usually ending on the same day two weeks later)
and we aim to offer you work that coincides perfectly
with your other commitments.
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Where will
I work?
We have clients in England, Scotland and Wales, though
the majority of our clients are in the south and south
east of England. You are likely to stay in some of the
most beautiful places the UK has to offer.
For consistent work and the greatest choice of assignments
you should be prepared to travel anywhere in the UK.
Your travel expenses will be paid by your client at
the end of the assignment.
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How old must
I be?
While people with some years driving experience are particularly sought after we would encourage anyone over the age of 21 who feels they have the necessary qualities to contact us. We have no upper age limit though carers must be fit enough to help frail and disabled people with their mobility and weight transference. Consultus is an official supporter of Age Positive.
We specify a minimum age because live-in carers enter positions of great responsibility where very old and vulnerable people rely solely on them to manage their health, safety and home. Unsupervised carers and companions must understand what to do in an emergency, and be capable of assessing risks. We believe from many years of experience that the best training for these skills is a few years of ‘life experience’ and this constitutes a ‘Genuine Occupational Reason’ under UK age discrimination legislation. In addition, we have a legal and moral responsibility to job seekers not to place them into positions where lack of experience may put their health and safety at risk.
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Do I need to
have a police check?
Healthcare workers in the UK must obtain a Criminal
Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure and Protection of Vulnerable
Adults check before they are allowed by law to work
in the healthcare sector. Both are obtained by completing
a form that we will give you. Unlike many agencies,
we do not charge a commission on the standard government
fee. Please note that due to legislation introduced
in 2004, no healthcare employer may accept a previously
obtained disclosure, regardless of how recently it was
obtained. Therefore, to avoid purchasing additional
disclosures, you should register first with an agency
that has plenty of work, such as Consultus.
If you have lived abroad you should
also obtain a police check from that country.
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What should I bring to my interview?
Please click the link for information about your interview.
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I live in South
Africa; can I have an interview in SA?
Yes. We have Consultants in Cape Town and Pretoria who can interview you and help
to find you work though you are most welcome to apply
directly to us in the UK if you prefer. You will still
need to visit our UK office in due course to complete
your CRB application form. Qualified nurses must have
their formal interview in England.
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What advice can
you offer applicants living outside the UK?
For more information click
here
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Where will I live when not on assignment?
You must have somewhere to stay when you are not working
and you may have friends or family with whom you can
live between bookings.
The websites http://www.visitbritain.com/,
http://www.visitus.co.uk/,
and http://www.britainexpress.com/
can advise on local accommodation including ‘bed
and breakfast’ hotels and hostels.
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Do I need
a bank account?
You will be paid by cheque so you need to have a UK
bank account.
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What daily
rate will be paid to live-in workers?
The daily rate for live-in carers is currently between
£57 and £84.50. The rate is determined by
the level of each client’s need. If a carer
holds relevant qualifications and is experienced it
may be possible to place her with clients whose needs
are greater and the daily rate will therefore be towards
the top end of the scale. Additional payments are made
for Public and Bank Holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. When in bookings you also get room, board and travel
expenses.
Please call the Nursing Manager on 01732 355231 for
details of our very competitive pay for qualified nurses.
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Can I get
work as a live-in nurse?
Our live-in or ‘residential’ nurses must be sufficiently experienced to cope on their own without local supervision. You must therefore have at least three years post-registration nursing experience, ideally with older people. Our nurses are RN1 ‘general’ nurses with at least six months prior experience of working as a nurse in the UK.
If you are a less experienced nurse, a student nurse, you are registered only as a mental health or paediatric nurse, or you are not registered with the UK’s Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), you can apply for work as a Consultus live-in carer.
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What will
I be expected to do while on assignment?
Personal care needs will vary from client to client
and you will be briefed about a particular client’s
needs before you go.
Tasks may include helping your client
to dress, wash and bathe, helping them with toileting
and perhaps assisting them to eat. ‘Personal care’
also means providing emotional support and generally
helping them to enjoy a better life. Some clients may
only need companionship, a reminder to take their medication
or an arm to steady them when walking, but for regular
work you must be prepared to do some physical personal
care. Only registered nurses are permitted to carry
out nursing tasks such as wound care and injections.
You will be given as much information
as possible about a client before the booking commences.
It is Consultus’ practice to keep in touch with
carers by phone to make sure they do not get out of
their depth.
Each booking will probably also involve
cooking, shopping, and housekeeping. Carers are expected
to keep the client's home clean and tidy with particular
attention to the kitchen and bathroom. Often, the client
has a car that they need the carer to drive on their
behalf. It is essential that carers in these bookings
hold the requisite driving licence and that the client
arranges for the appropriate insurance cover.
You will aim to be a good companion and help motivate and encourage your clients with a range of enjoyable, stimulating activities (see next question). You need to behave as formally or as casually, or be as cheerful or discreet as your client likes you to be.
You will probably work an average eight- to ten-hour
day (not necessarily consecutive hours) but you must
always be on hand to help the client if they need you.
Any time off must be agreed between you and the client
or their representative. You can claim an agreed additional
sum if you are called during the night.
At the end of the assignment you will
be expected to meet any replacing nurse or carer and
update them on the client’s needs and routine,
etc.
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How can I make bookings even more enjoyable for my client and me?
It is important for most people’s social well-being that they are appropriately stimulated, and undertaking activities like these with your client can make each day more special for you both:
- Have a chat about ‘old times’
- Suggest looking at old photo albums or family cine films/videos
- Discuss current affairs or news in the local paper
- Have a game of cards, chess, dominoes, Scrabble…
- Do the crossword together
- Help write letters to old friends
- Go on a short walk
- Work together in the garden
- Hire a video of their choice
- Arts and crafts
- A trip to the seaside, village pub or a picnic
- An evening out at a theatre or fashion show
- Suggest a course, e.g. flower arranging, using a computer
Find out what your client likes doing, what are their pet likes and dislikes? Do they have a particular interest or hobby? Look around – do you see books on certain subjects or a theme to their decorative taste? If your client is reserved or uncommunicative then family members may suggest a way to motivate their relative, as may the carer or nurse you’re replacing. Some carers take board games or puzzle books with them to get the ball rolling.
Not every client will want or be able to participate in every activity (don’t be too pushy or exhaust your client!) and It might be wise to check with the client’s GP before doing anything that is potentially strenuous.
What is the
employment status of live-in personnel?
Nurses are usually employed under a ‘contract
for services’ and are paid by us.
Carers are classed as self-employed and are responsible
for their own income tax and National Insurance (we
can give new workers a form which very easily sets him
or her up as a self-employed person). The client pays
the carer by cheque, usually at the end of each week
of the booking. Consultus is an introductory agency
and does not supervise or direct care during the assignment
– the client is your employer and should give
daily instructions.
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Who pays travelling expenses?
Live-in carers can claim travelling expenses of up
to £60.00. This is to pay for their return trip
from their base to the client’s home and is paid
directly by the client to the carer. Expenses in excess
of £60.00 must be cleared with the client or their
representative in advance of the booking and there may
sometimes be a need to compromise. As expenses will
probably not be reimbursed until the end of the first
week or the end of the booking it is necessary for carers
to ensure that they have enough money to pay for the
fare to the client’s home. Depending on circumstances,
carers leaving a booking at short notice may have to
pay their own return travel costs.
Live-in nurses claim their travelling
costs on their first week’s timesheet and are
paid by us along with their wages.
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What happens if a carer/nurse or client
is unhappy with the arrangement?
If there are difficulties with a booking or a clash
of personalities between carer and client, either party
may contact Consultus. If necessary, we will arrange
for a replacement, usually to arrive within a day or
two.
You should never leave a booking until
a replacement arrives and a proper handover
has taken place. We may refuse further work to anyone
who does so.
In the highly unlikely event that a client asks you to leave their premises immediately you should do so but please call our office/on-call team immediately for advice. Also contact the next of kin if the client will otherwise be left alone..
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What accommodation does the client
provide?
A separate clean and comfortable bedroom. Most clients
also provide a TV in the bedroom or second living room.
You will also have full access to the kitchen and bathroom.
The client will meet the cost of the room and three
meals a day and will make no charge for gas, electricity
etc., however you should never make private calls or connect your laptop to the Internet using the client’s telephone line, even if they give you permission to do so.
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here.
Can a live-in assistant smoke?
Anti-smoking legislation does not apply to workplaces that are private dwellings but we ask clients who smoke to come to a suitable compromise so that carers are not exposed to the dangers of passive smoking.
In fact, most clients do not smoke and carers are usually asked not to smoke in their homes. Where smoking is permitted by the client we would not expect you to do so in areas of the house where the client or other members of the household have regular access. We also ask that you keep your bedroom ‘smoke-free’ because your replacement may not smoke and a room that has remained free of smoke will make for a more pleasant living environment. Wherever possible, we do not place carers who smoke in non-smoking placements.
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What is the
dress code for a live-in nurse or carer?
Carers are expected to dress neatly. To meet their client
for the first time, women should wear a skirt or dress
and men smart trousers. Clean casual clothes are normally
acceptable while on duty, though nurses are often expected
to wear a uniform (loaned by Consultus). A good outfit
should be taken for special occasions. Facial piercing
and excess make-up are not acceptable.
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Does
Consultus offer permanent employment?
Consultus does not usually arrange for staff to work
for any one client on a permanent basis. However, if
a client wishes a carer to remain permanently an introduction
fee will be charged to the client.
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Why should
I consider temporary work?
The UK has a thriving “temp” workforce.
A recent survey* of temporary workers found:
| • |
54.4% decided
to register for temp work because of the flexible
hours and lifestyle offered, |
| • |
29% to learn skills or gain experience, and |
| • |
17% to fill an employment gap or as a route into
more permanent employment. |
| • |
90.5% said that their experience of temping was
a “positive” or “very positive”
one. |
| • |
Over 80% said that temporary
work had improved their skills, professional capabilities
and employability. |
| • |
92% said they would recommend
temp work to friends (those who said they would
not recommend temping: just 2.3%). |
* Survey Conducted by Swift Employee
Benefits, 2005. Over 80% of the respondents had been
temping for more than a year with an overall 22.7% having
been registered as a temp for over four years.
What
are Consultus' office hours?
Office hours are 9.00 am to 1.00 pm, and 2.15 pm to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
There is an answerphone for evening and weekend calls. The answerphone message
gives a mobile number that may be called in genuine emergencies.
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I
have another question, whom should I ask?
If you have not found the answer to all your questions
please ring our consultants during normal office hours.
Please click the ‘Contact
Us’ link for options.
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