Employing someone?

radicalnan You hit the nail right on the head! Indeed you should write the training manual!! You said;
"Care staff are there to perform practical stuff and provide support, not to burden their clients with worries and concerns." and gave examples. Brilliant! Thanks.
I wish I had been able to quote this when my mum was alive! I went through an awful time feeling like the "baddie" because I was not happy about the carer who did exactly what the OP has described! I eventually met the girl and knew my doubts were confirmed. No carer worth their salt talks about their own wages or personal problems. Maybe they can chat in a positive, friendly way about the funny things their children do... but never so as to make the person feel sorry for them or worry about them. This girl was the ultimate manipulative con-artist.

I agree that concerns over rates of pay should not be discussed by the carers. It's difficult though when you are working with a client on a regular basis personal issues can creep in.
There is no way the carer should suggest private payments either that's unethical. The agency provides all the employment costs, cover, training etc.
Gifts over the value of £5 should not be offered or accepted
as someone else said.
It's a minefield though and not all agencies pay or train their staff to an appropriate standard.

Am I wrong in thinking that if mum has all her mental capacities then the decision is up to her?

We changed to having recommended private carers for my 95 year old mother ( my brother lives with her ) as she didn't like having different ones each time and coming at 6pm to get her into bed ! We have two lovely women who are friendly but professional . They used to work for the council but also got fed up with being given time limits for each client . Yes we do pay cash I'm afaid and give them holiday and sick pay . Not sure about NI , they could work less than the mimimum hours each . I will have to check with Big Brother !

Am I wrong in thinking that if mum has all her mental capacities then the decision is up to her?

That's the challenge with the family member/carer relationship marionk. If the mother requires the daughter to administer this it is no different to saying "if my daughter wants me to care for her children two days a week, it's up to her. Well no, it isn't. If you are relying on someone else they are involved in the decision making. This would require a large amount of extra work and the daughter having to take on a legal relationship with the carer. The mother may feel she is saving money but it sounds as if it could well be at the daughter's cost.

None of it is easy and there is no black and white, sadly. Even your comment about someone's having "all her mental capacities" isn't as simple as it sounds.

Whether you pay cash in hand is up to you SusieB50, if your mother doesn't have a PoA or need additional care for which you will need financial help from the local authority. In each of those cases you will have to supply accounts so paying cash in hand, whatever you think of it morally - and I can see why people might go down that path - it could be difficult to explain under those circumstances.

Hmm I agree with you GracesGran- she does have a POA ,we are both named but my brother does most of the financial stuff and I do the health . He also pays the cleaner in cash she's been with mum for 25 years+ when everyone paid in cash . She would get no help from social services - too much money !! If she ever needs full time care she would pay for a live in carer plus me .....

I have direct experience of this from the other side, a close friend was employing a girl from the village directly and she became upset when the girl became overinvolved in her life and over stepped boundaries as there was no clear employee/employer boundary. Since using carers from an agency she is much happier.

If you pay someone, even cash in hand, you are employing them. You are therefore responsible for sick pay, holiday pay, maternity pay and you have to register as an employer so you can pay their national insurance. You are also responsible for their work place pension. You have to have health and safety assessments on everything they do. (Can do that yourself).
You might need work place insurance incase they hurt themselves.
You can contact the care agency you are using and ask that your mum only has 2 or 3 carers. That way your mum had continuity if someone is sick or on holiday.
Good luck

Bump for Loopyloo

Sorry that should have been for Synonymous

This is my line of work, rates of pay are too low for carers who play a valuable part in society replacing families who once would have done this caring.
There is an increasing black market in jobs as individuals struggle with low pay. It’s a risk on both parts but it works for lots of people and always has done.
Protect mum, choose carers wisely, install cameras, read CQC standards and ratings on the internet. Monitor the carer and have frequent conversations with mum and carer(s).

This post is 10 months old now, with no recent replies from the OP.....either the situation has been resolved, or possibly the 90yr old mother is no longer around...

The point about using an agency is that they send a replacement if your care has a day off, is ill or goes on holiday. This doesn’t happen if you employ someone directly. My mother’s career comes from an agency but wanted my mother to sack her cleaner so she could be paid to do the cleaning. We decided it was better to keep this separate too.

Hi
I don't know if anyone can help, i am looking for an asian carer to help my elderly mum wash and dress everyday, she has numerous health issues including dementia.Looking for someone who is prepared to travel to Wimbledon.

Having used carers and agencies for a few years, may I add my two pennarth?

Agencies get clients to sign a form which says they cannot `poach` a carer, until they have left the agency for 6 months - 1 year. They could `fine` the client large sums of money, as the agency has trained, found and done DBS `s on carers.

Personally I prefer to engage my carers directly on Direct Payments. Agencies charge far more....sometimes treble the amount the LA gives us to spend on carers. My carers are protected with contracts and insurance.