Spring Newsletter 2010
Extreme weather never stops our Carers!
Here we go again! Our yearly newsletter, which is mainly for carers but you may wish to show your copy
to your client.
Firstly Jane, Julie and Christine would like to thank everyone for their loyalty and hard work over the
past year, and for keeping the name QUALITY CARERS so highly regarded.
The majority of clients now come from personal recommendation, which speaks for itself. YOU are our
flagship and we are grateful and proud of you all .
Once again we would like to say thank you to all those carers who agreed to work over the Christmas
period– Particular thanks to those carers who battled through the dreadful weather just before
Christmas and into January, to ensure that they kept to the agreed arrangements re: handover etc.
Some even managed to get through on Eurotunnel even when all seemed lost, and one of our South
African carers landed just before the airport closed– what a welcome for her !!!
2009 was not an easy year, however 2010 is already looking very much brighter, since Christmas we
have already gained four new clients and as some of you will know, we are welcoming back carers who
thought they had retired!!!
Annual Inspection
The inspector has decided no visit is required this year, but nevertheless questionnaires have been sent out
to clients and carers. Very shortly the report will be available to see on the CQC website— www.cqc.org.uk.
We are sure you will be pleased with some of the following quotes taken from the report.
‘Everything
Everything we require is done well’
‘Quality Carers provide carers who are mature, caring responsible and friendly`
‘The service as a whole is very nearly perfect’
‘Staff members reported feeling supported by managers of the agency’ (thankyou
(thankyou for this particular
comment)
This is an excellent report, and we are delighted with the outcomes, however we will not rest on our laurels,
and will continue to maintain these high standards.
We are sometimes asked by carers about further training, as self-employed
carers it is your responsibility to book and attend training. However we do
have information on D.V.D training for domiciliary care staff. If you would like
more information then please get in touch with the office.
Read On…………………………
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Spring Newsletter 2010
! ! ! M A N UA L H A N D L I N G C O U R S E S ! ! !
Christine will be holding the Manual Handling courses on:
18th Feb,
18th March, 29th April,
It is very important that your manual handling certificates are kept up to
date. It is your responsibility to attend these courses, as failure to do so may
effect your employment opportunities. Those whose certificates have lapsed
will have a reminder included with this newsletter. The cost is £75 and the
certificate lasts for two years.
Carers without an up to date certificate may not have the first priority when
we are allocating work.
work
Jane, Julie and
Christine wish you
all a Happy,
prosperous and
successful 2010
St. John and St. Elizabeth hospital in London hold courses and allow our
carers to attend. The number is 0207 4046343
INSURANCE
We as a company are covered for public liability but if you want extra peace of mind
one of our carers has insurance with a company called Marchment, McKechnie & Co.
Tel: 0800 458 3301 or 01482 882223.
Contact Quality Carers for further information.
You could also try Direct Care Insurance which is underwritten by Zurich Insurance
Company. Tel: 0800 4853301 ask for ‘Home care’
Dee Wilkinson, one of our valued carers unfortunately has been diagnosed with cancer she wrote the following to you all as something worth thinking about:
‘This is for all you carers we do need to have insurance cover. It is important
and we should not adopt the attitude it will not happen to me.
I did not have insurance cover and could have done with it right now. I could
kick myself for not taking the advice we were given by the agency. Believe me
benefits do not kick in for a long time and they are minimal.
So for the sum of approximately one days pay you are covered and can have
peace of mind for when and if you need it.
It is too late for me now but it is something you should consider.’
Dee Wilkinson
Dee also wrote as a thank you to all her friends in Quality Carers.:
In August 2009 my whole world came crashing down and around when I was diagnosed with
renal cancer.
In the time of my greatest need for friends a lot of girls rose to the occasion . The telephone
calls, words of encouragement, prayers, flowers, food, visits and cash donations. I have been
most humbled by your generosity and kindness. There are too many of you to mention by
name, but you all know who you are. A big thankyou to all of you. These two little words do not
seem adequate.
I needed everyone to know that when it comes down to the crunch you are all wonderful,
caring people to both clients and fellow colleagues. You are like angels sent from heaven.
Thanks again
Dee Wilkinson.
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w w w . qu a l i ty c a r e rs . c o m
WEBWEB-SITE UPDATE
AND FLYERS
Our web-site continues to be successful. We are planning a new video, some of you will have seen
the present video that is linked to the website. The new video should be on the web-site late spring.
We have some more flyers—should you want any please ask.
INVICTUS
The new Clint Eastwood film ‘Invictus’
released on Feb 5th may be of
interest to some of our carers.
It is about the 1995 Rugby
World Cup, held in South
Africa, which the Springboks
won.
Nelson
Mandela used it
as a springboard for uniting
th e pe opl e . The ti tl e
INVICTUS
means
unconquered in Latin, and
Mandela used the poem as
inspiration for his twenty
seven years in detention.
The poem was written in the 1870’s and
may not be the greatest poem ever
written, but it stems from a time when
everyone used poems as inspiration in
life’s darkest moments. So when you are
having a bad day and feeling sorry for
yourself, read this poem, to find
inspiration.
INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
By William Ernest Henley
An Article about a change in direction–
direction– life as a carer
January 2009 marked the start of my own personal credit crunch. I’ve
spent the past two decades (my entire adult life) writing for a living – So
it was a shock when my regular work . Many companies have made
cutbacks in the recession, and I’m one of the casualties. Then a friend
from London rang to say that she needed someone to help look after
her elderly mother, who lived alone in a village
The prospect of doing something completely different – and worthwhile
– really appealed to me. I’ve always felt slightly envious of people in the
caring professions, who can finish each working day with the knowledge
that they’ve done something useful.
I can’t pretend I wasn’t also slightly apprehensive: would I be expected
to clean commodes and sort out her crochet? But my elderly client and I
hit it off immediately. She told me I was her only hope of fending off her
doctors’ demands that she return to hospital .
Despite her failing health, she was determined to remain in her own
home. What she craved was company and conversation to distract her
from the pain, and some help with the jobs she could no longer manage.
I’m no expert. I have no caring qualifications. But I listened to her and
responded without trotting out platitudes or patronizing her.
We quickly discovered a mutual passion for literature, which provided
her with a crucial escape route from her armchair. She read at least one
novel a day and kept a diary in which she gave each book marks out of
ten, with comments such as ‘Couldn’t put it down’ or ‘Very dull indeed’.
When she asked me to run her a bath, a couple of days after we first
met, I felt less nervous than the first time I bathed my newborn babies. I
eased her wasted limbs out of their cashmere, lowered her into the bath
and washed her while she luxuriated in the temporary pain relief of the
hot water. Caring is one of the few jobs in which it’s possible to make a
real difference to someone’s quality of life.
I feel privileged to have been given the chance to discover – thanks to
the recession – a career option that makes me feel good about myself: I
would leave the job knowing I’d brightened her life. My glimpse into the
caring profession has made me appreciate the importance of giving the
elderly that most precious commodity – time.
I only knew her for six weeks, but we became extremely close: I knew
instinctively when she needed to talk and when she wanted to sit quietly
and read.
At the funeral, several of her friends and relations came up and thanked
me for helping to make the end of her life more tolerable. As we threw
fresh flower petals on to the willow casket, I thanked her for enriching
mine.
Since she died, I’ve had a few commissions, but job security doesn’t
exist in this recession, so being resourceful and open to new ideas is
essential. If I don’t secure some more work soon, I’ll be scouring the
local newsagents’ windows in search of another caring role.
Perhaps she should sign
on with quality carers,
where all our carers
care.
Carers Corner!
Carer’s chance to air
their views, ideas and to
contribute.
Stop Press
If a client asks
you to return after
your initial
assignment,
please do not
make any
commitments,
and refer them to
the agency.
Thankyou to all
the carers who
have amended
their profile. It’s
keeping Jane
quiet updating
all the
information !!!!
Information for our carers
Anyone over sixty is entitled to a free energy saving assessment in their homes,
re cavity walls and loft insulation. Ring your local authority energy saving department for a free home visit.
Many carers phone in advance with dates that they are able to work, we then try our
best to work around these dates, however we find that the carers often change their
plans, and are unable to work for one reason or another—mind reading is not one our
many talents!!!!! So we’d be grateful if you could let us know of any changes as soon as
possible. Thanks.
Whilst we do not encourage tittle tattle, we do need to know if carers feel there are some
concerns regarding another carer, e.g. taking advantage of a client, which you know would
go against the reputation of Quality carers and our Code of Practice ( which you all have a
copy of) you must inform the office if you have any concerns as we need to be aware of
any possible issues before they escalate. All calls would be treated confidentially.
On handover please will all carers leave enough food in the fridge for the following day and
prepare lunch for the day of the handover if the carer is arriving between 1212-1.30pm, as there
may not be enough time for the new carer to prepare and serve lunch as soon as they arrive. This
is a concern that has been expressed by carers when arriving at new clients during lunch time.
Carers bedrooms are to be left with clean sheets, if we all follow the same rules no one should
have any complaints.
Sorry - left the nagging until last !!!!!
Once again………
• Log Books– These are for factual information regarding the days events e.g. change in medication, falls etc. Please
do not use them as a form of personal vendetta against other carers or indeed clients. Clients and their families are
entitled to read these log books, more importantly these books can be used as evidence in a court of law, or at a
coroners court– and indeed have been. Also remember that these books are expensive to produce and generally
speaking two lines at the most should suffice. In addition Julie sent each client an information manual which must
be kept with the log book, these seem to be going missing, Christine will be contacting carers to see if another
manual is needed. If you want your own copy send £5 to us for a copy (other agencies charge for this service)
• Please do not use clients addresses for personal mail, as this is a source of irritation to clients when carers have left
and their mail is still being sent.
• Do not ring any other number for Quality Carers other than 0207 633 0796. Some of you use the 1471 facility when
you have been out and another number may come up. The reason for this is that the Quality Carers number is
diverted to that line depending on who is on duty. Therefore please do not use this number or leave messages on it,
as they may not be picked up for sometime if the person who called from that number is away. It is the official 0207
633 0796 phone number that is checked regularly and therefore this is the only number to be used.
• Please ensure you ring the client and carer you are taking over from several days before you go. We know that you all
become anxious when you don’t hear from an incoming carer so remember to apply that when you are due to take on
a position. Please note that you should arrive at new clients between 12 and 1.30pm.
Ensure you understand it is your responsibility to ring at least several days in advance–
advance– we should not get any
last minute calls from outgoing carers asking for the incoming carers number
• A very important issue is the client’s medication. Carers are not qualified themselves to make a decision to alter
medication. A course of medication must be finished completely unless you feel it is doing real harm to then; and
then and only then should you ring the doctor to discuss the matter with them. Only under written instruction from the
doctor should any medication be changed / altered.
altered Please do not put your-self in a position where you could be held
personally responsible.
Latest update….. As yet no more news on the registration of carers, which was supposed to be implemented by 2008...watch this space!