Carer Support Worker
Handbook


INTRODUCTION

I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome you to Carers Trust East Midlandsand hope that you will find satisfaction and enjoyment from your new role as a Carer Support Worker.

This handbook is designed to be a helpful tool and reminder of particularly important aspects of your role which I hope you will find useful.

Your feedback as to the content, style and relevance of the handbook will be welcome through your line-manager, in order to ensure future handbooks are as useful as possible to staff.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your valuable contribution as an employee of Carers Trust East Midlands.

Ian Turnbull

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Carers Trust East MidlandsEast Midlands

CONTENTS

SECTION 1GENERAL SCHEME INFORMATION

Aims of the Organisation

Objectives of the Organisation

Philosophy of Care

Scheme Management

Scheme Staff

Code of Conduct

National Care Standards

Process for the Delivery of Care and Support

Policy Framework

Equal Opportunities Statement

SECTION 2HEALTH AND SAFETY

Health and Safety Policy Statement

Health and Safety Training

Accident / Incident Reporting

Fire Safety

Smoking

Alcohol

First Aid

Electrical Equipment

Protective Equipment

Chemical Hazards

Medical Health

Identification Badges

Personal Safety

General Safety

SECTION 3CARE IN THE HOME

Risk Assessments

Hygiene and Infection Control

Dealing with Sharps

General and Food Hygiene

Assisted Mobility

Provision of Personal Care

Medication

Confidentiality

Child Protection

Protection of Vulnerable Adults

Challenging Behaviour

SECTION 4ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Compliments and Complaints

Key Holding Policy

Cash Handling Policy

SECTION 5PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES

Code of Conduct

Timesheets

Motor Insurance

Telephone Calls

Training

Staff Meetings

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

Travel

Gratuities

Supervision / Appraisal

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosures

Disciplinary Procedures

Working Time Regulations

SECTION 1 – GENERAL SCHEME INFORMATION

Aims of the Organisation

Carers Trust East Midlands is a specialist voluntary organisation providing support to Carers in their own homes, giving Carers ‘time’ to be themselves.

Carers Trust East Midlands is an independentincorporated charity (charity number 1051649, company number 3128684) whose geographic area of service provision is the East Midlands region. Carers Trust East Midlands is a member of Carers Trust and works within a national framework of policies and procedures and internalquality assurance programme.

In addition support, advice and guidance are available from the Association on all areas of operational activity. Established in 1995 Carers Trust East Midlands has many yearsof experience of developing and delivering services to Carers and people with care needs.

Objectives of the Organisation

Carers Trust East Midlands is committed to providing practical and emotional supportin the home in order to enable Carers and their families to have a short break from their caring responsibilities.

Charitable Object:

To relieve the stresses experienced by Carers, and children and adults who have care needs as a result of disability, illness or age, by offering a respite service through the provision of community-based support workers.

Mission Statement:

Carers Trust East Midlands promotes, offers, supports and delivers high-quality services for Carers and people with care needs.

Philosophy of Care

Carers Trust East Midlands respects the individuality of Carers and people with care needs and seeks to promote their choice, independence, dignity and safety. We believe that Carers must have access to high-quality services that enable them to fully benefit from a break from their caring responsibilities.

We will respect the privacy and personal choices, lifestyles, customs, cultures and values of each person for whom a service is provided and seek to involve Carers and people with care needs in the provision, management and development of services provided by Carers Trust East Midlands.

Carers Trust East Midlandsprovides:

  1. A person-centred service that works with the Carer and the person they care for to ensure that the service is tailor made to their needs. A Care Manager will meet Carers and the people they care for prior to the establishment of any service to discuss needs and agree the range and frequency of the service.
  2. A flexible 24 hour service that can provide support when it is most needed.
  3. A high-quality service that is audited against the standards specified in CROQUET –Carers Trust own quality evaluation tool. Carers Trust East Midlands also carries out annual service user satisfaction surveys with all Carers and people with care needs.
  4. Staff who are supervised, supported and trained to work with a wide range of disabilities and illnesses.

Management

The scheme is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of7 members whovolunteer their time and expertise. They bring a range of skills and experience to the Board and are responsible for the overall operation of the service.

The Trustees are as follows:

Ian Turnbull Chair

Richard ThomasVice Chair

Melvyn WoodcockVice Chair

Nick StringfellowTreasurer

John AstillTrustee

Jayne Savage Trustee

Jane FoxTrustee

David LiuTrustee

Lily TroupTrustee

Code of Conduct

This code has been drawn up to set standards of personal and professional conduct which will establish and sustain the highest reputation of Carers Trust East Midlands.

It applies to all people employed in a paid or voluntary capacity and who representCarers Trust East Midlands, working to help achieve the aims of Carers Trust. It forms part of the contractual relationship between Carers Trust East Midlandsand those we employ.

All Carers TrustEast Midlandsemployees must sign the Code of Conduct. A signed copy will be kept on your personnel file.

National Care Standards

Carers Trust East Midlands is registered with and regulated by the Care Quality Commission. We are required to register because our service includes the provision of personal care to people with care needs.

Our latest Inspection Report can be obtained via the CQC website

Process for the Delivery of Care and Support

Carers Trust East Midlands receives referrals from Social Services, individuals and other voluntary organisations. When the referral has been received by the Service Support Team theywill arrange for a Manager to meet the Carer and person with care needs to agree the details of the service, the times when help will be provided and how often this will be. In order to ensure the health and safety of Carers, people with care needs and our staff, all tasks will be risk assessed.

All discussions about the provision of the service will be user-led and a service plan agreed. A personal care plan will be developed with, and agreed by, the person with care needs. Carers Trust East Midlands will involve other relevant professionals in the development of the service and care plans.

All services are reviewed on an annual basis and a re-assessment is undertaken to establish any changes to the service provided

Your role as a Carer Support Worker is described in your job description and the scope of your role is defined by the national policy framework developed by Carers Trust.

Policy Framework

All Carers Trust East MidlandsCarer Support Workers, provided they adhere to the scheme’s policies (which are part of the Association’s policy framework), are covered by insurance whilst working in Carers’ homes and when out with them and/or the person for whom they care.

The policy framework covers management and service delivery policies and procedures. This handbook includes an overview of key policies, but a copy of each of the full policies is available from the office or on the staff page via our website

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

  1. Equality of opportunity is a basic right and will be given the priority it deserves by all involved in Carers Trust East Midlands.
  2. Carers Trust East Midlands is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment for all its employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, gender, marital status, sexual preference, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion or political opinion.
  3. Carers Trust East Midlands seeks to fulfil its aims regarding equal opportunities through the application of employment policies and practices which will ensure that individuals are selected, appointed, paid, trained and promoted fairly and equitably on the basis of criteria relevant to job performance.
  4. Carers Trust East Midlands will endeavour to ensure that the services provided to individuals and their families are in accordance with the policy.
  5. Carers Trust East Midlands is committed to preventing direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, marital status, sexual preference, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion or political opinion.
  6. Carers Trust East Midlands is opposed to all forms of discrimination.
  7. Breaches of policy and practice will be regarded as misconduct and could lead to disciplinary proceedings.
  8. Carers Trust East Midlands is committed to providing training and guidance in relation to equal opportunities for all staff and trustees.
  9. Carers Trust East Midlands is committed to promoting a harmonious working environment in which no worker or trustee feels under threat or intimidated because of their gender, race, marital status, sexual preference, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion or political opinion.
  10. Carers Trust East Midlands will ensure that all members of staff, trustees and potential members of staff are aware of the Equal Opportunities Policy.

The Chair of the Board of Trustees or another designated trustee will have overall responsibility for ensuring the equality of opportunity within the scheme.

SECTION 2 – HEALTH AND SAFETY

Carers Trust East Midlands has a Health and Safety Policy, which should be read by all staff.

Health and Safety Policy Statement

  1. Carers Trust East Midlands, through its Board of Trustees, will provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all employees, volunteers and visitors to Carers Trust East Midlands premises. The Management team will ensure that all necessary information, training and supervision will be provided for this purpose.
  2. Carers Trust East Midlands is committed to taking all reasonably practicable action in instigating and developing systems to ensure the health and safety of its employees. It aims to safeguard care staff and users from injury and health hazards, to prevent damage to property and actively promote the health of employees, through positive strategies.
  3. Employee participation in the establishment and maintenance of a safe and healthy environment will be encouraged. Carers Trust East Midlands will provide all necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to stimulate interest and concern amongst all employees and volunteers regarding health and safety at work.
  4. The allocation of duties for health and safety matters and the particular arrangements made to implement the Health and Safety Policy are set out in subsequent sections and appendices relating to personnel employed by Carers Trust East Midlands. The Policy will be kept up to date and directly related to the organisation’s business plan, which will reflect changes and the size and nature of the operation. The effectiveness of the Policy will be reviewed annually and amended accordingly.

Health and Safety Training

All health and safety training will be recorded on both the individual staff members’ personal file and also on a general register maintained by the HR department. Induction training will include the following core subjects:

  1. Fire safety, emergency evacuation procedures and the requirement of safety systems in users’ homes.
  2. Moving and handling training relating to manual handling as required by Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
  3. Accident reporting systems and requirements.
  4. Personal safety training – how to avoid and control incidents of personal violence and abuse.
  5. Emergency first aid procedures.
  6. Risk assessment.
  7. Hygiene and infection control.
  8. Control of Hazardous Substances on Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH).

Training will be monitored and facilitated by Carers Trust East Midlands, and staff needs will be subject to regular review through appraisal. Mandatory training is updated in line with legislative and regulatory requirements.

Accident / Incident Reporting

Health and safety legislation requires employers to keep a record of all accidents at work, whether to Carer Support Workers or service-users. Incidents must be reportedto the office within 24 hours and you will be required to come in to the office to complete an incident/accident report form as soon as practically possible after the incident. The following information will be required: date, time and location of accident, names of those involved, occupation of staff concerned and factual details of the incident itself. Records will be retained by the organisation for 7 years after the event.

Fire Safety

Many service users have not thought through the implications of fire in their own homes. Staff should ensure that evacuation plans are discussed with service users in order to ensure that everyone would know what to do in the event of a fire occurring in a Carer’s home. These procedures should be recorded in the Care Plan.

Smoking

Carers Trust believes that staff who work in people’s homes are entitled to protection from environmental tobacco smoke. We will therefore ask carers and people with care needs to consider the needs of our staff and provide them with a smoke free environment.

  • If you would prefer not to work in the homes of people who smoke, you should advise your line manager of this.
  • All new referrals will be advised of Carers Trust’s smoke free policy and carers and people with care needs will be asked to provide Carers Trust’s workers with a smoke free environment by refraining from smoking for at least an hour prior to and during any Carers Trust visit.
  • In some exceptional instances, this may not be practicable or possible. In these cases, assessment staff will conduct a risk assessment and explore what measures can be put in place to reduce the risk to staff to an acceptable level. Arrangements agreed will be documented in the care plan. You will not be required to provide services in these cases unless you are happy to do so.
  • If carers, people with care needs, or others in the house fail to observe Carers Trust’s smoke free policy or any agreed arrangements, you should advise your line manager.
  • You must not smoke when you are working in people’s homes.

Smoking is not allowed in any vehicle owned or leased by Carers Trust. Appropriate signage will be displayed in any such vehicles.Whilst smoke free legislation is not aimed at and does not apply to vehicles that are principally used for private purposes, such as staff vehicles, workers are requested to work with Carers Trust in a spirit of co-operation to prevent carers and service users being exposed to passive smoking in situations where they may be passengers in their vehicles.

Alcohol & Illegal Substances

All Carers Trust East Midlandsemployees must present themselves fit for work. At no time whilst on duty should Carers Trust East Midlandsemployees partake of any alcoholic beverage or illegal substance.

First Aid

All staff must undertake emergency first aid training before working alone in the community. Further training and refresher training must be taken as directed by the Manager. A first aid box is kept in the office which complies with health and safety regulations. All Carer Support Workers will be issued with an emergency first aid kit.

Electrical Equipment

It is the Carer’s responsibility to ensure that any equipment used by the Carer Support Worker in a Carer’s home is in good working order and properly maintained. This includes electrical equipment such as kettles, the cooker etc., and any special equipment such as hoists, stair-lifts, wheelchairs and other items. Power breakers are issued to all staff.

Protective Equipment

Disposable plastic aprons and gloves are available from the office for staff protection. Staff should take responsibility for replenishing personal supplies. In an emergency the office may post them out if required. Any other protective equipment supplied to staff remains the property of Carers Trust East Midlands. Mobility aids to assist service users are available after proper training in their usage has taken place.

Chemical Hazards

After an initial assessment of a Carer’s home, staff who come into contact with a substance listed under COSHH regulations will be issued with the relevant data sheets and trained in the correct use of that substance.

Medical Health

Any medical examination or health check that is required and related to the job description of the Carer Support Worker will be provided without charge to the individual – e.g. hepatitis inoculations.

All employees must ensure that their Line Manager is made aware of any health condition which may in any way affect their ability to perform their required duties.

Identification Badges