QUESTION:
What is the difference between a regulated care provider and an introductory agency?
ANSWER:
Promedica24 are a regulated care provider which means that the Care Quality Commission, a government appointed organisation, oversee our service, our carers, and our team. They perform regular checks to ensure that we are offering families a safe, responsive, and well managed service and that all our team are correctly trained to meet the needs of our clients. Introductory Agencies or Personal Assistants are not regulated to provide support with medication, personal care or more complex needs. They do not have care managers in place to support families to prepare care plans and check that everything is working well. As a regulated care provider Promedica24 manage changeovers, liaise with social workers, and work proactively healthcare professionals unlike non-regulated care organisations who place a self-employed carer with a family and take an introductory fee.
QUESTION:
It is 24/7 care but how many hours do the carers work?
ANSWER:
Promedica24 as a responsible employer comply with all UK employment regulations. Our care managers will monitor all activity and hours worked by live-in carers to ensure they do not work more than an average of 40 hours over a week. There is sufficient ‘downtime’ during a normal day when a live-in carer is on standby to support, assist or make a drink or snack outside the specified care duties like personal care or medication needs. Sitting down in the evening watching the TV together is an important added benefit of companionship that is almost a non-chargeable benefit.
QUESTION:
How long do the carers stay with a client at home?
ANSWER:
A live-in carer coming into the home is a privilege that we do not take for granted. We understand that clients wish to minimise the disruption and inconvenience of having support and care. Once we select the right person from our team our carers live-in for 6-8 weeks before there is a changeover, and another carer takes over for a further 6-8 weeks. It then rotates from there. This way our client and carer can really get to know each other, and their families have full peace of mind knowing the same person is in place for minimum six weeks.
