care work - difficult people

bitsandpieces

liney wrote: »

The women hasn't booked "job and knock" she's booked 30 minuites. Would you stay after 30 minuites if you hadn't finished and still only charge for half an hour? No, you would say "I'm only booked for half an hour". If you booked a cleaner for 2 hours and she left after 1 hour because she had "finished", but handed in a timesheet for 2 hours would you feel short changed or even accuse them of fraud?

The time is obviously an issue hence the comment about you owing her time to post a letter. I think you need to find out why she prefers the other carers? What do they do that you don't? Or you could ask the agency to supply her with a different carer of course.

Yes. I've had jobs where I left early if I finished early (or, sometimes, if I had something else on that day). The quid-pro-quo was that I stayed longer or did other bits and pieces when there was more work to do. I can understand why someone would feel short-changed if this only worked one way (you leaving early...)

It's not good that you don't get paid to travel between clients and that timing is too tight This isn't this client's fault, though, and I can understand why she would be annoyed by the issue of timing.

Errata

I wonder if the carers are the only people this lady sees day in, day out and she's in a way offloading all her anger, frustration and anxiety at the only targets she has access to ? How do the other carers find her ? Have they developed strategies for keeping things on an even keel they could pass on ?

It's a difficult situation for the OP but a very sad one for the elderly lady. Frankly, if I had to pay for 30 mins and only got 10 or 15 minutes on some visits, my roaring would be heard in Moscow ! Of course travelling time has to be taken into account, but it's devious and underhanded of any care agency if they don't explain to the client that they have to pay travelling time as well as care time. Information is not a privilege, it's a right.

In the short term, perhaps the OP could approach the client and situations that develop in the same way they would approach a caged, unpredictable, angry lion: with understanding and compassion for the situation and not take snarling attacks as personal attacks. If everything that happens to home care workers is taken to heart by them they can easily find themselves too anxious to be able to do the best job of work they're capable of.

seven-day-weekend

I too would be annoyed if I'd paid for thirty minutes and was only given twenty. To be fair, the travelling time problem is nothing to do with this lady, you need to sort it out with the agency.

honeyD

liney wrote: »

The women hasn't booked "job and knock" she's booked 30 minuites. Would you stay after 30 minuites if you hadn't finished and still only charge for half an hour?

Yes I would, and do on a daily basis. One lady I get 30 minutes yet everything that needs doing I struggle to get done in that time and ends up taking 45. I take this on the chin because I cant just leave the poor lady in the shower or without breakfast just because my 30 mins are up - this cuts into my own time but I do not mind since she is a nice lady and wants a shower on a morning or she feels dirty.

liney wrote: »

If you booked a cleaner for 2 hours and she left after 1 hour because she had "finished", but handed in a timesheet for 2 hours would you feel short changed or even accuse them of fraud?

But I dont put that I was there for that length of time. If Im there 20 minutes I put 20 minutes. Im not committing fraud against anyone! The company has a rule that if you work 20 minutes you get paid for 30. If you work 50 minutes you get the hours pay. If there is more work to do then obviously I would stay. If she was easier to talk to obviously I would stay. If she didnt talk to me like carp obviously I would stay!

liney wrote: »

I think you need to find out why she prefers the other carers? What do they do that you don't?

I dont gossip about other people/clients.

Sometimes my rota is set up to be at one house at say 9:00 - 9:30 then the next house at 9:30 - 10:00, with no time to get between, especially since I walk and dont drive and especially when the houses are 15-20mins walk apart. Some times I do have time to walk which is great but I still dont get paid for it lol.

Little_Miss_Saving_Money

Hi Honey,:)

First of all I just want to say, you are doing a brilliant job, I have worked as a carer for 5 years and at times it is a very difficult, :mad:demanding and thankless:eek: job and not many people would stick at it a week!

There has been some good advice given by others on here and most I agree with. A good starting point would be to ask your Manager for extra training and guidelines on how to deal with "P". It will get easier and when you think, majority of your "customers" are very happy with you. Like in any job there will always be "one" who upsets the apple cart so to speak.

I hope you feel not so alone now you have expressed your thoughts on here and hope you have gained some comfort from posting. Keep up the excellent work you do!

PS. Fantastic news also on the weight loss! Good luck with everything LMSM:rotfl:

stripedwellies

If Im there 20 minutes I put 20 minutes. Im not committing fraud against anyone! The company has a rule that if you work 20 minutes you get paid for 30. If you work 50 minutes you get the hours pay.

The reason you get paid for the full time is because the client is also paying for the full time regardless of what is being signed for.

Nobody here can help you properly. We can't see the dynamics. Time is without a shadow of doubt part of the issue here though.

Training is good but nothing beats a bit of self-analysis at the end of a shift in the early days which these still are for you.It doesn't look as though the agency is helping much.

The agency are being diabolical not allowing travel time.

Next time you've finished after 20 mins, stay and chat. Offer to make a cup of tea. List the things you've done and ask is there anything else she'd like that could be done within 5 mins. Rather than dread every visit, treat this woman as a challenge and you are determined to win her over.It may never work if she is just one of those types but worth taking on the challenge to focus your mind.

liney

honeyD, don't think i'm picking on you. I'm trying to point out from the Clients point of view that she simply isn't getting what she is paying for. I see that it's largely the agency's fault for scheduling, not yours, but even so the woman is being billed for 30 mins and not recieving it. If it was my mother, gran, etc i'd be furious. Often people who are reliant are scared to "make waves" so she's probably seething quietly.

You mention gossip.... gossip about something appropriate with her. Perhaps she's just loney.

Errata

I dont gossip about other people/clients

Discussing with other home care workers with whom you share responsibility for caring for a client is not gossiping. It's a discussion about how a client's needs and wants can best be met and how they can be appropriately supported.
I have to say, if you think that's gossiping, you have a great deal to learn and the sooner you learn it the easier you will be able to do your job in a professionaly and competent manner and the more your clients will benefit.

Blackpool_Saver

speedbird1973 wrote: »

Unfortunatly Care Assistant = Minimum Wage - If they weren't employed a min wage, the homes would go bust and there'd be no care homes. Half of the assistants must have an NVQ that are working at a home, the rest can have no qualifications at all.

Yes I worked in many of them years before you were born and I saw things which were harrowing to say the least.

I have friends who still do the same work and still tell the same stories, very scary.

The whole system needs an overhaul.

The social services standards scheme is a joke.

honeyD

Errata wrote: »

Discussing with other home care workers with whom you share responsibility for caring for a client is not gossiping. It's a discussion about how a client's needs and wants can best be met and how they can be appropriately supported.
I have to say, if you think that's gossiping, you have a great deal to learn and the sooner you learn it the easier you will be able to do your job in a professionaly and competent manner and the more your clients will benefit.

I meant gossipping with clients about other clients, not the other workers...