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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is bullshit and want everyone to know?

120 replies

Fuckbrexit · 02/02/2020 19:18

I'm a mature NHS student, I needed to pick up some part time work so decided on community care to earn a bit of cash and develop my care skills and manual handling etc. I've worked in the sector before but office based so had some awareness of the job but I'm bloody shocked!

I've been expected to start at 6am minimum, drive miles to pick up double up non driving carer to then double back to drive 15 miles (going past my house) to first call (unpaid travel). Then work all day without a break, literally not even 10 minutes between calls and driving, no travel time at all. I get home close to midnight then have to get up at 5am to start again. All I can eat and drink all day is what I can grab from the back seat and put in my mouth while driving. So near 18 hour days and 200 miles a day driving (for which I get paid for 12 hours max) and 6 hours between shifts.

I only do this at weekends but full time carers do it 5/6 days a week and think it's normal!

How can this be safe for the carers? How can clients be getting decent care when calls are cut short to allow for travel? Am I being naive here or do people in general not know how bloody awful it is?

I don't even know why I'm posting really, I just can't see why this isn't a national scandal!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fuckbrexit · 02/02/2020 19:28

I would genuinely love to know what people think about this, especially those who have voted IABU!

OP posts:
Hoik · 02/02/2020 19:34

How can this be safe for the carers? How can clients be getting decent care when calls are cut short to allow for travel? Am I being naive here or do people in general not know how bloody awful it is?

It's not safe and its not providing vulnerable people with adequate care. The whole care system is a joke and not fit for purpose with many people working in the field who should be nowhere near any sort of caring role.

Don't even get me started on family carers who put in the same level of work as employed carers but for far less money - £66.15 a week for 35hrs care (which, for family carers, is more like 24/7 care).

Lionsleepstonight · 02/02/2020 19:39

Who do you have to pick up the non driver? Why is that your problem?

PorpentinaScamander · 02/02/2020 19:40

Yanbu and it's not safe.
But until care work starts paying a decent wage people won't do it. And until more people do it it will always be like this.

Otoh I do worry that if it becomes 'well-paid' it will attract people who do it for the money and not because they care.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 02/02/2020 19:42

Id say no to collecting your colleague. Is that part in your contract?

Hoik · 02/02/2020 19:42

At the moment there wre people working in care because they've been pushed into it by circumstances - threat of DWP sanctions, zero hour contract to fit around DC, only job available with immediate start, etc - rather than any genuine aptitude for caring.

PositiveVibez · 02/02/2020 19:43

Care work is notoriously shitty for a shitty wage.

The turnover of staff is ridiculously high.

Of course it should be better paid.

It's only recently that care workers have been paid for travel time getting from one appointment to the next.

Mumof1andacat · 02/02/2020 19:47

Could you not sign up as bank at your local hospital and do hca band 2 work on the wards? Still in the nhs then

user14928465 · 02/02/2020 19:49

I'm surprised this was a surprise to you.

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/02/2020 19:50

It's a combination of sexism, lack of even a thought about the welfare of people with disabilities and class warfare.

It won't change soon.

NameChange84 · 02/02/2020 19:51

My friend had a very similar experience and I think it’s wrong but unfortunately bog standard practice at the moment for home care. You’d be better trying to get shifts in a a nursing or residential care home than community care.

Batshitcrazy82 · 02/02/2020 19:51

I work in community/clinical home care and I know what your saying! Before I learned to drive I never expected anyone to pick me up I made my way to my first call myself, you should tell them unless they are going to pay travel you will no longer be picking up other members of staff as you are not insured anyway.

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 02/02/2020 19:53

In my area, carers get mileage and have done for 20 years or so. It's the only way anyone will do the job, because otherwise the pay is laughable.

4amWitchingHour · 02/02/2020 19:53

Yep, this is why I left care work. I loved the job, hated the conditions.

FizzyIce · 02/02/2020 19:55

My mum used to do this as a second job so was a warden in sheltered housing from 8- 4:30 and then she’d go and start her careers job at 5 till late in the evening and they treated her like shit and so did the families of some of the people she was caring for .
The whole thing stinks and needs a massive overhaul

FizzyIce · 02/02/2020 19:56

*Carer’s .
Thanks autocorrect..

Scbchl · 02/02/2020 19:57

I know community care work is under paid and think its shocking not getting paid the time between jobs etc. They are often treated like crap by the office staff. But I havent known the hours to be quite so long.

Do you know you can do bank shifts on the nhs op?

PorpentinaScamander · 02/02/2020 19:59

Well that's true Hoik I definitely work with people who couldn't be less suited to care work if they tried. But lack of educational opportunities means they've ended up working in care homes because they don't require any thing more than basic english and its doubtful that some colleagues have that

Original poster
Fuckbrexit · 02/02/2020 19:59

Thanks everyone. I've actually got a new job in a residential care home to get away from the travel. I love the job, love the clients and love being able to help so it's actually heartbreaking to feel forced out.

The calls are sometimes 15 miles apart and very rural so it's just not feasible to expect the non driving carer to get there and home under their own steam.

Sigh. The carers I've worked with are all amazing, I'm gutted that I can't carry on and agree completely with the opinion that only the most desperate/DWP forced people will be doing the job if things don't improve

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 02/02/2020 20:01

Look for an nhs job, nurse bank is a good option for students.

Community care workers are treated appallingly.

TheNoiseHurts · 02/02/2020 20:01

That's shit.

Are you working for the elderly?

I'm an NHS student and my job was caring privately for a family who had a child with cerebral palsy.
£15 an hour to work with one of the most wonderful kids I have ever met.

Try going down a different care route? I wouldn't stick with that job, you'll burn out.

Lalalalalalalalaland · 02/02/2020 20:01

Mynsister worked as a carer, she had the genuine want and desire to do it.

Mo pay for travel time which was sometimes half an hour between calls in our rural area, mileage only paid between calls not to her first job and not if they had more than an hour between calls (which isn't enough time to drive home and have a proper break)

Mileage was 25p a mile so barely covered fuel let alone wesr and tear and insurance on her car.

She had to leave in the end as she could end up being out the house 7 hours for 4 hours worth of pay.

She loved her clients and did an amazing job but she just couldn't afford to keep doing it

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 02/02/2020 20:02

The calls are sometimes 15 miles apart and very rural so it's just not feasible to expect the non driving carer to get there and home under their own steam.

Yes, but why is it your responsibility?

TheNoiseHurts · 02/02/2020 20:02

Look for an nhs job, nurse bank is a good option for students.

Surely only a qualified nurse can do bank shifts as a nurse?

Do you mean HCA?

TheresWaldo · 02/02/2020 20:05

The hours are surely illegal? (at least for now)