Carers didnt turn up for morning call till 12.55pm.

[patsy999]

Is it worth complaining to social services about this? I have a 30 min care call in the morning and today I couldn't even have a shower as they were so late and i had an appointment at home at 1pm.
Not a single one of the carers can drive which is hopeless, as they use public transport to get to each call.
Plus, they only speak very basic English, so it's hard to communicate with them.
I'm only 55 and disabled. so goodness knows how the elderly are left.

Complain each and every time. Its not acceptable and if you don't complain it doesn't get logged and then it becomes standard practice.

Keep a log and if it continues go to your MP

You shouldn't be treated like this.

The majority of carers are not 'opted out' nurses. The majority of carers aren't well educated. Id guess we have a shortage of good care workers because it's relatively poorly paid nothing to do with what you believe my opinion is.
I have no idea who people like me are. I have not implied you are thick, but inevitably some carers are. I have worked as a trainer with this group with many providers. I stand by my view that the majority of carers are poorly educated with limited skills. That doesn't imply I think they are bottom of any chain.
I'm glad you get to make a difference to people lives. I do too.

@JudgeRudy it very much reads like you’re doubling down. What you think you’re implying and what is actually being communicated doesn’t really match up.

You’re not giving any parameters for what counts as poorly educated or unskilled nor are you recognising that softer skills are important and often innate in good carers.

it’d be easy for me to sit and start bleeting about ‘if you can’t do it, teach it’ but that would be rude and potentially hurtful too wouldn’t it?

I am a part-time Care Assistant who is highly educated, we have a mixed bag, a lot of my colleagues have university-level qualifications, some don't have any.

?? No idea what doubling down means in this context. l mean poorly educated/unskilled in the general workplace sense. So lack of basic functional skills and qualifications in maths, English and IT. The sort of things an employer might look for. l dont make the rules.
I'm sure many carers have excellent soft skills. Plenty don't.
As for the teaching, I did 'do it'. I still do. That's why I was employed to pass on my skills and expertise to other carers/patients. I earn more money teaching than doing.

Horrible for you, and I think worth complaining about if the terms of the contract have been broken.

But, yes, in a larger picture the whole situation is unstable and ultimately fucked. The money isn't there in the system for someone (with fluent English, among other things) to come and give you a shower every morning for the next few decades, if this is a permanent disability. If it's a temporary one, then I think complaining might be more productive. Hopefully, at least in your lifetime (though probably not in our children's) the welfare state will exist in a vestigial enough form to keep you clean, eg by offering a shower a few times a week at whatever time can be managed. After that, it seems as if we'll be back to the least humane and generous, but most basic position: either you wash yourself, your family do it for you, or you use money you've saved, inherited or earn to pay someone to do it.

It's time caring was turned into a full profession with training on a par with nursing, it's no longer just washing, dressing, feeding & toileting, there are so many other aspects to it. Having seen exh carers walk in, practically throw a sandwich at him & leave in what should have been a double handed 20 minute call or leave him on the floor because they can't pick him up because they haven't got a lifting certificate, it just isn't good enough. Having a proper training system could actually save the NHS money in the long term, it would keep people who are being cared for out of hospital. Even something as simple as testing urine if the client is ill, spotting urine infections early can stop people ending up in hospital, if there were more fully trained carers who had more time to spend with their clients, clients would receive better care, there would be a reduction in hospital admissions & bed blocking. Caring needs to be made more attractive, make the training partly what nurses do on their course & if at any time a fully trained carer wishes to become a nurse, enable them to do a shorter degree course.

I’d agree. Not sure if it’s similar in other places but in my area the reablement team/ carers are really good. They are employed directly by the council and use the council pool cars so the cost is much higher per visit. They work with a view to people regaining as much independence as possible which saves money in the long run.

It’s impossible to get council employed carers if you have a long term condition or are just on a gradual decline. I think it would be better to bring it in house and pay people fairly, providing vehicles, paid travel time as you would expect for pretty much any other job.

@JudgeRudy

Doubling down = committing more strongly to a position.

In this case, I can see what you’re trying to communicate but your refusal to see how it’s being done in a way that’s really quite patronising and offensive. You’re acknowledging that your position doesn’t cover all people in a particular role but then re-emphasising sweeping, derogatory statements about whole groups of people.

Good for you if you continue to work in the field whilst training others, however, that doesn’t make you immune to conceit and a tendency to look down on others which is how your words come across.

Theres really no need to defend your occupation against the ‘teaching vs doing’ comment. It was only to illustrate that sweeping statements provoke responses. I knew what I was doing and given you posted you can’t see why your statements might be interpreted in a way other than your intention it might be helpful for you to understand.

Fwiw in recent years I have seen a number of employers push to assist their staff with gaining qualifications and skills in core subjects. There are very few people who aren’t capable of learning and it’s often not down to an individuals abilities.

Someone close to me works in the office of a care company, doing the rotas amongst other things. I hear stories like yours all the time, people getting their visit so late or ridiculously early so they get put to bed in the day. Do complain, the CQC are on their backs constantly to improve, well they are this company anyway.

My friends work don't do it on purpose it is purely down to staffing issues and not enough carers who drive. But if you don't complain they won't ever get better.