Check Check Check - The most important checks you should do before hiring a carer
Hiring a carer? Careseekers recommends that you do a number of checks yourself when meeting and hiring potential carers for yourself or a loved one.
1. National Police Check Certificate
To be accepted into the Careseekers’ community of carers, a carer must have a police check, obtained within the last six months. We recommend that you ask to see this certificate when you first meet a carer. The National Police Certificate sets out a person’s criminal offence history. It is the result of a check of all national criminal records. Police checks are valid at the time of issue and report only offences up to this date. They do not have an expiry date. You may want to ask the carer to update their National Police Check, so that covers the time period right up to the day you wish them to start caring for you. The carer can arrange a police check through their local police station or via an express service (1-2 days). We have a third party agreement with an express service, inter check. Contact us to find out more.
2. Qualifications
Carers do not necessarily need qualifications to make exceptional carers. Often life experience and family circumstance means they have had more caring experience than they could ever learn on a course. However if a carer says that they have qualifications, such as a Graduate Certificate in Aged Care it is worth asking to see any related documentation e.g. certificate of completion.
3. Reference checks
All carers found through Careseekers, should be able to provide a minimum of two references. Always follow up with these references and ask detailed questions. References checks are an excellent way of finding out what someone is really like on the job. Here’s a list of reference questions to download and ask over the phone.
4. Meet and interview a carer before they start the job
It is critical that you meet any carer you want to care for yourself, or a loved one, before you hire them. Ideally they will also the meet the person they will be caring for. This gives you an opportunity to see how respond to your loved one. Observe how they interact with the person, communicate with them and their general body language and attitude. Here’s a list of interview questions you can download and bring to your first interview.
5. Record identity details
Once you have decided to engage someone as a carer, ask for a copy of their drivers licence, proof of age card and/or passport. If you cannot get a copy, write down the details from these documents. It is important to know the person’s official details including full name, address, telephone number and a person to call in case of an emergency.
To become a care or support worker, please visit www.careseekers.com.au/carer
To find aged care services, please visit https://www.careseekers.com.au/services/aged-care-workers
To find disability support services, please visit https://www.careseekers.com.au/services/disability-support-workers