If you are interested in becoming an approved carer, someone from the Adult Placement Service will visit you over a period of some months, so a thorough assessment can be made of your suitability to become an approved carer. This in-depth assessment process is highly confidential and comprehensive, and includes interviews with all members of your household (including children) to make sure everyone understands exactly what is involved.
Great care is taken to match people with an approved carer.
Approved carers have an important part to play in meeting the physical, emotional and social needs of the person in their care and crucial to this is a willingness and ability to form a positive and caring relationship with that person. The relationship should be supportive and enabling and the person being care for should always be involved in decision making, feel valued and accepted and encouraged to be independent as possible. This should enable them to increase their self-confidence and ability to manage their own life.
An adult placement worker will support you throughout the placement, and we expect that anyone seeking to be an approved carer fully understands and is committed to the principles and values laid down by the service:
- The service aims to promote and enhance the independence of people who use the service and to enable them to form new and meaningful relationships and to broaden their experiences.
- Placements should offer the opportunity and support to enable people who use the service to experience choice and to have increased presence and a more active role in the local community.
- People who use the service have the same rights as other adults to experience a lifestyle which 'most' people would value as desirable for themselves and their families.
- The service offers flexibility and support, which is tailored to meet the needs of each individual who uses the service. The service is responsive to the different and changing needs of people who use the service and the approved carer.
- Placements should provide a one-to-one consistent relationship, which complements and extends the social and support networks of people who use the service. They should have the opportunity to develop and maintain existing relationships with family members and friends.
Is training provided?
Yes. The initial training and preparation to become an approved carer is compulsory. The training programme is usually held twice a year. The course may vary in length and content but usually will take the form of one three-hourly session over a minimum of ten weeks. Attendance is essential for at least the person who is to be the main carer.
The content of the preparation sessions will be decided on by members of the Adult Placement Team and is constantly evaluated and updated. This is so it can reflect new legislation, changing trends, needs of course members, specialist teams, voluntary groups and service user groups.
Follow up home visits are conducted to discuss issues covered in the sessions.
Issues covered in the training include:
- information about adult placement
- detailed information about service user groups
- general first aid and health and safety issues
- confidentiality
- information about policies and procedures
- general information, financial and tax status advice.
As well as giving information, the preparation sessions should provide opportunities for you to explore attitudes and expectations, address anxieties, share and receive information. Carers will not be approved by the Panel until they have completed the training. Other training sessions are offered in addition to the compulsory training. Support groups are held on an informal basis. Approved carers also have the opportunity to join the National Association of Adult Placement Services.
How much do you get paid?
Approved carers are paid an allowance, depending on the type of care they provide.
At the present time the rates are:
| Up to 4 hours |
£15.75 |
| Over 4 hours |
£21 |
| Over 6 hours |
£26.25 |
| Overnight sessions |
£39.56 |
How can I apply?
Contact the Adult Placement Team or complete and return a visit request form (.pdf, 86KB) .
