Finding a Trusted Carer

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Highbridge and Burnham Trusted Carers is a local network of very small providers of care or support services in and around Highbridge, Burnham and the surrounding villages. This might include services and supports that offer people help to:

• Undertake their personal care
• Manage their home or garden
• Get out and about e.g. shopping, hospital etc
• Meet friends, pursue hobbies or to work

The code of conduct 

To qualify for network membership every small provider has agreed to meet the following criteria.

They must:

• Work within Highbridge, Burnham and surrounding villages
• Run a small business, enterprise, venture or group

Their enterprise must:

• Be well run and sustainable
• Offer services or supports that help people improve their health or wellbeing and/or are defined as social care
• Offer services or supports to people who live within Highbridge, Burnham or surrounding areas
• Have 8 or fewer full-time equivalent workers - employees or volunteers 
• Be totally independent of a larger or parent organisation

The services they offer must:

• Be designed to meet people’s needs and requirements 
• Value the person or people you support
• Be flexible and responsive to change
• Promote people’s independence and choice 
• Promote diversity and equality of opportunity
• In addition to meeting the criteria, network members are expected to follow high standards of professional practice

What to look for in a Trusted Carer?

It is important to note that if you decide to use a service from the network you will be entering into a contract with the Trusted Carer and not the network. Whilst the network has a code of conduct, membership rules and quality feedback system, we are unable to accept any liability for or guarantee the quality of any services provided by network members.

We therefore recommend that before you use or buy service or support from any member of this network you check them out first. The questions you’ll need to ask and find out will be personal to you and your circumstances. Here are a few things for you to consider:

Prompts to ask members: - 

• If the carer is helping you with your personal care (such as bathing, dressing, using the toilet, taking medication) in the place where you live, they may need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. There is an exemption from registration if the provider is an individual, contracted directly by you, working under your control and direction. Is this the case? Are you happy to do this? If unsure contact the CQC on 03000616161
• Is the trusted carer going to be reliable and professional? Ask for references from other people they have supported? Have they the right training and qualifications? 
• Check how the trusted carer ensures the safety of the people that they support? Has the trusted carer and their workers had a criminal records (DBS) check? 
• Have they suitable public liability insurance? Do they have policies (and use them!) on things like health and safety, confidentiality and safeguarding? 
• What are everyone’s rights and responsibilities in the arrangement? Is there a contract that you’ll both have to sign that will clearly set out who will do what, when, where and how? How much will you have to pay and how will this happen in practice? 
• Trusted carers are often sole traders and as such are self-employed and not employed by you. Ask for documentation proving they are self-employed. Do they provide invoices with receipts? As a sole trader, trusted carers can choose if and when they work for you and organise replacement cover, will this work for you? It is your responsibility to check employment status of a worker. You can check by using the Employment Status Indicator Tool or calling HMRC on 0300 123 2326. 

What if my care provider has breached the network code of conduct?

If you or your family have concerns about the service you have received from a member of the Highbridge and Burnham Trusted Carers network you can request a copy of their complaints procedure. This should tell you what you need to do to raise and address your concern. 

You can also contact the network leads at Morland Community Hub, Pearce Drive, Highbridge.

Please tell us about your concerns and specifically how you feel the trusted carer has breached the code of conduct detailed above. The Highbridge and Burnham Trusted Carers Network have a process in place to respond to comments or complaints from people supported by its members or their families specifically. 

If you do not want to get in touch with the network you should contact Somerset Council whose role it is to support the development of local trusted carers networks in Somerset.

Safeguarding 

If you are concerned that someone is at risk of abuse or neglect, you are to report this directly to the Somerset Safeguarding team at on 0300 123 2224 Email at adults@somerset.gov.uk  However, if a serious crime has taken place or there is a need for an immediate police response to protect the adult at risk, consider dialling 999.

What we do-

* We share information and lists of local micro-providers.

* We offer neutral space for your care needs so providers can contract you.

What we DO NOT do-

* We do not employ, manage, or recommend any carers.

* We do not arrange care, organize schedules, or check the quality of the care.

* We do not investigate serious safety complaints (that is Somerset Council's job.)

Your Responsibility-

Any agreement you make is strictly between you and the carer.

* You choose the provider and agree on the pay and hours.

* You must do your own checks (like asking for references or background checks) before hiring them.

Please Note: The Trusted Local Network is not a care agrency and is not legally responsible for the care you receive or the actions of any provider.