Are You a Care and Support Worker?

Working in Home Care

Working in home care can be very challenging yet extra-ordinarily rewarding. If you are working in home care you will, of course, be well aware of this. At Caremark Thanet, we have some fantastic opportunities for the right people. If you are working in home care, why not read on and see what we look for and what we can offer.

Caremark care and support workers

Caremark Thanet

We have been providing care for the residents of Thanet since 2012. In that time we have built up an enviable reputation for the exceptional quality of the care that we provide and the exceptional working opportunities that we offer. 

Caremark Thanet are part of a franchise network of over a hundred offices. The Caremark brand stands for excellence and up and down the country there are thousands of care and support workers just like you who everyday make excellent care a reality. for these people, every day excellence is the everyday.

We provide well over 2000 hours of care each week and, at the time of writing, we employ over 100 people. To put that into perspective, that is the equivalence of around 75 full time jobs. We are constantly growing; therefore, we are constantly recruiting. 

Anyone who joins us will have to buy into our ethos. Our ethos is very simple:

We believe that our customers are the most important people for our business; that our care and support workers are the most important people in our business; that a socially responsible business is most important for everyone.

Our ethos does not consist simply of words on the page. It is something that informs everything we do.

We care passionately about the Thanet community. Our approach to business is very much based upon the indivisible links that exist amongst everyone at Caremark Thanet, our customers and our community.

Thanet landscape

We live in an interconnected world. We provide outstanding care to our customers and this is one, exceptionally important, way that we contribute to the stock of community well-being. However, we do more than this.

We do more by being a community engaged organisation. We believe that supporting other community organisations and individuals also contributes to the stock of community well-being.  However, we go further.

We go further, by organising our own events. We and others engaged at those events further contribute to the stock of community well-being.

What We Look For in Care and Support Workers

There are a small number of qualities that we look for. Each of these qualities are things that cannot be taught. They will be part of your make up; part of what makes you the person that you are. These are all very much related to each other.

First, you must be caring. This may seem like stating the obvious; it is stating the obvious, but it has to be stated. Just because you are working in care it does not follow that you are caring. You have only to look at some of the horrendous abuse cases that have appeared in the media to appreciate that there are people working in care who should not be. We often talk about the mum test: would you let this person look after someone you love?

Second, you must be reliable. It is impossible to overstate how important this is. We care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. These people come to rely upon you. They come to trust you. This places a heavy burden of responsibility upon you. You owe a duty to your customers not to let them down and harm that trust they have reposed in you.

Third, you must be trustworthy. When you work in care you become an important part of the lives of the people you care for. This is a position of trust. Abusing that trust is one of the worst things you can do.

Fourth, you must have the ability to get along with people. The people we look after come from all sections of society. Our duty, your duty, is to provide the same high quality of care to each of our customers. We are all different. We all have our beliefs, our opinions, our ways of life. To work in care you have to respect everyone, no matter what.

Fifth, you must be flexible. Things change constantly in home care. Responding to our customers ever changing needs is not an inconvenience; it's a privilege.

Sixth, you must be prepared for hard work.

What We Expect

We have the highest expectations of the people who come to work for us. You must buy into our ethos. We will never compromise on the high quality of care that we deliver to our customers: each time, every time. This places great demands on you. We offer no apology for insisting that everyone who works for us meets our exacting standards. 

We expect you to have high aspirations for yourself. And we expect you to have high expectations of us. We expect you to be self-reflective and always challenging yourself to do better. We expect you to be ambitious. We expect you to be motivated by the facts: that working for us is not just a job, it is a career; that you are never just a carer, you are one of the most important people in our business; that if you have the talent and drive to succeed, we will provide you with the opportunities for that success.

What We Offer

You should by now appreciate that working for us is not an easy option. We expect a great deal. For some we expect too much. However, for those of you who can meet our exacting standards we have a great deal to offer. 

First, we offer highly competitive rates of pay.

Second, when you join us you will undertake a full one week introductory training course - whatever your previous experience. We also use this as an extended selection process. It gives us time for a number of people to have a good look at you and decide whether you have what we are looking for. Equally, you have the chance to have a good look at us.

Care and support workers using a hoist

Third, once you have found your feet we have some of the best training opportunities that exist. The world of domiciliary care is changing. We will be at the forefront of these changes. To do this we need people with the talent and ambition to become experts at what they do. 

Fourth, we offer some fabulous progression opportunities for the right people. Most of our current management team are internal appointments. We are growing rapidly and will constantly need to expand this team. We are also opening an office in Dover, which will create more progression opportunities.

Fifth, we are a community engaged provider. We believe passionately that we have a duty to help increase the store of community well-being. And we want you to play a role in this. You will have opportunities to take part in our many community engagement events. When you work for us you are one of our ambassadors. We want you to feel that you have a connection with us and a connection with our community. Our community engagement events give you the opportunity to help us contribute to the store of community well-being.

Sixth, we are a very ambitious company. We have a very simple vision: we want to be the first choice domiciliary care provider for customers and carers. And you will play a significant part in helping us achieve this. We are a learning organisation. We always look for ways to improve. Therefore, we will constantly seek out your views. In fact, we go further than this. We believe that you have a duty to give feedback to us. If you feel that there is something we should know, it is your duty to tell us.

Seventh, the support we offer is second to none. We have an open door policy. You are welcome to speak with anyone in the organisation so long as he or she is free. We are very busy so we always suggest you telephone to make appointments; however, there is always someone available to speak with you. We will schedule in up to six one to one meetings for you. These are opportunities for you to tell us how things are going and for us to give feedback to you. It is very important that you receive feedback from us as well as you giving feedback to us.

Eighth, we will always seek to recognise your achievements. Indeed, we will go out of our way to find out what you have done that should be recognised. When you have a supervision, we will ask you to tell us about a moment of truth. A moment of truth occurs when you have an engagement with a customer - sometimes it can be a member of a customer's family or occasionally a member of the public. A moment of truth is your opportunity to delight or deflate a customer. Carers delight customers by doing something outstanding. 

In Conclusion

If we sound like the type of company you'd like to work for, why not get in touch. You can call us on: 01843 235910 or email us at thanet.recruitment@caremark.co.uk. If you want to find out more about us go to: 

Our website: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet

Our blog: http://thanetcare.blogspot.co.uk/

Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/caremarkthanet

Our Twitter account: https://twitter.com/caremarkthanet

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Why Our Homes Are Important

Home Is Where The Heart Is

It is something that every domiciliary care worker knows: there's no place like home. Have you ever thought, though, why it should be that our homes are so important to us?

Just on the edge of the Exmoor National Park there sits what must be one of the most beautiful villages in England, Dunster. Dunster puts the quintessence into the quintessential English village. In this village, there is a church, the Priory church of St George. The Priory church of St George is quite well known in the area for its bell ringing. On Tuesdays, at four hourly intervals, you can hear ring out the well-known tune, Home Sweet Home. Many years ago now, when I first heard the church bells ringing out this tune, I recognised it but thought it was called There's No Place Like Home. Those words do form part of the song's lyric, but not its title.

It is, perhaps, not surprising that there are innumerable fields of human endeavour where the concept of home has been, directly or indirectly, a subject of consideration. It is unsurprising because the evidence that we have suggests that human beings have from earliest times made homes for themselves. Home is a physical thing that produces psychological states. Our homes are much more than a protection for the frailties of our human body. Our emotional reactions and attachments to our homes are complex and manifold. Of no little importance, is the sense of well-being that we get from having in our lives these tranquil harbours that shelter us from the unpredictable storms of life.

Home is where the heart is

The saying that "home is where the heart is" was, it would appear, first uttered by Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE). I think it is equally true that our hearts are where our homes are. Many of us may have several homes during our lives; something that is increasingly the case. No doubt we will have our favourites, but it is usually the case that where we are we make our homes and that is what I mean by our hearts are where our homes are. Of course, the opposite is also the case. Our hearts do not settle where we do not want to be. We can be staying in luxury, but if we do not want to be there luxury becomes misery. The most opulent hotel can become the most oppressive institution. I think Charles Dickens meant something very similar to heart is where the home is when he wrote: "When I speak of home, I speak of the place where in default of a better - those I love are gathered together; and if that place were a... tent, or a barn, I should call it by the same good name notwithstanding."

Talking of luxury hotels, how often have you come home from holiday and told friends what a fantastic time you had but "it's good to be back home", which is exactly what Simon and Garfunkel sang:

" Gee but it's great to be back home
Home is where I want to be.

Our homes are part of us and we are part of our homes. For many of us, especially as we get older, a sense of place is important; our homes give us that. Our memories are important; our homes are memory storerooms. Our individuality, autonomy and independence are central to our identities; our homes give focus to how we see the world. This individual, emotional, engagement with our homes has been called "autobiographical insidedness". The term is a little clumsy but it does encapsulate something many of us will experience. The engagement we have with our homes is personal and different for each of us. 

When I Was at Home I was in a Better Place

There is a great deal of truth in the old maxim that familiarity breeds contempt. Many of us are guilty of failing to respect as we should those activities that we do over and over again. How often have you found yourself driving far more cautiously in an unfamiliar area than you would on the roads where you live. There is a saying about never meeting your heroes because once you get to know them (familiarity) you may well lose respect for them. However, familiarity is not always a bad thing.

Someone once said, words to the effect, that the "...harder I practise the luckier I get". There is some dispute as to who said this. Some say it was the golfer Gary Player. It doesn't matter who said it. It is far more important to appreciate exactly what it means; quite simply, becoming familiar with something can help us do things better. Can you imagine actors going on stage without rehearsing?

It is often a very good thing that we become familiar with our homes. We know that we have to turn the key just so to unlock the front door - that lock's been the same for years. Knowing our physical environments well can be particularly important as we get a little older, especially as our physical selves begin to let us down. And perhaps more importantly as our mental agility declines. There is substantial evidence to show that for people living with dementia a familiar environment, and a familiar routine reduces stress and enhances well-being.

It is, perhaps, important at this point to say that our communities are an extension of our homes. When we have lived somewhere for a while we make connections with people, places and institutions; we make connections that are social, formal and informal; we make connections that contribute to our well-being and contribute to the store of community well-being. Our community connections help combat the scourge of loneliness.

Loneliness does not discriminate. It is a state that has no sympathy for illness, for gender, for status or age. Though it is an state to which age makes us more susceptible. There is a burgeoning body of evidence that strongly supports the potential of social prescribing for reducing loneliness. Social prescribing involves health professionals prescribing for people non-clinical activities that are typically available in the community.

Perhaps, Shakespeare's Touchstone, speaking in As You Like It, knew something when he said that he was in a better place when he was at home.

Our Homes, Our Family, Our Lives

For many of us, our homes are inseparably connected with our shared lives; the lives we live with our closest friends and nearest family. Charles Dickens knew this well.

To say that Dickens’s family life was not always happy is, perhaps, somewhat of an understatement. His father was imprisoned for debt when Dickens was just twelve; his marriage was anything but harmonious, and his sons had their own financial difficulties. And yet in Dickens’s writing we often find descriptions of home and hearth that make us long for roaring log fires, extended families and domestic happiness. 

One such description is found in a later novel, Great Expectations. Although the novel is one of Dickens’s most popular, the characters I’m about to describe are not, it is reasonable to say (with the exception of the main protagonist), from the premier league of the great man’s dramatis personae. 

Pip, the main character, is first introduced to John Wemmick towards the end of chapter 20 of the novel. Wemmick is Mr Jaggers Clerk. Jaggers is a lawyer and Pip’s guardian. Wemmick lives with his father, whom he refers to as “aged P”, “aged parent” or sometimes just “aged”.  Pip gets to meet Wemmick’s father in chapter 25. 

‘“Well aged parent,” said Wemmick, shaking hands with him in a cordial and jocose way, “how am you?”

“All right, John; all right!” replied the old man.

“Here's Mr Pip, aged parent,” said Wemmick, “and I wish you could hear his name. Nod away at him, Mr Pip; that’s what he likes. Nod away at him, if you please, like winking!”’ 

The aged P is one of Dickens’s comic delights and the favourite grandfather you might  (be lucky enough to) have or always wanted to have. When Pip is hurt by the evil Miss Haversham, Wemmick suggests as a remedy “a perfectly quiet day with the Aged”.  

John Wemmick lives a life that today we would describe as hitting a pretty good work life balance. By day Wemmick is Jaggers’s henchman. He is business-like, slightly feared by those owing money to Jaggers and somewhat clinical and stern. At home he is very different. He is caring, loves his home, loves his aged P and has an engagingly tender side. For Wemmick, work and home are different spheres that never connect. 

Wemmick looks after his aging father. Here is a touching scene of filial warmth and devotion:

“…Wemmick said, ‘Now, Aged Parent, tip us the paper.

’Wemmick explained to me while the Aged got his spectacles out, that this was according to custom, and that it gave the old gentleman infinite satisfaction to read the news aloud. ‘I won't offer an apology,’ said Wemmick, ‘for he isn't capable of many pleasures - are you, Aged P.?’

‘All right, John, all right,’ returned the old man, seeing himself spoken to.

‘Only tip him a nod every now and then when he looks off his paper,’ said Wemmick, ‘and he'll be as happy as a king. We are all attention, Aged One.

’‘All right, John, all right!’ returned the cheerful old man, so busy and so pleased, that it really was quite charming.”

Dickens didn’t just tug at the heart strings he stretched them with a winch.

So Why Are Our Homes Important?

I don't think there is one simple answer to this. What is written above certainly addresses many of the reasons that our homes might be important to us. However, if I was going to sum it up in a few words I should simply ask: how would you feel if you had to leave your home?

Winston Churchill described this emotion well in one of his many letters to his wife, Clementine, “As usual I did not leave Chartwell without a pang”. Chartwell, located in Westerham, Kent, was the property that Churchill purchased in 1922 which remained his family home for the rest of his long life. It was the home that he cared for, where he loved to stay and where he longed to return when absent.

Churchill was talking about temporary absences. How much more intense is the pain of permanent absence. But why should we be surprised?

Home is where the heart is.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

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Our First Variety Show

On 1st August 2018 we at Caremark Thanet held our first variety show. The show was put on for our customers, family and friends. We had over 30 people in the audience to be entertained by a magician, comedian and singer

Caremark Thanet's Variety Show

The event was held at the Trinity Resource Centre in Margate. The responses from the people attending was, without exception, very enthusiastic indeed. How could it have been anything else given the fabulous acts that were on show,

Local magician, Jez Gorham, moved from table to table performing some seemingly impossible acts of prestidigitation (that's sleight of hand to you and me) with a pack of cards. 

Pick a card.

Next up was Doug Weale whose comedy routine had the audience hanging on his every word waiting in smiling expectation his next punchline. 

Our singer was our very own Geraldo Delgado - Gerry to his friends. Gerry is one of our care and support workers who still performs occasionally. Gerry demonstrated a set of vocal cords in fine fettle as he belted out a wide range of numbers from musical hall favourites to modern standards. Several members of the audience - and a couple of the Caremark team - joined Gerry in duets at different points during his act. Well done (and thanks), Gerry, the audience loved it.

We were also pleased to have with us as our guest Vicky Adley, The Fundraising and Development Officer for East Kent Hospitals Charity. Thanks to the generosity of those attending we raised over £20 for East Kent Hospitals' dementia appeal, which we were able to present to Vicky at the end of the show. 

Over the next few days there will be quite a few pictures of the event appearing on our Facebook page so do take a look if you get a chance and please remember to like our page (https://www.facebook.com/caremarkthanet)

All in all the event was a magnificent success. I am almost certain that we will want to do something similar next year.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email: garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Raise Money for East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal, or "The Waxing"

Dementia Action Week

Dementia Action week took place between the 21-27 May. We wanted to do something to raise money for the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia appeal during this period and hit on the idea of someone having his legs and chest waxed. However, things did not run to plan. When our original volunteer became unavailable with less than a week to go we were left asking: "what do we do?"

We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and we all knew that to let them down was unthinkable. Our distress call was answered by one of our fabulous care and support workers, Jerry. At very short notice, Jerry agreed to step up, lie down and place himself in the very capable hands of the Beauty Lady, Julia Marrison.

However, what Jerry did not realise was that there were going to be a number of other hands very eager to help him shed his body hair.

"The Waxing"

We'd like to extend our thanks to Karen Scrivener, Dementia Specialist Nurse and Vicky Adley, the Fundraising and Development Officer at East Kent Hospitals for coming along on the day and making a significant contribution to Jerry's hair removal.

Further contributions to the new hairless Jerry were made by: Kerry Hill, Xana Welch, Abbi Downton and Jayne Costain.

Video production was by Jemma Clayton. We understand that the full length recording of the "The Waxing" has become a cult classic- you can find the expurgated version on our Facebook page. There are rumours that a major Hollywood studio is seriously considering financing a big budget blockbuster of "The Waxing" with a "triple A listed male star" as good as signed up to play the lead role. The scheduled release date is October 31 2018.

Our biggest thank you has to go to Jerry. He was very bold to lie down on that table: and very bald when he got off it. Only Jerry's legs and chest were at any point placed at the risk of harm. Contrary to the reports that you may have seen on social media, we refused to allow Jerry to have a body double for the close up scenes, and we can, therefore, reassure the public that at no time were any small furry animals harmed. We understand that Jerry has fully recovered; that there is unlikely to be any lasting damage and that his life is now returning to normal.

We're not sure how much we have raised, yet. Our aim was to hit £700. If you would like to contribute it is not too. late. 

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email: garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Raise Money for Dementia Action Week

About Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases with Alzheimer's disease being by far the biggest cause.  Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender or status. It is not a natural part of aging though age makes us more susceptible. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 people living with dementia and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 people currently living with dementia, rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Caremark Thanet's Dementia Support

As things stand, there is no cure. There are, though, things that can be done to help those living with dementia and their families. These things often cost money. And that money is often raised through charitable donations. At Caremark Thanet, we were trying to think of what we could do for Dementia Action Week, which this year takes place between the 21 and 27 May. We have supported the East Kent Hospitals' Dementia Appeal in the past and thought that me might like to do something again for that appeal.The question was what precisely could we do?

Our question was answered for us by Jay Harrison, pictured below, who volunteered to have his legs and chest waxed to raise money for this very worthwhile charity. 

Jay Harrison before his waxing

Jay who works for Caremark Thanet, is no stranger to charitable fundraising. In June 2017, he made his debut as a stand-up comedian at our charity comedy night held at Bernie's Chocolate Bar in Margate.  Let's face it, to do a stand-up comedy routine takes some courage, but probably not as much courage as having your legs waxed. With Jay's help we are trying to raise £700. If you'd like to donate you can do so by going to Jay's JustGiving page. 

Jay will be having his head shaved at 3.00 pm on 21 May 2018 at Caremark Thanet's offices - Unit A5A Continental Approach, Margate, CT9 4JG. His legs and chest will be waxed two days later on 23 May 2018 at the same location - the time to be confirmed.



Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email: garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at: www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

How to Determine if a Person Lacks Capacity to Make Decisions

Introduction

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the Act) came into force in 2007. This is an example of a statute, also known as an Act of Parliament. In English law there are several principal sources of law. Amongst the most important, are statute law - law made by Parliament - and case law - law made in the courts. Case law is often referred to as common law.

What sometimes happens with the common law is that a body of law develops overtime in a piecemeal fashion. The courts only deal with the issues in the cases that come before them. To simplify things, Parliament will pass an Act that brings together all the law on a particular subject. This is what the Mental Capacity Act 2005 does with regard to determining a persons capacity to make decisions. The Act deals with a few other aspects of mental capacity, but this article is only concerned with the capacity to make decisions, primarily in a home care setting.

The Act, then, is very much, a restatement of the position that prevailed at common law. This position is explained very clearly by an American Judge, Cardozo J, in Schloendorff v New York Hospital in 1914. Although this is an American case, the law in England is identical. The Judge said:

“Every human being of adult years and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with his own body; and a surgeon who performs an operation without his patient's consent, commits an assault, for which he is liable in damages.”

He continued

“This is true except in cases of emergency where the patient is unconscious and where it is necessary to operate before consent can be obtained.”

The word capacity refers to our ability to make a decision. If we consent to something - medical care for example - we are agreeing to have a certain procedure carried out. Our capacity to consent is relevant to a whole range of everyday activities, but it is in the area of health care where it is particularly important. The reason for its importance in this area is because any uninvited contact is, potentially, an assault. To take this to its extreme, even gently touching another person who has not consented to that contact is an assault.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005

If you are working in domiciliary care and are providing customers with support with personal care or medication, you will gain the consent of your customers before carrying out any of those activities. Consent will often be implicit; for example; where a customer who you are supporting with washing walks to the bathroom. 

There are five important points to bear in mind here: 

1. You can encourage and persuade your customers to have your support but you can never force them to have it.
2. A person who has the capacity to consent to your support, also has the capacity to refuse it.
3. Capacity is not an all or nothing state. It is best viewed as existing on a spectrum where at one extreme full capacity exists and at the other capacity is absent. In between these extremes, a person's capacity may fluctuate.
4. Capacity is time specific and decision specific. You may be able to make a decision today, but not tomorrow. You may be able to make a decision today, but struggle tomorrow. You may be able to make a decision about having your blood pressure checked but not about invasive surgery.
5. Capacity, therefore, is assessed each time before support is provided.

Assessing Capacity

This is how the Act guides you on assessing capacity. The starting point is a presumption in favour of capacity. Section 1 states that:

 “A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that he lacks capacity”.

 This is very important. It recognises that we are independent and have the autonomy to make decisions for ourselves.

The question then is: how do you tell if a person lacks capacity? The Act, again, is your guide. There is a two stage test. The first stage is sometimes referred to as the diagnostic test. It says:

"...a person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of, the mind or brain." 

“It does not matter whether the impairment or disturbance is permanent or temporary.”

The impairment or disturbance can be permanent - for example where a person has dementia - or temporary - for example where a person has a urinary tract infection.

If you answer yes to this first test, you move on to the second, which is sometimes called the functional test. The reason for this name is because you are assessing how a person uses (functions) information to make a decision. The Act says that a person will not have the capacity to make a decision where he cannot:

"1. understand relevant information, or2. retain the information, or3. use the information in making a decision, or4. communicate a decision - by any means". 

If the person concerned cannot do any one of those four things he will lack the capacity to make a decision.

It is very important to understand that a person may be struggling to make a decision rather than lack capacity totally to decide. In such a case, the Act says:

"A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision unless all practicable steps to help him to do so have been taken without success.”

“A person is not to be treated as unable to make a decision merely because he makes an unwise decision.”

What this means is that if a person is struggling to make a decision, you should offer any help possible to help him reach a decision. Remember, you can encourage and persuade but never force someone to have your help. If the person you are supporting makes a decision even if it appears "unwise", that is a decision and it is not for you to question it.

There will be occasions where the person you are supporting does not have the capacity to make a decision. It may be that he is struggling and simply cannot decide, or quite clearly lacks the capacity to decide - for example a terminally ill person may become unconscious. The Act guides you again:

“An act done, or decision made, under this Act for or on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be done, or made, in his best interests.”

“Before the act is done, or the decision is made, regard must be had to whether the purpose for which it is needed can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of the person's rights and freedom of action.”

What this means is that where you have to make a decision for someone who lacks capacity, you must make a decision that is in that persons best interests. Sometimes you might be able to achieve a good outcome by doing something in a different way. Let's say that you are supporting someone to shower in the morning. He is struggling to make a decision about showering on this particular occasion. So you decide to bring a bowl of water, soap, flannels and towel to him and help him wash his hands and face. What you have done there is "...achieved [an outcome] in a way that is less restrictive of the person's rights and freedom of action.”

It may be the case that the person you are supporting has granted a power of attorney to someone for his or her health and welfare. In such a case, the person who is the power of attorney will make decisions on behalf of the person who loses capacity to decide. You may also support people who have made advanced directives about what should happen should they lose the capacity to make decisions. A commonly encountered advanced directive is what is sometimes referred to as a DNR - Do Not Resuscitate directive. 

Conclusion

If you make decisions in a person's best interests you may never know whether they are the right decisions. All you have to do is ensure that you always act in good faith in deciding that a person lacks capacity and in deciding in that person's best interests.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet Attend the Launch of the Age-Friendly Business Directory

The Age-Friendly Business Directory

Today we attended the launch of Ageless Thanet's Age-Friendly Business Directory. At Caremark Thanet we are very pleased to be support the the business directory venture. We think it is a fantastic idea to have a paper version of the directory of age-friendly businesses.

The Launch Event

If you are not familiar with the work of Ageless Thanet, it is well worth looking at what they can offer. Today's launch was held in the wonderful Northdown House in Margate. A number of other local businesses were also present at the launch.

The event was very well attended by the public. We got the opportunity to talk with a number of people, some of whom we were able to advise about choosing home care and others about working in home care, including about some of the opportunities available with us.

One of the great things about Thanet is the number of community organisations that exist. We are a heavily community engaged company and it is always a pleasure to meet up with our community partner groups.

If you get a chance to read the Age-Friendly Business Directory, you will certainly be very pleased with it. Well done to all concerned with the directory's production: a fantastic initiative.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or emailgarry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website atwww.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Caremark Thanet's Care Advice Morning

Caremark Thanet at The Feel Good Factory

One of the great things about living and working in Thanet is that there are so many community organisations. For a community engaged home care provider like Caremark Thanet working with these various groups sits very easily with our ethos. The Feel Good Factory in Margate High Street is one of those organisations.


We were lucky today to go along to The Feel Good Factory - where we were made very welcome - to offer advice about all matters relating to domiciliary care. We met with a number of people who were interested in working in domiciliary care. We were able to explain what working in care is all about and what opportunities are available with Caremark Thanet.

Three of the people we spoke with decided to fill in application forms there and then. We have arranged interviews for these people that will take place in the next few days.


We employ care and support workers from the age of 18 upwards. We know, however, that there are quite a few people in Thanet over the age of 50 who, for one reason or another, are looking to return to work. This was one of our primary aims in visiting the Feel Good Factory today.


So successful was our visit that we will be making regular visits to the Feel Good Factory. We will keep you posted about future visits.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or emailgarry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

Care Advice from Caremark Thanet at The Feel Good Factory

Finding Information about domiciliary Care Is Complex

The world of domiciliary care is a complex one. Trying to find information can sometimes be a very frustrating experience. Sometimes, you just want someone who can point you in the right direction. And that is what we can do at the Feel Good Factory in Margate on Tuesday 10 April 2018.

Care and Support Worker in front of Caremark logo

Located in the High Street, Margate,The Feel Good Factory offers workouts on power assisted equipment designed to maximise the benefits and minimise the work. We won't be using the equipment next Tuesday, but we will be there to offer advice on all things related to health and social care.

At Caremark Thanet we have been providing home care to the residents of Thanet for over five years and we know that the world of care is a very complicated one. What we aim to do on Tuesday 10 April is to offer advice to people who might be considering looking for care. We can advise on such issues as funding, social services assessments, your right to choose your home care provider and how to go about finding a home care provider. We'll be starting at 10.00 in the morning. If you do have any questions just come along. No appointment is necessary.

Perhaps You Want to Work in Home Care...

...if so, why not come along and hear about the opportunities that we have. There is no age limit on working in domiciliary care. We take on people from aged 18 upwards. On Tuesday 10 April, however, we are particularly keen to talk with people who might be looking at second careers.

If you are looking to get back into work, we have opportunitiesfor you to come and work for us as a care and support worker. You do not need experience; you do need to be caring, reliable, flexible and hardworking.

To sum up, then, on Tuesday 10 April, starting at 10.00 am, Caremark Thanet will be at the Feel Good Factory in Margate to offer advice to people who have questions about care or working in care.

We look forward to seeing you.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or emailgarry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website atwww.caremark.co.uk/thanet.