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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Caremark Thanet Deliver Easter Eggs

Caremark Thanet Say Thank You to Its Home Care Customers and Carers

For the last five years we have delivered Easter eggs to all our domiciliary care customers and care and support workers. This year is no eggception (sorry).

If there are any eggs left after certain people have got their hands on them, we will have a number of care an support workers out delivering eggs to our customers, and each of our care and support workers will have an egg with his or her name waiting in the office.

We have also donated a few eggs to the elderly care wards at the Queen Mary the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

An Easter egg is a small gift but it says an enormous amount. It says thank you to our customers for trusting us to provide your care. It says thank you to our care and support workers for the often magnificent work that you do. And it says to those in hospital that we are all part of one community.

From Caremark Thanet, happy Easter to our customers, our carers an our community.

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.

You Have a Choice: Choosing Your Home Care Provider with Direct Payments

Introduction
If you are receiving home care that is funded wholly or partially through social services you have a right to choose your home care provider. There is nothing wrong with allowing social services to set up everything for you. However, you may feel that you want the independence and autonomy that comes with choosing your own provider.

Direct Payments
If you want to choose your own provider the first thing to do is ask for a direct payment. If you have qualified for social services funding, you will have been allocated a personal budget. Having a direct payment means that your personal budget is paid directly to you. This allows you to deal directly with the home care provider of your choice. For more information about direct payments, go to this article.

With a small number of exceptions, you have a right to a direct payment. 

The law is very clear about this. With a small number of exceptions, you have a right to a direct payment. Section 31 of the Care Act 2014 says that if you request a direct payment, the Local Authority to which the request is made “must” make the payment to you. In an Act of Parliament, the word “must” used in this context means that a duty is imposed on a body or bodies, in this case Local Authorities. Where there is a duty imposed on a body there is usually a right granted to another allowing enforcement of that duty. In this case you have the right to a direct payment that is enforceable against the Local Authority.

Choosing Your Home Care Provider
Once you have a direct payment, you can go about choosing your home care provider. You cannot use you direct payment for just anything. It must be used to pay for goods and services that meet your care needs. You can, however, choose your home care provider. The people who carry out your care needs assessment and financial assessment  may wish to advise you about providers ans they may suggest that you go with one of the Local Authority providers: but the choice is yours. 

There is plenty of information available about home care providers in your area. A very useful website is www.homecare.co.uk. This site has a search facility that allows you to type in your postcode and it will return home care providers within a chosen distance of that post code.

The people who carry out your care needs assessment and financial assessment  may wish to advise you about providers, they may suggest that you go with one of the Local Authority providers: but the choice is yours. 

I have written quite extensively about choosing home care providers. You will find this article very helpful.  If you are looking for live-in care, take a look at this article.

To Summarise...
...very simply: you have a choice.

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.

An Outline of the Main Sources of Health and Social Care Funding

Introduction

Finding information about health social care funding can be likened with searching for the source of the Nile: Everyone knows it must exist somewhere. My aim in this article is to explain the principal sources of funding (primarily I address funding for domiciliary care) and provide links that you can follow for more detailed information. Just a word of caution here. I provide links to some of my own articles, which in some cases may contain figures that were accurate at the time. It is always worth bearing in mind that any figures cited may now differ.

Social Services Funding

Funding from social services is means tested. Therefore you may qualify and have to make no contribution; you may qualify and have to make a contribution, or you may not qualify. Prior to any means test being conducted, you will have to have a care needs assessment. This article explains about the care needs assessment. Although it refers specifically to Kent County Council, the principles stated apply wherever you are in England. This article explains about means tests. Again, it refers to Kent County Council but the principles are general.

If you qualify for social services funding you now have a choice. Social services can set up everything for you and that will suit many people. However, you will have been awarded what is called a personal budget. You can take this budget in the form of a direct payment. You can then use this money to purchase your own home care. If you have care from a private provider, you may well have to make a contribution from your own funds. Many people are happy to do this.

With a small number of exceptions, you have a right to a direct payment. A right that is enshrined in law - in the Care Act 2014. You do not have to have your home care through social services. You do not have to have your home care arranged by social services. You do not have to have your home care from a company recommended by social services. You have a right to choose; this right cannot be denied to you.

Social care funding is a controversial topic. You may recall that during the 2017 election the Conservative Party's manifesto proposals for funding social care were met with the most hostile criticism. The proposals were so badly received that is arguable that they contributed significantly to the Conservatives poor showing at the polls. I have been saying since then that history will not judge this government on brexit alone. It will judge it to a large degree on what - if anything - it does about funding social care.

Self Funding

If you do not qualify for social care funding you will have to fund your care yourself. This article offers you some advice about choosing home care. Essentially your choices are: use a private domiciliary care provider; employ you own carers directly; use self-employed carers. Option one is likely to be the most expensive. Options two and three clearly provide you with a financial incentive. There are, though, a few things to bear in mind. 

I go into a little detail about the things to bear in mind in this article. Although this article was written expressly about live-in care, the challenges of employing carers or using self-employed carers are identical whether you are talking about live-in care or other types of domiciliary care. In brief, if you employ a carer, you are an employer and have all the responsibilities that employers have. If you engage a self-employed carer who works exclusively for you, as far as HMRC is concerned you are an employer.

Continuing Health Care Funding

If you are assessed as having primary health need, You may qualify for financial support through NHS Continuing Health Care Funding. The NHS Choices website provides a very unhelpful circular definition of primary health need. Assessments are carried out by a multidisciplinary NHS team. There is no right to an assessment, but if it seems that you might need NHSCHC then the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for your area must carry out an assessment. 

There is no means test for Continuing Health Care funding. As with social care funding there is a mechanism for you to have a personal budget, called a personal health budget. Once again, this is something to which you have a right, with a few exceptions.

Intermediate Care

There are occasions when you might need  little bit of help to maintain or regain your independence, for example, when you are due to be discharged from hospital. In such circumstances, you may qualify for intermediate care. This article explains about intermediate care. There is no means test for intermediate care.

Enablment or Reablement

The approach underpinning reablement is to help you to live your life independently. Reablement workers are not charged with the responsibility of doing things for you; they are responsible for helping you become confident and competent in doing things for yourself. This article gives more details. Again, there is no means test for those who qualify.

If you would like more information about any of the above, follow the links or telephone me at Caremark Thanet on the number below.

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.

It's Our Birthday and We Had a Cake

It’s Our Birthday…

…and we had a party. Events like this do not just happen. A lot of people are involved, and we'd like to thank you all.

It’s our fifth birthday and our party was held at the Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs on Wednesday 8 November 2017. The staff at the hotel provided a first-class service, and all of us at Caremark Thanet were very impressed, indeed.

A number of our customers and carers came along to wish us well and quite a few other people paid us a visit too, including people from Wade Business Solutions, Levick’s Accountants, East Kent Hospital’s Dementianurses, Bernie’s Chocolate Bar and Angela Davies, Holistic Therapist. We'd like to say a very special thank you to Angela who provided some very well received pamper sessions to quite a few of our guests.

Our cake was made for us by Baps and Bloomers in Sandwich, and what a cake it was!

The staff at the Hotel expertly sliced it up into 250 pieces, and today (Thursday 9 November 2017) our carers delivered a tasty slice to all our customers who were unable to be with us.

We are very proud of our achievement – five years of providing outstanding care and creating valuable employment opportunities in Thanet is not something to be dismissed at all. However, we know that our achievement is only possible because of some very important and special people. It would not have been possible without some exceptional care and support workers; it would not have been possible without a highly talented management team and, very importantly, it would not have been possible without our customers entrusting their care to us.

Thank you everyone.

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.

It's our Birthday

It's Our Birthday...

...and we are having a party! We are Caremark Thanet and in November 2012 we were registered with the Care Quality Commission; so that makes us five years old. On Wednesday 8 November 2017 - between 2.00 - 4.00 in the afternoon - we are having a little celebration at The Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs. We have invited all our customers and carers (and a few others) to join us for a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake.

Our cake is being made for us by Baps and Bloomers who are based in Sandwich - wherever possible we always like to work with local businesses as we passionately believe that when local businesses support local businesses local people benefit, the local economy benefits and, of course, local businesses benefit. Incidentally, if you are ever near King Street in Sandwich pay a visit to Baps and Bloomers: you will not be disappointed. Our cake is going to be large enough for 250 people.

We know that many of our customers will not be able to be with us on the day. So what we are doing is getting two or three of our care and support workers to hand deliver a slice of cake to each person. We're sure they'll love it.

Our Story

My name is Garry and I'm the managing director of Caremark Thanet. My wife, Jayne, and I started the company in 2012. I'd worked in education and education management for over twenty years and Jayne had been a nurse - indeed, Jayne was still working one day a week in a doctors' surgery in Ramsgate until last year. When we started the business, we had two principal aims - in addition to making a living for ourselves. We wanted to provide a very high quality care service to the residents of Thanet and we wanted to provide employment for people in Thanet. These may seem like naively noble aims; but I don't think we have fared too badly.

In December 2012, we had one customer and one carer. We were delivering about 3 hours of care per week to that one person. How things have changed. At the time of writing this article, we have cared for almost 250 people, we are delivering just short of 1500 hours of care per week and we have about 80 people working for us.Those 80 people about 45 full time jobs. In November 2016, the Care Quality Commission judge our service to be good overall.

We have a very clear ethos: We believe that our customers are the most important 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 Future

Human beings cannot foresee the future, but that should never prevent us planning for the future. Any plan is an attempt to fashion the future and there are always events that may conspire against us. However, we certainly have plans for the future. 

We aim to continue to delivery outstanding care to each of our customers. We aim to continue to grow and deliver more high quality care to more of the residents of Thanet. We aim to expand our care services into such other areas as Canterbury, Dover and Shepway. And we aim to transform domiciliary care. We believe that working in home care is a career and should offer the opportunities and benefits commensurate with having a career. We have a very simple and ambitious vision: To be Thanet's first choice domiciliary care provider for customers and carers.

If you'd like to be a part of our future, contact us today.

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.

Care and Support Workers Recruitment Open Day: 12 September 2017

Caremark Thanet held another exceptionally successful open day on Tuesday 12 September 2017 for prospective care and support workers. The purpose of these events is to provide information to people who want to work in domiciliary care, generally, and for Caremark Thanet, in particular.

Fourteen people attended the event at the The Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs. The format of the event aims to give people all the information they need to make an informed choice about working in domiciliary care for Caremark Thanet.

Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton, got things started with an introduction session. This was followed by a brief presentation by Managing Director, Garry Costain, which focused on the high expectations that the company has for its care and support workers and the rewards and opportunities that are available for outstanding, reliable care workers. Following the presentation, there was then a chance for people to ask Garry any questions that they had.

Next, attendees had the chance to chat with one of Caremark Thanet's care and support workers and its Senior Supervisor. This was a chance for people to ask someone who is doing the job questions about what it is really like to work for Caremark Thanet.

All attending received application forms; several were filled in immediately and several more have been returned subsequently. Interviews will be held over the next two weeks or so.

If you'd like more information about working for Caremark Thanet or about future open days call: 01843 235910; email: thanet@caremark.co.uk.

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: Our Ethos, Our Values, Our Vision, Your Care, Your Choice

Introduction

My name is Garry Costain and I’m the managing director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider serving the residents of Thanet. The company was set up by my wife, Jayne, and me in 2012. We were registered with the Care Quality Commission in November 2012 and we delivered care to our first customer in December 2012.

Our Ethos

Right from the start we had a very clear ethos. This has never changed; it never will change; it 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. We are part of the service sector. We provide an essential service often to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. We will never compromise on the quality of the care that we provide and this is reflected in our values.

Our Values

If you're looking for home care for yourself or for another; you have a choice. We’d like you to choose in our favour. But, why should you? We’d like you to become our customer, remain our customer and recommend us to others. Why should you?  Those people to whom you recommend us; we’d like them, in turn, to become our customers. But, why should they?

If we cannot meet your needs and exceed your expectations; there is very little incentive for you to become one of our customers. We know you have a choice. Therefore, we aim to provide a service of the highest quality. And everything starts with our values.

1.      Our duty is to do all we can to provide an outstanding service to you. Providing a service to you is not an inconvenience. It is the reason that we exist. If people did not want our services, Caremark Thanet would not be needed. You pay to receive a service. Providing that service is not an inconvenience, it is a privilege, it is our duty, it is a privileged duty.

2.      Our duty is to provide a service that meets your needs. If we are unable to do this we should explain this to you. The service we provide to you should respond to your changing needs.

3.     Our duty is to uphold your dignity, support your independence and promote your safety. However, we recognize that it is not for us to attempt to eliminate risk from your life. On the contrary, we recognize that there is dignity in risk. We believe that the independence to determine the course of our lives is something we should cherish for ourselves and promote for others. Maintaining independence may involve taking risks. Taking risks promotes dignity, enriches lives and empowers the risk taker. To deny this opportunity to our customers would be to disregard our duty.

4.      Our duty is to provide help not to take over. Where possible, we should do all we can to ensure that you are an active participant in your care not a passive recipient. 

5.      Our duty is to do all we can to help you to remain as independent as possible and to remain living in your home for as long as possible. For many of us, the thought of having to leave our homes is unbearable. Our homes are part of us; and we are part of our homes. They often reflect our identities and the identities of other significant people in our lives. They are our tranquil sanctuaries from the disorder and confusion of a turbulent world. Our homes hold our dearest memories and are where we are most comfortable. Helping you remain in your home is, perhaps, the single most important thing we do.

6.      Caremark Thanet is a socially responsible local business. Where possible we buy our supplies from other local businesses. Local businesses supporting local businesses is good for the local economy and local people.

Our Vision

Our vision is ambitious: To be Thanet’s first choice private domiciliary care provider for customers and carers.

Your Care, Your Choice

Few of us even want to think about having domiciliary care; for many of us, however, it is something we must do. When we provide your care, our relationship is one based on more than a mere exchange. It is one based on trust. Your trust is one of the most precious things you can grant. Your grant is contingent; not constant. We hold it with confidence never conceit. We know you have a choice.

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.

You Have a Choice: The Care Act 2014 and Your Right to Direct Payments

You Have a Choice

This article offers advice about choosing your domiciliary care provider. It is particularly aimed at people who are, or who are seeking to be, wholly or partly funded by social services. If you fund your own domiciliary care you can choose your provider. The same is also true if you are funded through social services: you have a choice. You may be very happy for someone to sort everything out for you: and there is nothing wrong with that. However, the fact that you are reading this suggests that you might be interested in exploring your options. Let’s look, then, at what having a choice means.

Social Services Assessments

I have written about these in previous articles so I’ll keep this quite brief. To qualify for social services funding there are two assessments required. The first is a needs assessment the second is a means test, an assessment of finances. You can read my articles on needs assessments and financial assessments by clicking the links.

If you qualify for social services support you will be given a personal budget. If you wish to choose your own care provider you can have your budget paid to you as a direct payment. As I said above, you do not have to do this. It is your choice. Whoever does your assessment should advise you that this choice is open to you.

Direct Payments

If you choose not to have a direct payment, social services will sort everything out for you. If you do choose a direct payment, you can look after it yourself or someone can look after it for you. Someone who looks after your direct payment for you is referred to as your nominated person.

You have a right to have a direct payment. It is enshrined in law. Section 31 of the Care Act 2014 says that if you request a direct payment, the Local Authority to which the request is made “must” make the payment to you. In an Act of Parliament, the word “must” used in this context means that a duty is imposed on a body or bodies, in this case Local Authorities. Where there is a duty imposed on a body there is usually a right granted to another allowing enforcement of that duty. In this case you have the right to a direct payment that is enforceable against the Local Authority.

There are certain circumstances where social services can refuse a direct payment request. However, under usual circumstances, so long as you are able to consent to having direct payments you will be entitled to them.

The Benefits of Direct Payments

As this is public money, quite rightly, you cannot spend a direct payment on just anything; and you will be audited by your Local Authority. Direct payments do, though, give you a large element of control over your care package. Direct payments allow you to choose your home care provider rather than having one chosen for you. But it is more than that. There are wider benefits that flow from exercising choice. 

Choice promotes dignity, and brings independence, and self-reliance, and enhances well-being, and satisfaction and peace of mind, and gives a sense of achievement: And these are benefits that should never be underestimated.

Nothing, though, is set in stone. You can change your mind. If you decide to allow Social Services to look after things for you, you can, at a later date, choose to have a direct payment. There is flexibility in the system to work for you. For more information about obtaining a direct payment and changing home care providers click on this link.

You have a choice.

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.

Care and Support Workers Recruitment Open Day: 24 May 2017

Caremark Thanet held another successful open day on Wednesday 24 May 2017 for prospective care and support workers. The purpose of these events is to provide information to people who want to work in domiciliary care, generally, and for Caremark Thanet, in particular.

Ten people attended the event at the Oak Hotel in Ramsgate. The format of the event aims to give people all the information they need to make an informed choice about working in domiciliary care for Caremark Thanet.

Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton, got things started with an introduction session. This was followed by a brief presentation by Managing Director, Garry Costain, which focused on the high expectations that the company has for its care and support workers and the rewards and opportunities that are available for outstanding, reliable care workers.

There was then a chance for people to ask Garry any questions that they had. Amongst other things, Garry explained that guaranteed hours contracts may be available for people who want them and prove themselves to be reliable; that all care and support workers are entitled to 28 days paid holiday per year, and that there are promotion and training opportunities available for ambitious people.

Following Garry's presentation, attendees had the chance to chat with one of Caremark Thanet's care and support workers. This is a chance for people to ask someone who is doing the job questions about what it is really like to work for Caremark Thanet.

Eight application forms were given out; one candidate was interviewed on the day and offered a position and there are six interviews scheduled for week beginning 29 May 2017.

If you'd like more information about working for Caremark Thanet call: 01843 235910; email: thanet@caremark.co.uk.

 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.

Care and Support Worker Recruitment Open Day, Royal Oak Hotel Ramsgate, 24th May 2017

Caremark Thanet is a domiciliary care company that provides care throughout Thanet. On the 24th May 2017 we will be holding one of our Care and Support Worker Open Days at the Royal Oak Hotel in Ramsgate. The full address is 66 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, CT11 8LN. There will be two sessions: one starting at 10.30 am and the second at 12.00 midday.

These events have proved incredibly popular with people looking to work in domiciliary care. The main purpose of the event is to provide potential care and support workers with information about working in care generally, and working for Caremark Thanet more specifically.

Working in domiciliary care presents challenges and brings enormous rewards. It is a career that is not for everyone. If you have never worked in care and want to get some idea about what is involved; this event may be just right for you. Experience is useful but not essential. What we look for is people who are caring, reliable, hardworking and flexible.

If you have care experience, you will probably be more concerned about finding out what it is like working for Caremark Thanet. Working for us will not suit everyone. We have high expectations; in turn; you rightly should have high expectations of us. We are a company that is prepared to invest in the right people. If you feel you have something to offer; come along and see what we can offer you.

The format of the session will probably go something like this:

First, there will be an introduction session led by our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton.

Second, there will be a presentation from the managing director of Caremark Thanet, Garry Costain. This presentation gives the audience a little bit of information about our history; emphasises the company’s ethos based on an uncompromising approach to the quality of care delivery and valuing of our carers; outlines the benefits of working for us and the wider opportunities available, and rounds off with a glimpse of the plans for how our success story will continue.

Third, there will be  an opportunity to ask Garry any questions that the audience might have.

Finally, we always try to invite along one or more of our carers so that the audience can ask questions directly to someone who is, in fact, doing the job.

The feedback from our most recent open day on 7th  March was extra-ordinarily positive. Most people went away with one of our application packs. We subsequently interviewed several candidates and were able to offer jobs to some of these people.

Spaces are limited so you are strongly advised to book a place. To guarantee your place, please contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910 or email jemma.clayton@caremark.co.uk.

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: Care and Support Worker Open Days

On Tuesday 7 March, we held the third of our carer open days. The first was held at our offices; the second and third were held at Smith Court’s Hotel in Margate.

Smith Court’s Hotel is a superb venue and the staff there look after us very well. The open day on 7 March was very well attended – 18 prospective care and support workers in total over two sessions.

The purposes of these days are to provide information, advice and guidance to people who think that they might want to work in domiciliary care, and more specifically to work for Caremark Thanet.

The format of the day is typically as follows:

First, there is an introduction session led by our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton.

Second, there is a presentation from the managing director of Caremark Thanet, Garry Costain. This presentation gives the audience a little bit of information about our history; emphasises the company’s ethos based on an uncompromising approach to the quality of care delivery and valuing of our carers; outlines the benefits of working for us and the wider opportunities available, and rounds off with a glimpse of the plans for how our success story will continue.

Third, there is an opportunity to ask Garry any questions that the audience might have.

Finally, we always try to invite along one or more of our carers so that the audience can ask questions directly to someone who is, in fact, doing the job.

The feedback from our 7 March open day was extra-ordinarily positive. Most people went away with one of our application packs. We interviewed two people on the day, one of whom attended an induction the next day. We have subsequently interviewed three other people to whom we have offered positions with us.

Many thanks to all those who attended and to Smith’s Court Hotel for its hospitality.

If you’d like information about our next open day, contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910 or email jemma.clayton@caremark.co.uk.

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.

Do You Work in Domiciliary Care?

Do You Work in Domiciliary Care?

Are you looking for something new?

We are Caremark Thanet: Providers of Outstanding Domiciliary Care to the Residents of Thanet.

We are looking to recruit a small number of experienced care and support workers to supplement our existing team. We are looking for people to cover: Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Westgate and Birchington.

If you would like to find out more about the opportunities that are available with us please telephone  01843 235910. 

You can also visit our website: www.caremark.co.uk

and Facebook page: facebook.com/caremarkthanet

If you feel that we are the type of company that you would like to work for: telephone me now.