INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTERS AND THEIR CLIENTS
InPlace Care
InPlace Care Home & Community Care
InPlace Care supports a range of Clients in the community for a range of services. It is important that you understand what is available for your support and the conditions around these services for us to provide excellence in community support and that we foster and encourage every Client’s well-being, independence and community integration as much as possible.
You the Client, need to be responsible, supportive and accepting of support. Your carers from InPlace Care are always happy to assist you with any information and support they can but they need your positive response to the activities engaged.
Home and Community Care work can be very challenging, and it is essential that you or your representative (Supporter) have completed Service and Care Plans and viewed InPlace Care’s policy and procedures.
The following guide is designed to provide you with the knowledge and procedures that you will need to confidently engage with our Carers that provide care in the community as well as communicating with InPlace Care.
General Information
We are open between 08:30 and 17:00 5 days per week
Contacting InPlace Care
E: admin@inplacecare.com.au
P:
Introduction
Our guiding philosophy at InPlace Care is that the elderly wish to stay living in their homes for a long as they can. To be able to do this, they often have the support of their family who organize the care they need to be healthy and safe in their home. In our model, these Supporters sign up on the platform to organize services for a Client. The Supporter can be family or a friend, however it is important that they acknowledge they take on the responsibility to lodge their credit card for the payment of all services contracted under the InPlace Care service platform. In some instances, a Client can be their own Supporter in our model, and organize the support they need and pay for it either directly or through CMW packages controlled by a registered Service Provider.
It is our goal at InPlace Care that all the services needed can be organized at the touch of a button, allowing clients to live a happy, safe and healthy life in their homes.
Remember at all times our goal is to respect the dignity, privacy and independence of Clients and their primary carers. (Primary Carer refers to a family member/friend that cares for the Client, not the home care worker).
- To be involved in identifying the care most appropriate to support their needs
- To choose the care and services that best meet their assessed needs and planned goals
- To receive care without being obliged to feel grateful to those providing care
- To receive care that is respectful
- To have a representative participate in decisions relating to the care if they do not have the capacity to make decisions
- To be treated without exploitation, abuse, discrimination, harassment or neglect
- To receive reliable, coordinated, safe, transparent quality care and services
- To receive care and support provided by carers who are experienced, trained and qualified.
- To be provided with a service agreement that they agree with
- To be given a written plan of the care that they expect to receive, and receive this care
- To have ongoing review of the care and services received, and modification as required
- To be able to cancel and reschedule services as per the agreed service appointments
- The right to access their personal information
Privacy & Confidentiality
Both InPlace Care and our home care worker, may learn a lot about the Client, their family and friends.
Information may be disclosed regarding the Client or the Clients’ family and include:
- Medical information including your care requirements and needs
- Financial information
- Personal information
We confirm that we have advised our Carer they must never disclose any information come across throughout their duties to you or use information that has come to their attention for financial, personal or business gain.
This includes talking to their friends, family and colleagues and posting or using that information on social media.
The only exception to this is if that information is requested by a government body, medical professional or InPlace Care, and only within their scope of practice e.g. a home care worker should not discuss complex medical needs with the Clients’ doctor.
We have also told our Carers that they should also not disclose medical issues with family members if you have requested us not to do so.
Documentation
All employees of InPlace Care must affirm their commitment to maintaining the Client’s privacy and confidentiality in relation to the Client and all InPlace Care’s business affairs, through the signing of the InPlace Care Code of Conduct and Ethics.
A Client’s personal information gathered by InPlace Care staff is for the purpose of planning and delivering appropriately designed services, meeting our reporting accountabilities, and observance of our Duty of Care.
All information provided to us will never be disclosed to a third person.
Documentation that we may be required to review or complete includes:
- Care plans and assessments
- Progress notes
- Medication and other charts
InPlace Care will provide our Carer with all necessary information to complete their visit prior to attendance at your premises. All documentation will be readable online in the Client Careplan & logbook within the InPlace Care software platform.
Changes in a Client’s condition or any concerns will be reported promptly to the Supporter by the Carer.
Communication
All communication from InPlace Care and our Carers to our Clients and their primary carers’ will be professional, respectful and non-judgmental.
We see each person as an individual and that we may need to adapt how we communicate to meet the individual needs.
While it is important to establish a rapport with your Carers, it is equally important to observe boundaries. You should not discuss your personal circumstances, exchange phone numbers or ask them to visit outside of rostered times. If you require further work than what has been scheduled, this should be formalized through the InPlace Care platform and an additional appointment booked.
Never offer money to the Carer to do tasks or activities outside what has been scheduled within the InPlace Care platform as they will not be covered by our Group Insurance if the care service is not registered on the platform.
Clients please remember that it is not within our Carers’ scope of practice to provide advice to a Client on financial, personal or medical matters, or witness documents, please do not ask for this.
Please use the InPlace Care service platform for all communication with your Carer. Please note that this communication must go through the Supporter log in.
The carer will see this and respond accordingly.
Services
To build a suite of services for an individual Client, it is easy to pick from the icon list of services offered, we would recommend you just click the main ones to start with to ensure you get a good search of Carers on the data base.
The list of Services include:
Service Group
| Services to select |
Personal Care We can arrange help when you need it and for how long you may need some support. The care workers will gradually assist you to do a little bit more each time they visit. Personal care & assistance, includes individual attention, individual supervision and physical assistance with activities such as feeding, bathing, showering, toileting, help to get out of bed and back to bed, dressing and undressing, grooming, mobility, and communication. |
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Lifestyle Support Our care workers assist Supporters with everyday household activities. They can take you shopping or shop for you, assist with daily living tasks, help with your general house cleaning such as laundry, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, feed the pets, provide assistance with nutrition and using eating utensils and assistance with actual feeding if needed. Care workers will help you planning meals, to prepare a meal and even or cook a delicious meal chosen by you. |
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Companionship Support to participate in community interest groups, family events and other social opportunities. Our care workers can transport and support you, great company too! |
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Clinical Support Home visiting nurses provide support for wound care, catheter changes, insulin injections, medications and assistance with management of diabetes. |
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Allied Health |
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Scheduled visits
All scheduling of jobs will be done by the Care Worker through the InPlace Care platform.
We expect our Carer will attend the service at the correct time and not leave their shift early.
If you are unable to be present for a visit at the correct time, please contact the carer directly through the InPlace Care messaging platform to coordinate a revised appointment time.
Cancelling a scheduled visit
If you cancel a booked service outside of 2 hours from the service, no cancellation fee will be due.
If you cancel a booked service up to 2 hours before the service, then a full service fee cancellation fee with be charged to the Supporter’s credit card or bank account.
Medical Emergencies & injuries
Where a Client who is being cared for by an InPlace Care contracted carer becomes unwell and requires urgent attention, our carer has been directed to call 000 and request an ambulance.
Conditions that may require urgent attention include:
- Collapse
- Any chest pain, chest tightness accompanied by sweating
- Shortness of breath NOT associated with exercise
- Dizziness not resolved with a short rest
- Significant musculoskeletal injury
- Sudden, uncharacteristic confusion
If in doubt, call an ambulance. Our Carer will remain with the Client until the ambulance arrives and have taken over care.
InPlace Care Service Support Team will also be called by our Carer to advise them of the emergency as soon as possible.
Occupational Health and Safety
While a home care worker is working in a Client’s home that home becomes their workplace and relevant OHS legislative requirements must be met. AS the Supporter has contracted direct with the Care Worker, all OHS responsibilities and obligations will lie with them.
The meeting of these obligations should be done in a sensitive way that respects both the carers rights and the way the Client organises and wants to live in their home. To meet OHS requirements practices, modifications or equipment may be required, and it is essential that this is reviewed by the Supporter before the care commences. Please read our Policy 2023 Home Care Site Review and check the boxes to ensure the safety of our carer. Please hand this completed form to our Care Worker upon their first visit to your home.
We understand that Clients of Home Care Services are diverse and have specific needs so the processes for managing OHS requirements must be able to be adapted to the individual circumstances of the Client.
Electrical Hazards
Common electrical safety hazards include: - Frayed electrical cords
- Over loaded power points
- Damaged or cracked equipment
- Electricity near water, such as bar heaters in the bathroom
- Damaged or incorrectly wired switches
Chemical Hazards
Common chemical hazards in the home may include:
- Incorrect storage of chemicals
- Using chemicals in a non-ventilated area
- Unlabeled or marked chemicals
Our Carers have been advised to always ensure that when they are using cleaners to clean a room that the room is well ventilated and that there is a flow of air. Never use a cleaning product that does not have a label or is labeled by the Client. Always use gloves when using cleaning products. Never mix chemicals e.g. bleach and floor cleaner when using them for cleaning. This can result in unpredictable chemical reactions that could be harmful or fatal. Chemicals should be stored in a lockable cupboard or child safe area where good ventilation occurs.
We ask our Carers when:
TAKING CLIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY:
Ensure they take:
- Foods and fluids
- Hand Gel
- Equipment*
- Gloves
- Clothing*
- Incontinence aids *if necessary
- Ensure they:
- Notify house members of your return
- Write up any reports that need to be done in the Client’s file / notes
WHEN TRANSPORTING:
- Go the most direct route and not deviate or stop at other destinations;
- Never have any other people, such as family members riding in the car with you;
- Ensure that you have your mobile switched on, but do not answer, call or text whilst driving;
- Never play loud music or smoke with a Client in your car;
- Keep your car air temperature suitable to the needs of the Client.
Additional Information
No Smoking
InPlace Care enforces a strict no smoking policy. Under no circumstances should you smoke with your Carer in their vehicle, in your home or on the grounds of your premises.
We have advised out Carers that they must not leave the Client unattended in order to have a smoke. Smoking should always be done on breaks only and off the premises.
National Police Name Check & working with Children’s Check
Our Carers will keep their Working with Children’s card with them and a copy of their police check and be ready to present them when requested by a Client or Supporter.
Gifts
You must never offer gifts or money to a Carer.
WE WISH YOU A HAPPY, REWARDING EXPERIENCE WITH OUR CARER