I thought I’d ask this forum if anyone has heard of or had any experience of things like Contracts of Expectations for an older person returning home who will have carers in place. I have tried Googling and there is very little as far as I can see on line and I have only seen Transparency Project and other articles all to do with children. I have not found anyone who knows anything about such contracts and how usual they are and even if they are actual contracts. Can anyone shed any light on this type of thing or where I could find any info? Thanks very much.
I have never heard of these. It seems to be a written document where two parties, in this case the older person and the council?/care provider? list their intentions - but it is not a contract, not legally binding. Where have you met the term, how does it relate to you or your caree, who has mentioned it and who is involved? None of my business, but without some context it seems impossible to say anything more.
Thanks for your reply. I can’t say too much really, but I just started thinking this must be really unusual as absolutely nothing is coming up on Google in relation to elderly. This lead me to think this is not common practice. So I thought if there is a big community carers someone may have come across something like this as Google hasn’t so far.
Basically vague terms of things you should do/not do that you would/wouldn’t do anyway as a family member or carer (and its known you are responsible already) e.g. the older person being centre of decisons etc that you always do anyway, but its odd because how can it even be policed as it puts a carer in an awkward position as its not their job to monitor. Also, what if things get included like planning ahead days of visiting and how long for etc. or other restrictions/rules that wouldn’t necessarily fit in with day to day life as its unpredictable. For example, you might want to visit when you feel like it or when the family member is fed up or not well, and not on set days etc.
It feels an unnatural situation and could make carers feel uncomfortable as it could create an atmosphere where there isn’t trust with family or carers.
I can’t say much about this situation, but was just wondering if anyone has heard of anything quite like this to make sense of it. There is one article, like you say, saying its not an actual contract. There is nothing on some other big forums either, so I think quite unusual…
I don’t know what to say - it sounds like you just have to see how the situation develops. In all situations with carers there is paperwork, and then there is real life! Perhaps whoever chose this title was getting above themself? But as you say, others may have experience.
@4leafclover people normally have a care plan when they return home from hospital. Is that what you are meaning the older person is returning home from hospital.where are the carers coming from the council. It’s hard because you’re not saying what the situation is. Or if they are coming home from hospital and carers will be in place. Are the carers private carers or from the authorities. Or just the family caring. Normally if people cannot manage and need time to recouperate when they come out of hospital they have a needs assessment in the hospital to see what they need help with and then they get carers that come into help them with those things anything from 1 call a day to 4 calls a day .also situation if they live on there own. The 4 calls a day .would be morning ,lunch, tea, evening to help with meals, personal care, laundry , light cleaning. In hospital the person would be given a choice of times around about a time they would want the carers to come. It would all be put in a care plan all the information about the person. If they need help they can get something called reablement which is free of charge from the authorities for up to 6 weeks if they need care after the 6 weeks then depending on there circumstances they may have to pay a contribution towards the care. Or if they have eligible primary health care need can put in for CHC care from the nhs which is free but not easy to get. I don’t know if your the carer and you are going to be looking after someone. I suppose you would work it out between you both. But I think there would have to be a set care plan and routine or neither of you would know what was happening day to day .I don’t know if any of this helps.
@4leafclover something else I thought about but I don’t know how it works I once read something about it .you are saying contracts for family and carers. If you are on about a private carer or carers and employing them to look after an older person returning home. And this person caring for them does not work for an agency or the local authority and is not family .Then you would be employing them as a carer and that is a whole different situation.if the carer work for the authority or an agency they would have a contract with them and a care plan with the person they are caring for. If they don’t and you are employing them to care for the person then you become the employer. You are employing them. I don’t think there are contract a contract would have to be done through a solicitor I suppose like a contract of employment with set hours , days like a proper job. With tax, NI insurance and pension etc. and it would have to be drawn up by a solicitor. But the people who signed it would have to make sure they knew exactly what it meant and they agreed to it. Then they would have a contract with you. But it would all have to be done legally for it to be done legally binding. I don’t know if that is what you mean.