Ivy Palmer Live in Care

I have been working for independent people for over 4 months now, they are very professional trustworthy, they match me with customers with similar interests as me, they do monthly phone calls and email checks with me to make sure I am mentally and physically able to do my job, they take their time to make sure I as their employee is not in any danger when working, this makes me so comfortable as it helps me to do my job in an effective manner.

I worked here 2019-2022 and have to say this is by far the worst company I have worked for. Management/in office staff have 0 care for the live in carers and in most cases, the clients. If there was ever an issue, the staff in the office did very little to help. It’s the most unsupportive management system I have ever known.. they are very money grabbing orientated. When I went to Essex to complete my weekend training, I was told the more complex a clients needs are, the more I will be paid. I was NEVER paid for more complex clients. I would work 15+ hour shifts every single day & I was only ever paid for 10 hours each day. I was hardly ever reimbursed for my travel expenses, so many times I would ring up the office to chase a reimbursement and I would never get anywhere. There was one occasion I worked in Cornwall (9 hours away), the carer who took over me was 5 hours late to placement as she had a look around the town first, which meant I had to buy new train tickets costing me over £100, I was always told by Grace that I would get the money back off the company.. but guess what? I never did! I spent over £200 on travel for that placement and in the end I got nothing back. I completed my care certificate booklet, sent it back in the post and NEVER got my care certificate; they said my booklet got ‘lost’ and couldn’t give me a new one to complete as they had non left. All clients I visited during my time here had some sort of dissatisfaction from the company, a lot of the families were lied to about what care was given. One family was told I would be available 24 hours a day whilst I was on placement whilst us carers are told we don’t work during the night and only work 10 hour days (10 hour days never happened). I would avoid working for this company at all costs. I had to hand my resignation in 5 times and I still have had no confirmation that my resignation has been accepted.

I have worked for IP over 3 years now. It has a great support team, always willing to help. Like all companies we don't always get it right, however I do believe we learn by our mistakes.

When I first started working for I.P the were always nice but the support wasn’t there, but the last couple of years I.P has improved so much, they have much better managers, there isn’t one of them that I can’t talk to, I get so much support now. I really like working for I.P.

I have worked for independent people for 3yrs now and I love my job. To be honest, there were areas that needed working on when I first joined but they are reaching the goals now and it’s brilliant. Lots of support from the office and management team as well as meeting some amazing people. I am also aware that not everyone knows about live in carers which is sad to hear. I’m probably classed as a “mature” carer due to my age, and although I’ve worked in different rolls of care for the past 13 years, I have to say my current roll is my favourite.