CareWorker Handbook V2.0
CareWorker Handbook V2.0
Healthcare Group
Care Worker
Handbook
City & County Healthcare Group - Care worker handbook
Contents
WELCOME TO CITY & COUNTY
HEALTHCARE GROUP 5
PART A
A GUIDE TO YOUR EMPLOYMENT 8
1. JOINING CITY & COUNTY
HEALTHCARE GROUP
1.1 Contract of employment 9
1.2 Allocation of assignments 9
1.3 Eligibility to work in the UK 10
1.4 Criminal records checks 10
1.5 Probationary period 11
1.6 Change of personal circumstances or details 12
1.7 Medical fitness and health surveillance 12
1.8 Occupational health assistance 13
1.9 Night work 14
1.10 Training and development 14
1.11 Your personal information 15
1.12 Resignation 16
2. PAY, PENSION & BENEFITS
2.1 Confirmation of your work 18
2.2 Your pay 18
2.3 Rest breaks 19
2.4 Pension 20
2.5 Employee Assistance Programme and perks 20
2.6 Refer a Friend 21
2.7 Blue Light Card 22
PART B
A GUIDE TO WORK ACTIVITY 45
5. SAFEGUARDS
5.1 Confidentiality 46
5.2 Right to search 46
5.3 Financial transactions 46
5.4 Social media 48
5.5 Identity cards (ID) 49
5.6 Security and keysafes 49
6. STANDARDS AND BEHAVIOUR AT WORK
6.1 Professional boundaries 51
6.2 Personal relationships 51
6.3 Dress code and appearance 52
6.4 Speaking over service users or speaking in a
language they don’t understand 54
Our Values
1.12 Resignation
If, for whatever reason, you decide to leave the City &
County Healthcare Group family please inform your line
manager of your decision to resign and the reason for
resigning.
2.4 Pension
In line with the Pensions Act 2008 we will automatically
enrol you into the City & County Healthcare Group
pension scheme.
• crisis intervention
• bereavement support
• stress management and mental health concerns
• alcohol or substance abuse & smoking cessation
• divorce/marital problems
• care for older relatives or children
• financial and legal support (debt management,
budgeting, retirement planning, legal disputes, house
moves).
• wellbeing articles/factsheets
• toolkits and wellbeing courses
• wellbeing assessments
• videos and podcasts
• online workout programmes
3. TYPES OF LEAVE
and
Payment will not be made for annual leave which has not
been taken unless the employment is ending or there is a
contractual entitlement above the 5.6 weeks of statutory
or additional leave and it is agreed that a payment in lieu
is appropriate. The leave entitlement will lapse at the end
of the leave year unless the carry-over of untaken days is
agreed.
The group will inform you if you are entitled to SSP at the
relevant time.
• parental leave
• time off for dependants
• bereavement leave
• compassionate leave
• study leave
• emergency leave
• miscellaneous statutory time off
• jury service
• discretionary leave.
4. OUR POLICIES
In this section you will find information on some of City
& County Healthcare Group’s general policies and
procedures. Not all policies are included here. You
can access group policies on the group’s Learning
Management System (LMS), or you can request copies
from your line manager.
Misconduct
Gross misconduct
4.4.2 Disability
We have a responsibility to ensure that you are physically
and mentally able to carry out your role safely. If you have
told us that you have a disability, we will consider what
reasonable adjustments we can make to support you to
work safely.
4.5 Whistleblowing
The group has a clear policy on whistle-blowing, allowing
employees who have serious concerns about the
conduct of others to report these to senior management
in confidence without fear of repercussions, retaliation,
intimidation or reprimand.
5. SAFEGUARDS
5.1 Confidentiality
You are contractually required to comply with the group’s
policies on privacy and confidentiality and ensure that you
protect confidential information. This includes information
on paper, on digital devices, and shared verbally.
6. STANDARDS AND
BEHAVIOUR AT WORK
6.3.1 Uniforms
If you are required to wear a uniform, you must ensure
that it is clean and well-presented and the trousers you
wear should be full-length and black or dark in colour.
6.3.2 Hair
Hair should be kept clean and if you have long hair you
must wear it tied back or up whilst working.
6.3.3 Cosmetics
Cosmetics must only be worn in moderation to maintain a
professional appearance.
6.3.4 Jewellery
You should wear minimal jewellery and if you do wear
jewellery it must be small and plain so that it does not
catch on or tear clothing, skin or PPE.
Ear and nose piercings are limited to plain studs and other
body piercings must be concealed. If you wear rings,
these must be removed during hand-washing and food
preparation, or fully covered with blue tape. You must not
wear a wristwatch or bracelet when carrying out personal
care.
7. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT
8. GENERAL RULES
8.6 Smoking
If you smoke you should only do so during allocated break
times. You must never smoke in a service user’s home.
Your service users must not smoke while you are present
and have been asked not to smoke for an hour before you
visit them. Please inform your manager if service users
are not adhering to this.
8.7 Food
You should only eat during your breaks. Where an
assignment is longer than four hours in duration, it’s a
good idea to remember to bring your own food to eat
during a break
Do not take personal calls during work and do not give out
your personal mobile number to service users, their family
and friends or accept theirs.
Further information
The aim of this handbook is to outline what is expected
of you in all aspects of your work, and it has given
summaries of the policies and procedures you are most
likely to encounter in your day to day work. For further
information on any aspects of this handbook please refer
to your line manager and the full policies which can be
found on the group’s LMS.