Care Assistants

[hotlips1]

This question is on behalf of a colleague in the Residential Home we work in. Can a female care assistant refuse to help a male resident with personal care if she feels uneasy in his company? Please do not say perhaps 2 carers could attend. Our manager says he only needs 1 carer not 2. If we are not giving him personal care this is abuse. The resident concerned has already touched another female carer inappropriately this is why we ask. Many thanks

[gleaveyweave]

My husband is the manager of a care home and he would never expect a female care assistant to tend to a male resident that she felt uneasy with. It is absolutely your right to refuse, is your manager not being understanding?

[malaise]

I believe that she can refuse as she has the right to dignity in the workplace. Your manager should be more supportive, though! Perhaps you should instigate a team meeting or supervision to discuss this?

[alijangra]

This matter should definately be assessed properly by the manager. Residents can need 2 carers for a variety of reasons, one of which being if he/she is violent or behaves sexually inappropriately. A full risk assessment should be carried out and documented by your line manager. Any inappropriate behaviour must be documented in his care plan also. You are certainly within your rights to take this matter further.

[spaced]

dont call them residents, they are service users. I work in care. You can refuse to deal with this service user, but you must understand that this is the name of the game in care homes, some service users do not know the difference between right and wron due to their disability. I would try and speak with the service user and tell him that it is wrong to do what he has done. I understand that being touched, threatend or hit by a service user is hard, but as a carer you should know that you will be expected to deal with abusive and threatening service users.