How to find part-time assistant

[cosmoblivion]

Please let me know if I have posted this in an inappropriate place.
I have been using the 'jobs' website called "indeed.com" to find candidates for helping us with Mum's care.
We only need a small amount of assistance so that my husband and I can have a wee break from the 24hour/7days schedule we have been doing for over three years now.
My question or 'problem' is that the "indeed" job site is not really set up for finding people who are actually local and willing or interested to give us 4 hours a week to help with mum's bedtime routine. In fact, most of the 'prospects' rarely check for my immediate reply to their CV/application to my posted job. ....and are not even experienced in this line of work.
Both my husband and I are experienced healthcare professionals as well as former university professors, so we are more than happy to train sincere applicants.
I just posted our search (to friends only) on fb and then recognised that some of you might have shaken out some creative ways to find honest help. Mum is near the end, though it is hard to say how long she will keep pushing her sweet eyes open to smile at us. So, we do not have a lot of time to spend to get someone here. We are just trying to make it through to her 'last day' physically...for her.
Again, please let me know if I am asking for this advise in the wrong heading?
And so much gratitude to all of you. xoxj

[bowlingbun]

If mum is "near the end", then she may qualify for free NHS care at home. Google "NHS Continuing Healthcare Checklist Assessment" and see if you think she might qualify. If so, then ask the GP to arrange "Fast Track CHC" which is the quickest and easiest way of getting help right at the end, otherwise ask him to arrange a normal assessment.
IF mum qualifies, and it's a bit of a postcode lottery I'm afraid, then the NHS can arrange the carers for you.

[susieq]

Even if you are 'self funding' it might be worthwhile checking with your local Social Services; they usually have a list of vetted care assistants that you could check. Alternatively you could check out private care agencies in your area.

You don't say what is wrong with your Mum, but if she has Dementia then your local Alzheimer's Society branch may be able to help with pointing you in the direction of a 'befriender' - ditto Age UK have a similar service.

[Anne001]

Very hard, Cosmo, in my experience to find good candidates. I was going to mention local authority website too as they often list qualified carers for those using direct payments. Also I found befrienders through my local branch of Age UK and they also knew of some experienced care assistants looking for work. Do you have a local branch of Bluebird? In my area, they tend to attract the more experienced care assistant although I appreciate that would include agency fees.

Good luck in finding someone, Anne

[cosmoblivion]

susieq and bowlingbun,
Thank you so much for getting back to me! I sincerely appreciate your promptness.
I was not very precise in my wording....Money is not the issue.
We do have care via NHS, but we chose to be in charge of the interviewing and hiring
because staffing was so bad with NHS's services that I was wearing myself to a frazzle every week
training yet another new Carer. And I do mean that most of them had no experience
with caring at all! So, instead of having a break for the one hour they were here,
I had to work even harder! Mum also kept getting out of sorts from the constant new faces.
So then we had to spend more time calming her emotionally after they left.
She has late stage dementia, combination of types; she is bedridden due multiple chronic
health conditions. With constancy, and because my husband and I know her so well,
she is serene and peaceful, quite easy to care for. So, we seek to find a helper that can
understand how we keep mum so calm as well as have skills for bedside care.
I hope that helps?
Essentially, my inquiry is for some way to tap the jobseeking market in a more concise way.
The mass market job sites are way too random and not very locally oriented.
I am putting notices up on boards. And I did find our first PA via a notice before.
I had a LOT more time (& energy) back then.
I want to give my time spent answering applicants that are not really interested
to more productive pursuits.... (like a nap! hahaha jus' teasin'....sort of ).
Thank you sincerely so much for taking the time!
Respectfully, xoxj

[bowlingbun]

Thanks for the information.

Having supported four elderly parents with a variety of health issues, and with an adult son who has severe learning difficulties, I know only too well that many "carers" are not worthy of the title!

In view of your mum's very high health needs, I think you should be advertising for a female nurse with formal nursing qualifications, due to mum's health issues.

Perhaps if you took your rest during school hours, there might be a qualified nurse with young children who would love the chance to earn extra money?

[cosmoblivion]

Very hard, Cosmo, in my experience to find good candidates. I was going to mention local authority website too as they often list qualified carers for those using direct payments. Also I found befrienders through my local branch of Age UK and they also knew of some experienced care assistants looking for work. Do you have a local branch of Bluebird? In my area, they tend to attract the more experienced care assistant although I appreciate that would include agency fees.

Good luck in finding someone, Anne

-----------------------------------------
Hi Anne, thank you sincerely.
Is Bluebird a job site? I will try it in my search engine. Thank you for that.
And I did not think of Age UK! so gosh, thank you thank you!
I truly appreciate the suggestions!
xoxj

[bowlingbun]

The Bluebird Care Agency have an excellent reputation in the New Forest BUT the council won't use them as they charge about £20 an hour, rather than the £14 the council pay for.

[Maxwell_1602]

Hi Cosmo

Not sure where you live but are there any Care Agencies in your area? Failing that you could always advertise on Gumtree. I found 2 really good carers in the past although you have to be rigorous with checking references and CRB.

Best of luck

SS

[Henrietta]

I believe hospices can also provide staff to give specialised end of life care at home.