Can I ask if a carer is on shadowing, is she allowed to visit clients on her own? Where clients are double-up calls for hoisting, should there be 2 carers, not 1 carer and the shadowing carer only?

Answered by Philippa Shirtcliffe

The purpose of shadowing is to gain an insight into what the role entails and shadow shifts should be carried out by an experience care team member. It is an opportunity for the new care worker to use the knowledge and the skills they have acquired in induction and shouldn’t then be seen as a new pair of hands ready to plug any recruitment holes.  Therefore, all carers should be supervised when on shadowing and must not visit customers on their own. Double-up calls for hoisting should always be conducted by two carers in addition to the carer that is shadowing. Only once shadowing has been completed and the carer is signed off and fully inducted can they conduct visits on their own or as part of a double-up call.