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Comfort Keepers

2

Comments

  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8 lmcs91


    Ls87 wrote: »
    Do not pay them any money! Don't get your hopes up that you actually even have a job either. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but id advise you to read the others posts on this thread to get an idea of the kind of company you could be working for. My own story in a nutshell, got a job with them last october, trained (didn't pay any money thank god), sent of Garda vetting...10 months later, i'm still unemployed and haven't heard from comfort keepers once!!!
    Ya I saw that alright but given I'm doing a course related to the job this year and I'm pretty serious about it I'm thinking I might actually get work. And also that I'm willing to work nights. We'll see anyways. Thanks for the heads up at least I know not to expect too much! How many are at the training or what's the whole set up like?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 39 Ls87


    No problem.
    There was about 100 people for the induction training, was there most of the day, had a lunch break. They just talked us through everything via powerpoint presentation and gave us all the booklets we needed. A few days later we did manual and patient handling in groups of about 10, again that was for the whole day with a lunch break. How long have you been waiting on your vetting for so far if you dont mind me asking?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 Gemima123


    Has anyone actually started work with CC, like have any clients? Myself nd several people i know and people on this post have done d trainin but i dont no anyone whos act workin. Surely this cant be legal givin out contracts wit no work 2 follow?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 lsdub


    Anyone started with ck since last posting?? I was posting as 'Ls87' I've since closed that account.

    Interesting phone call with them the other day.
    Rang them to enquire about the cert for the patient/manual handling I did with them (October last year). I wanted the cert as proof for a new job that I have completed that training so I wouldn't have to do it again for them. After been put through to 3or4 different departments/people, i get told I can have it if I pay €100...
    Anyway, the best part of the phonecall was when the woman went on to ask me why I never did any shifts with ck, I told her it's been 14 months since I trained and signed off vetting form and haven't heard a thing. She told me they tried ringing me loads a few months back when my vetting came through about starting. We checked she had my correct phone number, she did. She then asked me would I be interested In doing some work for them now... No one ever called me. When I rang several times no one could tell me anything about my vetting and about 6or7 months after the vetting 'supposably' got sent off, I gave up on the idea of working for them and stopped ringing.

    Another example of the excellent communication in comfort keepers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    I see this crowd are advertising in unemployment Centers
    And FAS Centers - it would seem to appear that their business model focuses on getting a steady income from " applicants" . I've never worked for a
    Company that made me pay for my own training.
    Shameful stuff really. Exploitation of the
    Vulnerable & those desperately trying to get out of poverty.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,308 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Would like to hear more before i commit to paying for a training course through them.
    I acknowledge that this is an old thread, but this would send alarm bells ringing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 angiek12


    I would not take a job with comfort keepers I have been working for them for 2 years and most weeks work 6 or 7 days with no thanks. I got a job in a nursing home but comfort keepers refused to give me a reference or release my certs from training I had done. I am now out on injury benefit following a slipped disc <snip>!! And they are not paying me while I am out ! Im sorry I ever took a job with them . The only good thing is the clients :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 angiek12


    I would look somewhere else if I was u. There are lots of homecare companies out there that treat there staff amazing and being a carer is a great job ! Try irish homecare they are hiring and pay 2.50 an hour more than ck ! I am trying to get a job with them myself as I know alot of ppl who work for them and they love it !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 angiek12


    I have an interview with bluebird tomorrow so I will let you know how it goes :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭lazeedaisy


    CK pay a tenner an hour, Home instead pay 9. CK pay upfront for training - Home Instead need you to be trained. HSE / Alz. Society and carers assoc. pay 12.75 per hour min. but jobs are hard to get.

    Garda clearance at the moment is only taking 5 weeks - thats with "problem" candidates where further investigation is needed - since christmas its gotten a lot shorter.

    All jobs with agencies rely on work being available in your area - it can take 11/12 month - unless you are not suitable and they never bother telling you - you just never hear from them. Whilst you tell them your availability - they can call you to check availability.

    CK has HSE contract at the moment - HSE are phasing out home helps and carers and HIQA cannot regulate the area whilst HSE staff are in.

    It can suit some people - but it can involve intimate personal care - which is why you need training - no one should go in cold to a job.

    Agencies are all the same at the end of the day - its not a bad job - but its a pain waiting - as the carers have to be in place before the clients - so you can be waiting a very long time.

    It can be rewarding if its what you want to do - but you wot get rich from it.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1 clare carer


    i waited a long time too for clearance, you dont have to start the fetac until your working, even then they dont look for the qualification. ive been with them four months and have done one module with them. Its like 200 euro per module and its taken out of your wages slowly, it makes the pay very litlle, the main problem aswel is they dont give fuel allowance. If you are living in the country like i am where clients are very spread out you will find that you are not making anything after you calculate what you pay for the trip to get to the client.

    If you have been on social welfare you are entitled to do courses for free, ask in your local office. If your not on social welfare , look around and get advice from your local adult education service.

    i am not sure if you quit are you obligated to pay the full fetac course you havent completed, they shove a contract into your hand at the first training days, make sure and read it even if they hurry you, and ask them details about paying for modules ect.

    If you let them know that you know that most home care agencys give employees fuel allowance and if you repeatedly as for it, they might give it to you, I know some employees with them have. Down the line though, the office can be very inconsiderate uncaring and plain dishonest. If they get you to cover shifts temporairly, be aware that it might not be temporary, and the only way to refuse work you dont want is to firmly put your foot down and say no. they tae advantage of weak, uneducated young people, like myself, but I have learnt alot you have to stick up for yourself, now your rights and dont sign anything without reading it. Ask questions all the time, get things in writing (emails ) if it is something that they will take might word back on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 Arthur1987


    What's d pay for comfort keepers live in carers in Ireland 7 days. Can anyone tell me. Tks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭lazeedaisy


    24 hour shift €100. can only do 3 / 4 if you can get them. 75 for overnight 10 hours.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,592 ✭✭✭cerastes


    lazeedaisy wrote: »
    24 hour shift €100. can only do 3 / 4 if you can get them. 75 for overnight 10 hours.

    I dont get you
    24 hour shift? €100, whats involved in a 24 hour shift, how can you be on 24 hours?
    and a ten hour shift is €75?, less than minimum but still more than 24 hour rate?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    cerastes wrote: »
    I dont get you
    24 hour shift? €100, whats involved in a 24 hour shift, how can you be on 24 hours?
    and a ten hour shift is €75?, less than minimum but still more than 24 hour rate?


    Arnt you sleeping over ? So u get a sleep over rate.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,592 ✭✭✭cerastes


    monflat wrote: »
    Arnt you sleeping over ? So u get a sleep over rate.

    for 24 hours? does sleeping over legitimately cover minimum pay legistlation?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭lazeedaisy


    For 10 hour shift which is called inactive overnight - you go in at 10pm & sleep. you can be called on 3 times during the night - this is technically time you sleep & not work.with a 24 hour shift - technically you sleep 8 hours so you dont get paid to sleep.
    there are ways around all this & they tell you records are audited by NERA but when they are in the phone begging you to do shifts they never care about how many you are doing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,592 ✭✭✭cerastes


    lazeedaisy wrote: »
    For 10 hour shift which is called inactive overnight - you go in at 10pm & sleep. you can be called on 3 times during the night - this is technically time you sleep & not work.with a 24 hour shift - technically you sleep 8 hours so you dont get paid to sleep.
    there are ways around all this & they tell you records are audited by NERA but when they are in the phone begging you to do shifts they never care about how many you are doing.

    Ok, I see for the 10 hr shift, but when does a 24 hour shift usually start?
    Start at 10pm? and go to the following night? Is this in someones home? or care facility, some people go into a deep sleep, might need to be given a shake to wake up if called, Im not kidding.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,344 ✭✭✭lazeedaisy


    CK are a private co. so its peoples homes.

    start time 10 11 am. you go to bed sometimes in a seperate room with a baby monitor or could sleep in a bed or chair in the room the person is sleeping

    you also get a 2 hr lunch break every day.

    you never sleep properly though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    lazeedaisy wrote: »
    CK are a private co. so its peoples homes.

    start time 10 11 am. you go to bed sometimes in a seperate room with a baby monitor or could sleep in a bed or chair in the room the person is sleeping

    you also get a 2 hr lunch break every day.

    you never sleep properly though.



    Would any of ye who are not getting any joy with ck try bluebird care ?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 Arthur1987


    Hi what's d story with comfort keepers training and working for comfort keepers how long is d contract for discounted college?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 133 ✭✭Sir Chops


    Arthur1987 wrote: »
    Hi what's d story with comfort keepers training and working for comfort keepers how long is d contract for discounted college?

    Can you stop with the text speak please ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 Pop123


    elisabetta wrote: »
    Hi

    I was wondering if any of you might have experience working with comfort keepers.I was successful passing the interview and in doing the introduction course.Now I am just waiting for the garda clearance. Can any one please tell me more how it really is to work for them and about their course thanks

    Hi just to let u know i started work for them two weeks ago there awful to work for i was waiting a year and a half for my garda vetting i am working monday to sunday without a break and the office workers havent a clue mixing up my hours dont know if i am coming or going i got offered another job which to be honest cant wait to see the back of them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    Pop123 wrote: »
    Hi just to let u know i started work for them two weeks ago there awful to work for i was waiting a year and a half for my garda vetting i am working monday to sunday without a break and the office workers havent a clue mixing up my hours dont know if i am coming or going i got offered another job which to be honest cant wait to see the back of them


    As i suggested before would you not try bluebird care ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    abolia wrote: »
    gaurda vet is crazy to wait that long, monday to sunday how many hours do you work, and is pay any good? you sound so unhappy. never hear a nice thing told about comfort k <snip>. it is bad in there. i mean very bad.I started in nusre home 2 night i work weekly. get enuf with social to live ok.did not have to pay for my own manual hanlidng in this job.what do bluebird care pay are they nice to work for.do they treat staff good?


    Are you a nurse or a carer.

    Im a nurse only do a few hours with them as I have a full time job at the moment.
    They paid for any training and was working with them within weeks no delay with garda vetting or references.

    I must say they are v efficient communication is very good. Always informed of everything.

    However they are a franchise and they are located nationwide


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 Pop123


    I too have passed the interview stage.I know all jobs have good & bad points.Would like to hear more before i commit to paying for a training course through them.Any information would be appreciated GOOD OR BAD thanks.

    Hi there i was working for them for two weeks nd in a another job now which i love comfort keepers are dreadful to work for there communication skills are really bad they management have attitudes which are horrendeous they only care about there pay i feel so sorry for the elderly they way they are treated with them half of the carers dont even turn up for there shifts that is abuse in my eyes


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭allym


    Have any of you worked for Irish Homecare? They've a few vacancies in my area but having heard all the bad stories about Comfort Keepers, I'd be interested to know if anyone has experience working for Irish Homecare?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 cnc1128


    I applied for a job with them did interview and training last Jan 2013. They got onto me in Jan 2014 to say my garda vetting had come back and did I want to start with them I was due to have my son 2 weeks later so obviously couldn't start they got onto me again in may asking would I start with them that I had to re interview again went up for my interview and was told by the girl I had already gone through this stage so didn't need to do it but would have to re do my training cause it was out of date! Did my training and told my other job I would not be returning as I got another job after maternity leave which finished 5 weeks ago now! Have been onto them numerous times all to be told today that I need to re do my interview because my answers to interview could have changed. The communication with them or even between their offices are awful! I'm not out of paid work for 5 weeks because of them guarantee me u would start with them and still haven't so now have to job search when I could have gone back to my old job! I would tell anyone to stay clear of them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,490 ✭✭✭monflat


    Is this with irish home care as in.the post above or. Comfort keepers


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 cnc1128


    monflat wrote: »
    Is this with irish home care as in.the post above or. Comfort keepers

    Comfort keepers


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