By Shannin Prather
January 2020 | 2020 Winter Newsletter
As the person receiving services from the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, you are the care consumer and employer of the Independent Care Providers (IPs) you choose to hire. Your home is the work place for your IP. Providing a safe and healthy work place for the IPs is important and helps to build a successful and happy work relationship.
Follow these tips and friendly reminders to help provide a safe and healthy work environment for your employees:
- A safe and healthy work place begins with the right tools. IHSS consumers are responsible for having cleaning supplies available to IPs for domestic services. These cleaning supplies may include a broom, mop, sponge, and cleaning fluids. Consumers are also responsible for providing gloves to the provider for personal care services.
- Consumers should only ask IPs to do tasks that have been authorized by IHSS. If you are not sure what services you have been authorized for, review the Notice of Action (NOA) sent to you by IHSS or ask your IHSS social worker. IPs cannot claim hours for completing tasks that IHSS has not approved for you. If the provider is hurt while doing an unauthorized task, the IP may not be eligible for Worker’s Compensation and the consumer may be held liable for covering their medical costs.
- IHSS tasks must stay within the scope of services and within reason. For instance, though cleaning the kitchen floor is within the scope of services, asking an IP to get on their hands and knees to clean the kitchen floor is not within reason and could create an uncomfortable situation for the IP. Tasks not within the scope of services include: caring for pets, paying bills, taking you to church, or any other social outings.
- Good employers speak in a respectful manner with their employees on any concerns they have. If your IP is not doing a service as you would like, explain to them how you want it done. Firing an IP is not necessarily the best solution; allow time for the IP to train and learn how you want things done.
Finally, keep in mind courtesy and a simple “thank you” goes a long way in building a good relationship.