Start with the actual duties
Write down the support needed during an ordinary day. Screening becomes more useful when the questions are tied to bathing, toileting, meals, mobility, supervision, night-time events or hospital-to-home routines rather than a broad job title.
Identity and work arrangements
- Ask to see an original identity document through an appropriate and secure process.
- Confirm who the contracting party is and who is responsible for payment, scheduling and replacement cover.
- Do not copy, circulate or store sensitive documents casually.
Relevant experience and references
- Ask about experience with needs similar to the person receiving care, not only total years.
- Speak with references using details that can be independently confirmed.
- Ask what work was done, how long the arrangement lasted, how changes were handled and why it ended.
Clinical and nursing boundaries
Make wound care, medication administration, injections, tubes, catheters, clinical monitoring and professional rehabilitation tasks visible from the start. Ask the treating team which qualification is required and verify the relevant credential rather than assuming a caregiver may perform the task.
Mobility and home safety
- Show the established transfer method and mobility aid.
- Discuss stairs, wet bathrooms, bed height, pets and narrow spaces.
- Observe whether instructions are followed without improvising a new technique.
Written terms
- Duties, days, start and finish times
- Fees, overtime, transport and public-holiday terms
- Cancellation, notice and replacement arrangements
- Privacy, family updates and record keeping
- Rest periods, backup cover and emergency escalation
Ask for specifics: “screened” or “experienced” is useful only when you know what was checked, by whom, when and against which evidence.
General family care information. Follow the person’s treating team for medical instructions and call 999 in an emergency.