Respite Matching
What is respite?
Respite allows for short-term care for people with a wide range of support needs. It gives their caregivers temporary relief from the emotional and physical demands of providing care. Respite care can range from having a break for an afternoon, to caregivers requiring care for a few weeks while they are outside of the territory. The needs for respite can be as unique as the people who are requesting care—it will look different from person to person.
How does our respite matching program work?
Our Independent Respite Worker Matching Program connects families and caregivers to skilled professional care workers that can provide support for individuals with a range of support needs. Inclusion Yukon maintains a database of respite workers who have skills, experience, and availability. We interview these individuals, check references, and validate Vulnerable Sector Checks and First Aid/CPR certifications. Once workers have gone through this process, we create a profile for them that we can share with caregivers.
While we can answer questions about the respite matching process and help to navigate concerns when hiring a worker, Inclusion Yukon is not the employer of the respite workers. Respite workers are supervised and employed directly by the caregiver once they have been matched. We cannot guarantee a match, as they will be dependent on both respite worker availability and individual support needs. Inclusion Yukon is not able to provide funding to pay respite workers at this time.
Recommendations for Respite Workers
Remember that you are a self-employed contractor. We can offer some advice and additional resources, but you must negotiate the terms of your own contract.
Lay out expectations of hours, availability, schedule, length of service/commitment.
Clarify boundaries of care. For example, if you are unavailable for a certain time of day, clarify that you cannot provide service at that time.
Agree to whether certain hours (like interview and training times) will be paid.
Communicate necessary absences well in advance wherever possible.
Agree on necessary emergency plans for sick days, flat tires, extreme cold weather, or other situations.
Clear communication with the caregiver and individuals you are working with are key to establishing a good working relationship.
Have a contract that is signed by yourself and the caregiver outlining shared agreements and expectations.
Recommendations for Caregivers
Remember, this contract is made between yourself and the independent respite worker. You may need to find alternate care in the event of sickness/absences.
Remember that the respite worker is self-employed, and may want to discuss what to do in the case of absences or sick days. Please respect that this is likely not their only job.
Clarify expectations of care: What kind of tasks are expected? What kind of care is needed? Come to an agreement of what you need and what the respite worker can provide.
Decide specifically what you would like to know about the person, and make sure your interview questions will give you that information. Give yourself a time frame for how long the interview will last. Inclusion Yukon can suggest questions if needed.
Recommend the best ways for the worker to connect and engage with the person they are supporting. Do they play sports? Music? Video games? Enjoy the outdoors?
Advise the worker of specific language or strategies that are effective, safe, and respectful for certain situations.
Clear communication with the respite worker is key to establishing a good working relationship.
Have a contract that is signed by yourself and the respite worker outlining shared agreements and expectations.