Independent carer in Haydon Bridge

1. I employed Amanda in February 2020 as a cleaner. Within a month we were in lockdown and as it was not appropriate for her to clean the house, she agreed to take on a different role during the pandemic. She shopped twice a week for us going to Hexham, the Farmers’ market and the local supermarket. At the end of the pandemic she reverted to her role as cleaner. During the last five and a half years, I have observed Amanda in a number of different roles. Her honesty was demonstrated regularly as she was entrusted with cash to do the shopping. She has always been very reliable in her time keeping and in completion of her tasks. She works well without supervision. Most importantly, she has an open and friendly personality and treats people with respect. Amanda and I have developed a good working relationship and have had many discussions about the role of carers and the caring task - Amanda’s perspective of the carer’s role and my own experience as a social worker practitioner and manager.

2. It is a pleasure to provide a reference for Amanda as a carer. I have known Amanda first as the daughter of a friend and a member of our close village community for many years (30 +). More recently I employed her to care for my mother using direct funding from the NHS. She came highly recommended locally, within the community and from the NHS health care professionals at the health centre. She cared for my mother alongside my sister and myself for about 12 weeks until her death. With Amanda’s care we were able to meet our mother’s needs at home and we gave her the best available end of life care.

Amanda is very well qualified and keeps up to date on training. She is very professional. I always found her to be reliable and her communication is excellent. Most of all though Amanda has amazing compassion and shows kindness and respect always. She always brought a smile and my mother felt safe with her and trusted her. Amanda did everything that she could to maintain my mother’s dignity. I have no concerns and certainly no reservations whatsoever to recommend Amanda as a carer.