The home care agency is there to protect you. In the State of Washington, each home care agency must establish policies and procedures to meet the requirements of regulations issued by the state. These policies and procedures must be specific and must provide instructions for screening job applicants, providing service to clients, keeping records, and ensuring the safety of the clients. To do business in Washington state, a home care agency must establish these policies and procedures in order to receive a license. The state issues the license and audits the agency every two years before renewing the license.
In addition, the agency must be insured and should be bonded to protect you in case of loss or accident caused by the caregiver.
Every caregiver hired by the home care agency must pass a federal fingerprint criminal background check. Agencies must also perform reference checks to establish the applicant’s work history. We request three professional and two personal references for each applicant.
The home care agency protects you in other important ways. The agency must be insured and should be bonded to protect you in case of loss or accident caused by the caregiver. The agency provides workers’ compensation insurance, pays into Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment compensation funds for the caregiver, which protects you, as well as your caregiver. Although the caregiver is there for you, you do not have the responsibility of being the caregiver’s employer. If the caregiver is unable to come to work one day, the agency will send a qualified person to help you in place of the caregiver. The home care agency is the employer and is responsible for making sure that you are satisfied with the services that the caregiver provides for you.
