How caregivers and home-care Pros can reach more local families

Families looking for care aren't simply shopping for a service.

They may be arranging support for an ageing parent, someone recovering at home or a loved one whose needs have changed.

That can be stressful, and families need enough information to decide who is appropriate to contact.

Whether you're an independent caregiver, nursing professional or home-care business, a useful profile should explain what you actually do, who you support and what families can expect from you.

Be clear about the type of care you provide

“Home care” can mean very different things.

If you provide non-clinical caregiving, explain the support you offer rather than describing yourself as a nurse or implying that you provide clinical services you aren't authorised or trained to perform.

Depending on your actual role, your profile might explain experience with areas such as:

• companionship;
• everyday routines;
• personal-care assistance where appropriate;
• meal preparation;
• mobility support within your role and training;
• daytime care;
• overnight support; or
• live-in arrangements.

If you're a nursing practitioner, describe nursing services accurately and within your professional scope.

If you're a care agency or business, explain the types of caregivers or practitioners you provide and how your service operates.

Clear scope helps families understand whether you're relevant to the care they need.

Caregiving and nursing are not the same thing

Don't use caregiver and nurse interchangeably.

A caregiver generally provides non-clinical support according to their role, experience and training.

Nursing is a regulated healthcare profession.

In South Africa, nursing is regulated by the South African Nursing Council (SANC).

If you are advertising yourself as a nurse, make sure your professional information and current registration are accurate.

Families may independently check nursing registration through SANC.

If you aren't a registered nursing practitioner, don't describe ordinary caregiving services as professional nursing care.

Give families relevant information about your experience

Families may want to know whether you've worked with needs similar to those of their loved one.

Depending on your role, useful information might include:

• how long you've worked in care;
• the types of care arrangements you've previously worked in;
• relevant training;
• first-aid training where applicable;
• professional registration where applicable;
• languages you speak;
• whether you provide day, night or live-in support;
• areas you serve; and
• whether you work independently or through a care business.

Be accurate.

Don't claim qualifications, certificates, registration or experience you don't have.

Understand what ID Verified means

South African Pros complete identity verification as part of the Know a Pro signup process before their profile can go live.

Once completed, their profile can display the ID Verified badge.

ID Verified relates to identity verification.

It does not prove that a caregiver is trustworthy, safe, qualified, appropriately trained or suitable for a particular vulnerable person.

It also does not replace SANC registration where nursing registration is relevant.

Identity verification should remain separate from professional registration, training, references and other information families may consider.

Treat background information accurately

Families may ask about references, police-clearance documentation, first-aid training or other relevant information.

If you provide any of these, make sure the information is genuine and current.

Don't describe a police clearance as proof that you're safe or trustworthy.

Don't describe a first-aid certificate as proof that you're qualified to provide nursing or other clinical care.

Each document tells the family something specific. None should be stretched into a claim it doesn't support.

Where your Know a Pro profile provides a place to add relevant information or documents, provide accurate information that genuinely belongs to you.

Give families references they can actually check

If you have appropriate references from previous care work, they can help a family learn more about your experience.

Ask permission before sharing someone's personal contact information as a reference.

Where appropriate, provide current contact details for people who have agreed to act as references.

Never invent references or ask someone to pretend they were a care client.

Reviews on your profile should also reflect genuine experiences.

Don't write reviews for clients or tell them what rating to give.

Reviews can describe previous experiences, but they don't guarantee that another family's experience will be the same.

Explain your availability clearly

Care needs are often very specific.

A family looking for weekday companionship has a different requirement from someone needing overnight support.

Make it clear whether you offer:

• part-time care;
• full-day care;
• particular weekdays;
• weekends;
• overnight support;
• live-in arrangements; or
• another schedule that genuinely applies to your service.

If your availability changes, update your profile.

This can reduce enquiries for arrangements you can't accept.

Explain your pricing or how you quote

Care can be priced hourly, per shift, per day, monthly or according to a more specific care arrangement.

If practical, give families enough information to understand how you charge.

Explain things such as:

• whether you charge hourly or per shift;
• what hours a shift covers;
• whether overnight care is priced differently;
• whether weekends or public holidays affect the price;
• whether travel is included;
• what's included in the service; and
• which circumstances require an individual quote.

Don't advertise an unrealistically low starting price if typical additional costs aren't made clear.

Respond carefully to a family's first enquiry

Families may contact you during a stressful period.

A useful response should establish what they actually need rather than immediately promising that you can help.

Ask appropriate questions about:

• the type of support required;
• days and hours;
• location;
• whether overnight care is needed;
• mobility or practical support requirements;
• whether clinical nursing care is required; and
• any other information necessary to determine whether the request falls within your role.

Don't diagnose conditions or promise clinical care outside your professional scope.

If the family's needs are outside your role or training, say so.

Protect the privacy and dignity of people you've cared for

Care work involves highly personal information.

Be particularly careful about what you share in photographs, portfolio content, reviews or marketing.

Don't publish identifiable photographs, medical information, addresses or private details about someone you've cared for without appropriate permission and a legitimate reason to do so.

A person's vulnerability should never become marketing content simply because you provided their care.

You can describe your genuine experience without exposing someone's private circumstances.

Keep professional information current

Review your profile periodically.

Update your:

• services;
• availability;
• service area;
• relevant training;
• professional registration where applicable;
• pricing information; and
• other details that have changed.

If a certificate or registration expires or changes, don't leave outdated information on your profile.

Share your profile with potential clients

Your Know a Pro profile has its own page link, so you can direct potential clients to it from places where they already interact with your service.

That might include:

• WhatsApp;
• your website;
• your business social profiles;
• appropriate referral conversations; or
• other suitable customer communications.

This gives families another place to review your service information, reviews and available trust information.

What it costs to list on Know a Pro

Know a Pro uses a monthly membership model.

Independent Pro — R300/month

For independent Pros and sole traders.

Registered Business — R500/month

For registered businesses.

Know a Pro does not take a percentage of the jobs you receive through the platform. Your applicable monthly membership fee still applies.

Prices shown are current at the time of publication and may change.

Help families understand the care you provide

Create your Know a Pro profile, describe your services accurately and give families useful information before they decide whether to contact you.

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