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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about becoming an Angel.

GENERAL

Q: How do I contact DIAL-AN-ANGEL®?

A: You can call us on 1300 721 111 or just email us administration@dialanangel.com

Q: What are the benefits attached to being an Angel?

A: There are some great benefits:

• Flexible hours - Angels can choose to work any three hours or more on days and at times which suit them. You may decide whether you wish to work or to be free of bookings during school holidays.
• Top rates - On your behalf, DIAL AN ANGEL is able to negotiate rates that appropriately reflect your skills and experience.
• Replacement Angels - Should you decide to go on vacation or temporarily be unable to provide your services to a client, DIAL-AN-ANGEL can keep the booking open for you by providing a replacement Angel until you can resume working for your client.
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Cover - When you accept referrals from DIAL-AN-ANGEL, you can be sure that clients have been advised about their responsibilities regarding workplace safety and about having adequate insurance cover for your protection, such as Domestic Workers Compensation Insurance.
• Privacy & Security - Your private telephone number and address are never divulged by the Agency when you accept referrals to bookings through DIAL-AN-ANGEL. This security measure also safeguards your privacy
• Prestige - You will be part of a professional Agency with a long-established and enviable reputation for quality in-home care and support services. This reputation has been forged by the efforts of tens of thousands of enthusiastic and conscientious Angels who have worked through the Agency since 1967.

Qualifications aren’t essential but we are able to assist you to find training. We do have current contacts to undertake Certificate IV in Community Services Work.

Q: What insurance cover do I need?

A: Clients must hold Domestic Workers Compensation Insurance in those States where it is not automatically provided for casual domestic workers. It can be attached to their household insurance in most cases or purchased as a ‘stand-alone' policy. Clients are advised to check their Home & Contents Insurance to make sure that they are covered for any breakages or accidental damage that may occur.

The insurance broker used by DIAL-AN-ANGEL can organise individual Public Liability Insurance at reasonable rates for all ‘in-home' carers (from child carers to nurses).  Although not mandatory it gives the Angel peace of mind.  Please feel free to ask the department coordinator for more information.

Q: Do I need to provide the client with an ABN and a Tax Invoice?

A: If clients require a Tax Invoice they are asked to advise the co-ordinator when they make the initial booking. Unless you are also conducting a business, you do not need an ABN, as you are independent worker who relies upon DIAL-AN-ANGEL for work referrals.

Q: How do I register to become an Angel?

A: All applicants will receive a personal interview but you can complete an online pre-application form here or just call one of our friendly and experienced co-ordinators on 1300 721 111. New Angels are always made most welcome!

Q: Why do you give personal interviews to applicants instead of simply registering them as angels?

A: Because:

• We need to get to know them
• We wish to make them feel special
• We want to engender their loyalty

Interviews are conducted in two parts:

1. The formal procedure where the prospective Angel learns about DIAL-AN-ANGEL, its policies and procedures as well as about our mutual responsibilities and expectations and the role played by the client.
2. The informal chat with the relevant department co-ordinator before the applicant leaves the office. This is mainly to learn more about the applicant’s individual interests and hobbies, hidden talents, and future aspirations.

We want the applicants to know how SPECIAL it is, to earn the right to be known as an Angel and how pleasant it is to feel a real part of the Agency from which they will receive referrals to bookings.

Q: What is “Angelic News"?

A: Angelic News is our free electronic newsletter sent to Clients and Angels with the compliments of DIAL-AN-ANGEL. It contains articles, tips, news, and information which is very helpful for anyone interested in home and family care – and really, that’s just about all of us. You can subscribe here. Any suggestions for news items, let us know.

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GLOSSARY

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Au pair

An au pair generally lives-in and assists a host family with childcare and/or housework. The idea of having an au pair is to regard it as a cultural exchange. Although not intended as an employment situation, the au pair is provided with a small allowance (or pocket money). The au pair is usually a traveller from another country and intends to learn about the culture, traditions and language of the host family during her stay.

Angel

This means that an applicant has been accepted for registration with DIAL-AN-ANGEL® after having been personally interviewed and fully screened (with all references confirmed verbally). Police clearances and “Working with Children Checks” are undertaken where State Laws allow.

Babysitter

A babysitter provides supervisory/custodial care of children typically on a part-time or an as-needed basis.

Casual worker

A casual worker is one whose working hours are classified as informal, irregular and uncertain or what we refer to as having many clients and short hours. The casual worker has no expectation of further bookings or work referrals.

Corporate services

This service is provided where a third party such as a Trustee Company, a legal firm, an Insurance Company, The Office of the Protective Commissioner or large Corporations contract DIAL-AN-ANGEL to provide fully insured staff for their clients or employees who may be in need of assistance in the home. Only Staff Angels© are provided and an account is sent to the customer who is paying for the service to be provided to the recipient of the service.

Domestic employees workers compensation insurance

This may be taken out by householders to cover themselves against personal injury claims made by their household staff for accidental or work-related injuries while they are working in the home or travelling to and from work. It is mandatory in NSW and although not mandatory in other states, DIAL-AN-ANGEL strongly recommends that clients organise this cover for their own protection. All office staff and Staff Angels are covered by the agency for Workers Compensation Insurance.

Full-time work

A full-time worker is a person who is employed to work for more than 30 hours a week with one employer.

Household management

The act of overseeing the organisational, financial, and day-to-day operations of a house or estate. It differs from housekeeping, which consists of the physical maintenance and cleaning of a house

Housekeeper

A person who is employed to perform domestic task in a household

Housekeeping

The work of cleaning and running a house

Manny

A male nanny, a man employed part-time or full-time to take care of one or more children in a family home. The term manny appears to date back to the 1980s.

Nanny

PERMANENT PART-TIME or FULL-TIME CARE (consistently more than 15 hours over 5 weekdays). A live-in or live-out in-home caregiver who undertakes all tasks related to the care of children. Our nannies are qualified, trained and/or highly experienced child care professionals. By the time the nanny has completed a comprehensive course they are usually aged more than 21 years. Some are parents who have successfully raised their own children. They have well-developed childcare skills and have the time and patience to undertake this challenging and rewarding occupation.

Nanny-housekeeper

PERMANENT PART-TIME or FULL-TIME CARE of CHILDREN in addition to undertaking general housekeeping tasks for the whole family. The nanny-housekeeper sometimes lives in with the family and may be required to assume a parent-substitute role with long hours "at call". Where the nanny-housekeeper lives out, they may be obliged to work even longer hours than their employer does as they are on the premises prior to the parent leaving for work and to travel back to her own residence after the parent has returned. If infants and toddlers are to be cared for, the client should establish the priorities expected. Toddlers and infants can be extremely time-demanding and their care must be the primary focus of the nanny-housekeeping role.

Part-time work

This is work undertaken for fewer than 30 hours per week with one employer. Work may be undertaken on different days and for varying hours each week but the employee may reasonably expect the employment to continue. A permanent part-time employee is entitled to annual leave, sick pay and long service leave after 10 years' continuous employment on a pro-rata basis.

Referred angel

An independent worker who relies upon referrals from the Agency but who is not employed by DIAL-AN-ANGEL. A referred Angel must keep a record of all bookings and all monies earned and is responsible for his/her own tax payments.

Regular bookings

These are services occurring on a regular basis; daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The client determines the regularity of the bookings.

Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA)

The Responsible Service of Alcohol Program (RSA) aims to provide liquor serving staff with knowledge and awareness in relation to the responsible serving and consumption of liquor in all premises where alcohol is served. Courses are available in each State of Australia and all wait-staff are required to have completed the course before being employed. The aim is to prevent drunkenness, minors accessing liquor and irresponsible liquor practices. RSA training is now mandatory for people working in the liquor industry including all permanent and casual serving and security staff, club secretaries and licensees of the premises.

Screening

A system of selecting qualified in-home caregivers through interviews, background checks, reference checks, education verification and other methods.

Staff angels©

Staff Angels are employed directly by DIAL-AN-ANGEL to work on Managed Care or Corporate assignments. They are covered for Workers Compensation, Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurances; Superannuation is paid and lodged with an approved fund; Income tax deductions PAYG are made by the Agency and forwarded monthly to the Australian Tax Office (ATO); Permanent employees are covered for Annual Leave and Sick Leave entitlements.

Visiting angels™

Visiting Angels refers to those Angels who attend clients’ bookings but do not live in the clients’ homes. They, therefore require neither accommodation nor meals. They may be independent workers or Staff Angels.

Working with children background check

The process of gathering and assessing relevant information about a preferred applicant for child-related employment to assist employers make an informed decision on whether or not to employ an applicant for a position.

Working with children check

A national criminal record check conducted under the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004. The Working With Children Check consists of two parts, the Working With Children background check and exclusion of prohibited persons.

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TOP TIPS

Here are some of our favourite tips for Angels:

When eating out with children don't let the waitperson serve meals to the kids first. If you do, the timing will be messed up: They'll lose patience before you've finished your main course.

Speed up the morning dressing process for little ones by laying out their clothes in the shape of a person the night before - that way everything is accounted for and children learn quickly how to dress themselves in an orderly fashion.

When ironing business shirts make sure you do the top button up only. This will keep the neckline straight and ensure the shirt drapes correctly when it’s hung in the wardrobe.

Read the labels carefully on all cleaning products BEFORE using them – some products are corrosive and/or may burn skin, some may be unsuitable for the purpose for which you intend to use them.

To eliminate refrigerator odours try a little vanilla poured on a piece of cotton and placed in the refrigerator. Or after cleaning the refrigerator add a dash of lemon extract to the rinse water for a fresh scent.

Try using lemon juice to remove rust and stains from plastic, either neat or diluted, and give curry stains on carpet the heave-ho with diluted lemon juice. For spills on carpets such as coffee, beer or soft drink simply dab the stain with soda water.

If you need to dry clothes quickly after they have been washed, place the items into the dryer with 1 large dry bath towel. The towel will help to absorb some of the moisture in the load, and help expedite the drying process.

When you are shopping, put all similar items together at the checkout for bagging – fridge, cans, bathroom, toiletries, etc. Saves time when putting them away.

A bowl of vinegar placed in a room helps to absorb smoke odour.

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