Verification Policy

The Home Care Connections Pty Ltd trading as Zoee (ABN 52 649 550 809) (“Zoee”) verification policy is designed protect and assist both the Support Worker and the Client when registering on the website and/or App http://Zoee.co (“Website”).  

The verification policy allows the Client to be more confident about who they are hiring and assists with the Client’s decision making to engage a Support Worker.

Zoee's verification policy is used to ensure that Support Workers that wish to use the Website are suitable for Zoee. The Support Worker must have the necessary qualifications and experience to perform the agreed services. The Support Worker must first go through a screening process before their account will be activated. There are several requirements which must be met to allow the Support Worker to register on the Website and activate their account. 

Support Workers warrant that any information provided while completing the registration process will always be accurate, correct and up to date. Support Workers must notify us immediately if any circumstances change. We reserve the right to reject a registration or remove a profile from Zoee at any time at our absolute discretion. 

Social and domestic Support Workers

May provide the following services: 

• housework
• cleaning
• driving to appointments 
• escorting to social events 
• preparing meals
• shopping
• laundry
• gardening 
• dog walking 
• maintenance
• other services agreed with the Client

Social and domestic Support Workers must have:

1. a registered account on the Website;
2. be over 18 years old;
3. have an ABN; 
4. have a driver's license; 
5. at least 2 work references; 
6. completed reference checks;
7. police check; and
8. working with children check.

Personal Care Support Workers

May provide the following services: 

• bathing and showering
• applying lotions and creams as required 
• dressing and getting ready for bed 
• oral hygiene 
• applying make-up 
• hair care 
• support with shaving
• toileting
• provide social and domestic support
• other services agreed with the Client

Personal Care Support Workers must have:

1. completed certificate 3 or 4 in disabilities or aged care;
2. a registered account on the Website;
3. be over 18 years old;
4. have an ABN; 
5. have a driver's license; 
6. at least 2 work references; 
7. completed reference checks;
8. police check; and
9. working with children check.

Allied Health Workers 

May provide the following services: 

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Psychological services
• other services agreed with the Client

Allied Health Workers must have:

1. an active registration with AHPRA for a minimum of 12 months;
2. a registered account on the Website;
3. be over 18 years old;
4. have an ABN; 
5. have a driver's license; 
6. at least 2 work references; 
7. completed reference checks;
8. police check; and
9. working with children check.

Nurses 

May provide the following services: 

• Wound Care Management
• Medication Management
• Enteral Feeding
• Ventilator Management
• Urinary and continence management
• Bowel care
• Diabetes management
• Comprehensive Continence management
• post-operative care
• social, domestic support and personal care

Nurses must have:

1. an active nurse registration with AHPRA;
2. a registered account on the Website;
3. be over 18 years old;
4. have an ABN; 
5. have a driver's license; 
6. at least 2 work references; 
7. completed reference check;
8. police check; and
9. working with children check.

Insurance

Support Workers must have all insurances that may be required by Zoee in relation to the services, including but not limited to:

1. Professional indemnity insurance;
2. Public liability insurance;
3. Personal accident insurance (if applicable);
4. Workers compensation insurance (if applicable); and
5. Vehicle insurance (if applicable)
6. insuring limits of not less than $10,000,000 per occurrence.

The Support Worker must provide evidence of such insurance to Zoee within 48 hours of a request.

Reference checks 

We conduct at least two reference checks for all registrations as a means to gather additional information about the applicant’s suitability to become a Support Worker on the Website. 

Applicants being considered will be asked to provide contact details for two professional referees who can provide information relating to the applicant’s suitability to work.

Professional referees: 

• should include a representative of the applicant’s current or most recent employer 
• must have had a direct managerial relationship with the applicant and so be capable of commenting knowledgeably in relation to the applicant and ideally have been the applicant’s supervisor or line manager. 

Personal referees are not recommended. However, if there is no option but to include a personal referee, then that referee must not  be related to the applicant and must have known the applicant for at least 12 months and must be able to vouch for the applicant’s reputation and character. 

The referee checks we undertake must involve directly contacting the referee. Written character references are not sufficient unless also followed up and verified through direct contact. Difficulty in contacting referees, such as those based overseas, or those who have left an organisation, is not justification for accepting lower standards of scrutiny. 

Police Check

At Zoee we want the vulnerable to be protected. Therefore, all Support Workers must go through a police check. This policy is for all staff or third parties to conduct the checks as per this policy. The outcome of the police check will be added to the Support Worker’s profile. Clients may request to view a copy of either the police check or the working with children check. By registering an account on the Website, you consent for these checks to be provided to Clients. 

Zoee must comply with Federal and state laws in relation to discrimination of criminal records. The checks will be used only to verify the suitability of support workers in assisting the vulnerable. There may be times that Zoee will have a third party assist with the verifications.  

What is a Police Check Australia?

A police check is a check that discloses any disclosable court outcome of a person. This check is issued by the Police authorities in Australia.

The Police Check certificate can also be known as a Police criminal history record which shows:

• National names Index (NNI)
• Date of birth of the individual
• Address and contact information for the last 5 years
• Fingerprints (if applicable)
• convictions 
• driving offences
• pending court charges
• served sentences
• spent convictions 

There will be two types of outcomes:

1. No disclosable Court Outcomes (NDCO): it means that an individual has a clean slate and does not have any criminal history for release.
2. Disclosable Court Outcomes (DCO): When issued with a DCO, it usually contains details of the conviction excluding spent charges.

Zoee may rely on the police check to determine the suitability of a Support Worker being able to register on the Website.

Working with Children

A Working with Children Check is a requirement for people who work or volunteer in child related work. It involves a national criminal history check and a review of findings of workplace misconduct. The result of a Working With Children Check is either a clearance to work with children or a bar against working with children. Cleared applicants are subject to ongoing monitoring and relevant new records may lead to the clearance being revoked.

All Support Workers must have a valid working with children check as per state legislation. This must be for a paid check (not a volunteer check). Below are the links to apply for a working with children check. You must have a check for each state you wish to register an account on the Website.

Driving support

If you are offering a service where driving is involved, then you must have a full Australian license. An overseas license will not be accepted. Further, you must all have full comprehensive car insurance for business purposes.

Occupational Health and Safety 

• As a Support Worker, you must be aware of your responsibilities when it comes to handling people and know what is reasonable and practicable, regarding hazards and risks and how to eliminate or reduce a risk or hazard.
• You must be aware of any physical risks for clients   which include floors, stairs, work platforms, steps, ladders, fire, falling objects, slippery surfaces, manual handling, excessively loud and prolonged noise, vibration, poor lighting, and ventilation.
• You must ensure that there are controls which are put in place to decrease the likelihood or consequences of an unwanted event.
• You must also be aware of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Vic) 2004 or the relevant state legislation which outlines the duties in relation to health and safety in the workplace.