Policy

Everybody who works within The Care Worker Agency & We Care works, by definition, with the public.  Care and support workers are working with their customers, and office staff may be visited by customers (or their representatives) social work or health care professionals or other interested parties.  Staff must therefore look smart and professional at all times. Care workers must wear their uniform whilst on duty and office staff must reflect the image and culture of The Care Worker Agency & We Care.

Procedure

Care Workers 

Care workers will be issued with a tunic and a fleece as part of their uniform.  Besides these items they are free to wear their own clothes BUT these must be both smart and practical.

• Skirt/trousers should be black.  No jeans.
• Shoes should be safe to work in, no significant heels and should be secure.  Trainers are only allowable if they are black or dark blue and without ornamentation.
• For reasons of hygiene any garment worn under the tunic should be short sleeved.
• Jewellery should be kept to a minimum i.e a flat wedding band for reasons of safety and hygiene. Multiple & stoned rings can cause damage to thin fragile skin as well as act as a mode of transport for bacteria. Care workers should not wear large earrings and necklaces as they can get caught whilst carrying out personal care, earrings should be limited to small studs for safety reasons. Watches should not be worn on wrists at any time during care provision.
• Many people now wear fashion accessories such as false nails, this is a lifestyle choice but as previously stated pose risks to both customer and care worker such accessories should be kept short and clean at all times.
• Tattoos and piercings are a personal lifestyle choice but may affect customers in a variety of ways.  This should be born in mind by those who have such adornments.
• Care workers must acknowledge that they represent the company whenever they are in uniform.  Employees in uniform (whether they are actually ‘on duty’ or not) must not eat, drink or smoke in the street and must use temperate language and behaviour.

Other The Care Worker Agency & We Care staff

Employees who work in the The Care Worker Agency & We Care office or in any other capacity ‘in the field’ may wear their own clothes to work but must abide by the company’s dress code.  Clothes should be sober and at least semi-formal.  Whilst it is not an absolute requirement that men should wear a collar and tie on a day to day basis, there is an expectation that, when visiting other people for a meeting outside the office for example, this formality is adopted.  Similarly, when interviewing staff the same protocol applies.  Women should wear ‘business apparel’ as well.  Clothing should reflect that this is a professional and serious environment and it is the responsibility of the manager to uphold standards of dress across all sectors.  

Reviewed April 2025 by Fay Townsend-Jackson