This essay will explore why working in someone’s home can give rise to tensions and challenges for both the service user and care worker and will go on to explore how these issues can be overcome.

When we read about Yetunde’s visit to Angus and Ann’s home it is clear that this was not an easy one for all involved. From the onset, tensions were running high within the family home. Ann was feeling frustration and despair at having to wait so long for support to arrive, coupled with guilt that she failed to recognise Zoe’s crisis at school. Ann began feeling resentful towards Bob as she felt she was left to manage the heavy burden of caring for Angus alone. It is clear that the sheer strain of the situation is impacting on all family
Ann had lost many of her friends and had given up her job to enable her to care for Angus. When Yetunde arrived, Ann was able to continue caring for her father and was also able to have some much needed time for herself. In the end we see that Ann is able to go out and leave Angus with Yetunde.

It is also observed that the introduction of Yetunde bought about different challenges for the family unit in that it created extra work and new routines. As Ann shares in her interview with Joyce Cavaye “ The problem with the home carer is I have to be in for her, I have to leave clean clothes everyday , once she is in I go out and that’s fine”. (2006, p11).

It took a while for the family to get used to Yetunde, however once they did, Yetunde was able to make a difference. Yetunde was able to make improvements to the relationships within the family by taking small steps and carrying out small tasks. Angus had preferences and Yetunde accommodated these by ensuring there was continuation of what he was accustomed to, for example, keeping the tea in the blue mug and not taking offence when Angus chose to call her a different name. Throughout the case study Yetunde demonstrated good working practice by applying the five principles of care: - She supported Angus in maximising his potential, having a voice and being heard, respecting his beliefs and preferences, supporting his rights to appropriate services and respecting his privacy and right to confidentiality.