Rights and Responsibilities of an IHSS Consumer

• The Consumer is the employer of the Provider for the purposes of screening, hiring, supervising, training; and, if necessary, terminating the employment of the Provider. The Public Authority is available for assistance.
• The Consumer has the responsibility to abide by non-discrimination policies on the basis of race, religion, gender, age or disability.
• Consumers are responsible for notifying the Public Authority or social worker when a Provider is hired or terminated. If a Registry Provider is involved, the consumer must inform the Public Authority.
• The Consumer is responsible for giving the Provider a two-week notice when terminating the Provider’s employment unless the Provider is abusive.
• The Consumer is responsible for keeping a record of hours worked and limiting Provider hours to the number authorized per month.
• The Consumer is responsible for verifying and signing the Provider’s timesheet.
• The Consumer has the responsibility to be clear and reasonable about what is expected; to be consistent, fair, and patient, and to give praise as well as criticism.
• The Consumer and the Provider have the responsibility to let the Public Authority know immediately if the Provider is injured on the job.
• The Consumer has the right to ask the IHSS social worker for a reassessment of hours if the Consumer’s condition changes.
• The Consumer has the right to appeal any decision by the IHSS program that the Consumer does not agree with.
• If a Registry Provider is involved, the Consumer has the right to ask the Registry for assistance with problems the Consumer may have with the Provider that the Consumer cannot resolve.