Care is job for life in Devon – those made unemployed by COVID-19 urged to apply

A DEVON home care provider says care roles represent jobs for life in economically uncertain times and with the threat of a recession following in the aftermath of COVID-19.

According to experts, unemployment figures will continue to rise with the young and those who work for non-essential retailers and in tourism, catering and hospitality potentially suffering the most.

Catherine Porter, Manager of Guardian Homecare in Devon, which cares for people in the Exeter and Torbay areas, said: “There are jobs in care for those who are people-focused and we’ve already seen some transfer their skills to us from the airline FlyBe, plus various shops, tourist attractions and, also, professions like hairdressing and beauty therapy.

“Prior to the lockdown, most High Street retailers were already reporting poor sales from their stores and we saw lots of big names close down. Now, as we start to tentatively emerge from the coronavirus and navigate the ‘new normal’, many chains are saying they will be reducing the number of shops they have and cutting back on their workforces.

“People who work in hospitality, tourism and catering are also now worried for their positions, as furlough schemes taper off this summer into autumn and restrictions mean customer numbers will be much lower. These are worrying times for anyone who works in a customer-facing role, as the nation’s shopping and leisure habits are likely to change dramatically in the coming months.

“Some brands have already announced cuts and closures, so it’s now more important than ever to ensure people are aware of the roles we have available in the care sector. Monsoon Accessorize has recently entered administration, putting more than 500 jobs at risk and up to 3,000 jobs are set to go in the restaurant chain Frankie and Benny’s, as it’s owners announced it will close 125 of its sites. Meanwhile, British Gas owner Centrica is cutting 5,000 jobs. Anyone who has been in a customer-facing role with these organisations will be able to transfer their skills to care.

“The demand for carers in Devon will not fail and our profession represents one of the few jobs for life left in the county. As a nation we have an ageing population that wishes to remain living at home and, that the authorities realise, are emotionally and physically better off at home. This means the care sector is rapidly expanding, as people need care in their old age, so there will always be jobs available in home care.

“We hope after the publicity of carers during the COVID-19 pandemic, people now have a better understanding of care and see it as a highly skilled, professional, vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society. Carers deserve admiration and respect. With a job for life like this, people can start at the very bottom and work their way up and we will offer them full training and access to industry-leading qualifications.”

Guardian Homecare employs nearly 200 domiciliary carers in south Devon to look after its service users in their own homes and it is currently searching for 100 new kind-hearted individuals to help add to its teams.

Catherine added: “We are looking for 100 more kind, honest, caring and reliable individuals who wish to have a stable and long-term career in care, and who would like to forge rewarding relationships with the service users they care for. No experience is necessary to become a carer, as free, full training is given.”

Guardian Homecare delivers personalised home care supporting people wishing to stay living safely and comfortably in their own homes in south Devon. 

Catherine continued: “We offer new recruits a five-day training induction and a 12-week on-boarding programme working towards a care certificate. We also offer flexible working hours, both full and part-time, as well as competitive wages and generous holiday allocation.

“It is a great opportunity for people to achieve a recognised qualification and they’ll also be able to have access to exclusive discounts online and in-store from retailers including Tesco, Primark and Argos.”

Guardian Homecare offers the opportunity for internal advancement too. Anyone who joins the team can create a career path using the different qualifications they achieve.

New recruits are given free uniforms, access to national staff discount scheme for many major brands, as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.

For further details, please call Guardian Homecare on 01803 853198. Alternatively, please visit www.guardianhomecare.org.uk.