Care industry’s image is changing in Devon in wake of COVID-19

A LEADING Devon care provider says the home care sector’s image is changing in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis as more people realise how vital and skilled it is (April 2020).

Domiciliary care was perceived as being low-status, unskilled work before the outbreak, but Guardian Homecare, which has teams in Exeter and surrounding areas, says this has now altered.

Manager for the service provider, Catherine Porter explains: “We’re helping shield our elderly and vulnerable service users every day as requested by the Government and we’re also preventing any non-essential drains on the NHS and its staff and resources. Our work is invaluable.

“In the past carers have been unfairly portrayed as being poorly trained and as having terrible working conditions, pay and job prospects. We have always felt this needed to be addressed, as it is very far from the truth. Carers are in fact at the frontline in professional health care and view their careers as a vocation, something they enjoy and one of the few jobs for life left in our ever-changing and highly volatile economy, where redundancies are common and getting more common by the day.

“The Government and its health advisers are all calling carers frontline personnel and this has helped boosted our teams’ morale tremendously. We’re now also finding that people have a greater understanding, appreciation and respect for our staff and all they do. It’s very sad that something like the Coronavirus has been the impetus for this but we welcome any positive and uplifting news at the moment.

“We’re very grateful for the way the general public has recently supported us and our colleagues in the NHS. Our team is highly motivated and provides excellent standards of care to our service users.

“The people we employ help make a difference to the lives of those who need to be cared for at home in south Devon. Our work is also helping those with medical conditions stay safely at home at the moment. We ensure they are well cared for in many ways including that they do not miss their medication, they eat and drink properly and that they do not feel isolated.”

Guardian Homecare, which is currently looking for a 100 new staff, already has more than 140 trained staff in the county and operates a professional team of highly-skilled, committed individuals providing high quality care to people in their own homes.

“Being a carer is a really fulfilling role and gives people the opportunity to create a career for themselves that could last for a lifetime.

“We need more carers in south Devon now to help us protect those in need during the Coronavirus outbreak. We offer new recruits a five-day training induction, a 12-week onboarding programme working towards a care certificate and flexible and supported training opportunities leading to qualifications. We also offer flexible working hours, both full and part-time, as well as competitive wages, generous holiday allocation and a refer a friend scheme.

“We’re committed to upskilling our workforce too and we’re working hard to dispel the myth that carers are undervalued. Being a carer is in fact a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society. Care is a rapidly expanding sector and there is work in south Devon through our teams for many years to come, so we’re searching for people who are looking for a long-term career.

 “It is a chance for people to achieve recognised qualifications and they’ll also be able to have access to exclusive discounts online and in-store from retailers including Tesco, Primark and Argos. It also covers holidays and electrical goods.”

Guardian Homecare provides support to hundreds of individuals wishing to remain in their own homes and cared for in a way that meets their health needs and offers a range of home care options.

“We’re removing some of the stresses and strains that the NHS has to deal with through the care we provide and people often do better if they are able to remain at home in the environment they love. We deliver personalised home care supporting people wishing to stay safely and comfortably in their own homes. Our support is not solely elderly care, we offer home care for adults of various abilities.

“Our team puts people first by helping individuals live independently and providing peace of mind for families. Our service is also completely personalised and ranges from daily visits to respite and overnight care.”

Guardian Homecare says that those who are kind, committed and reliable, who have excellent communication skills and a genuine care for others, are perfect for a career in care.

“Being reliable is key to this role as people will be looking after the needs of vulnerable adults. Individuals also need to be even tempered and caring and must enjoy making a positive difference to people’s lives. Being patient, able to cope with change and having the ability to display empathy and warmth are also essential.”

Catherine and her team want to hear from kind, honest and reliable people who are considering making a career for themselves in care and would like to know more.

“Anyone interested should get in touch today. Our office team will be able to have a chat with you and they will be able to set up interviews via Skype or Facetime to talk you through everything, so you don’t need to make any non-essential trips away from home. The Government has also taken steps to ensure a quicker turnaround on DBS checks, so we can get people into work more quickly than before.”

To find out more about Guardian Homecare, please visit www.guardianhomecare.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/GuardianHomecareUK/jobs/.