Young losing jobs in retail could transfer their skills to care
A DEVON care company is urging anyone aged 20-39 who has been made redundant from a customer-facing role in Exeter to get in touch as their skills are needed in its industry (July 2020).
Guardian Homecare says those losing positions at major high street retailers should join the homecare sector, as a job in care can be a role for life for the right candidate.
Catherine Porter, Manager for Guardian Homecare, which provides services in Exeter, said: “At the moment there are many companies in the retail sector such as Oasis, Warehouse, Monsoon and more that have closed stores, leading to a number of jobs being lost and some have gone into administration completely.
“Many people believe that the skills they’ve learnt in a certain industry means they’re restricted when it comes to seeking new employment, but we want to let them know that this simply isn’t true as many of the skills they already have can be adapted for a brand new industry, such as care.
“People who work in retail for example have excellent customer service skills and know how to treat customers with respect and they are super helpful and friendly, and these are just some of the skills that our carers need when visiting our service user’s homes. Being trustworthy, organised, punctual and reliable as well as being able to undertake admin tasks are some great skills that are transferrable between industries.
“We are offering the right candidates secure employment in the care industry, which can often mean a job for life. They’ll be able to bring all the experience they’ve acquired into the industry as well as gain much more through training.”
Guardian Homecare delivers personalised home care supporting people wishing to stay living safely and comfortably in their own homes in south Devon.
In April, the Government launched the national ‘Care for others. Make a difference’ campaign to boost the adult social care workforce in England, as part of a wider plan to attract more staff into the sector.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “There are thousands of people who are kind, skilled and dedicated and who have the necessary values and qualities to become part of the social care workforce.
“Social care transforms lives and enables people to live well. The satisfaction and rewards of delivering social care are incalculable and we hope that there will be many people who will come into the social care workforce and achieve a satisfying and rewarding career.”
The Government, and home care providers like Guardian Homecare, hope to attract younger people in the 20 to 39-year-old age group into the industry. It is this demographic that looks set to feel the full brunt of the economic downturn predicted post COVID-19, with many people being made redundant from all sectors.
Catherine added: “Being a carer is a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society and the beauty of a job for life means people can start at the very bottom and work their way up with training and qualifications.
“We are looking for 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 offered.”
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 honest and kind-hearted individuals to help add to its teams.
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 training and the opportunity for internal advancement. 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 or visit www.guardianhomecare.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/GuardianHomecareUK/jobs/.
