Few career paths provide the opportunity to forge long-lasting friendships and make a difference every single day.
After taking over last October, We Simply Care’s new owners Lisa and Peter Benjamin have restructured the managerial and recruitment aspects of the home care agency. “One of our first moves was to increase the wages of our carers as we felt they deserved more for their hard work and dedication,” explains Peter.
“We provide home care services throughout the Suffolk and Essex area, tailored to each individual's specific needs and requirements.”
Below, Lisa and Peter describe the career development opportunities, flexibility and camaraderie available within care work.
1. Every day brings something new for carers
Many of us possess the skills to be a carer without even realising it. Kindness, compassion and inner strength are all essential characteristics for hands-on care. The fast-paced environment of care work provides a unique challenge for those looking for a new career or to make a real difference.
Peter was 44 before doing his first shadow shift, where he assisted a professional carer with their tasks. “After my first shift, I gained a completely new perspective and never looked back,” he reveals.
“You quickly gain resilience and a pragmatic approach to deal with the various challenges that the day brings. Before you tackle everything yourself, we’ll provide you with all the training and certifications you need. There’s always something new to keep you focused and engaged - there’s certainly never a dull moment!”
2. A wide variety of services
Having the support of compassionate, competent carers as we get older drastically improves our peace of mind and sense of independence. As a carer, you may find yourself helping with the weekly shop, preparing and dispensing vital medications or building up a person’s confidence to take on new responsibilities.
“We provide a range of services for our clients, aimed at improving people’s quality of life across the board,” says Lisa. “New starters will accompany more experienced colleagues to learn about the many aspects of home care. Whilst previous experience is always welcome and appreciated, if you’re a hardworking, sympathetic person then it's likely you already have all the credentials!”
3. Accessible learning programmes to develop new skills
Aiding people with their daily routines and safeguarding their health can be a daunting task at first. By setting up an online training portal, new staff can be guided through the essential modules that provide a wealth of information. After completing the accredited mandatory courses, Lisa and Peter can nurture the interests of their carers and advise on specialisations.
“Providing opportunities for our staff to progress is a major part of our new direction,” Lisa adds. “Having an online training portal is an excellent system for growth - carers can tell us what they’d like to learn in our weekly meetings. We can then log in to our system and upload a new module straight away. There’s always more to explore and discover.”
4. A flexible, friendly working environment
Knowing that your colleagues are always on your side is vital to feeling at home within your role. This is even more crucial within a demanding environment such as care, when you don’t always know what's around the next corner.
“Fostering an honest, upfront approach to communication and safeguarding the wellbeing of staff is one of the cornerstones of a happy workplace,” says Peter. “Our door is always open for staff who need a chat when something’s on their mind. We’re also in the process of hiring an in-house mental health first aider, so that our carers can speak to someone qualified whenever they need to.
“Our shift patterns work around the existing schedules of our carers. We have staff that start at 9am so they can drop the kids off at school, and others that start at 5pm due to other commitments. It’s an extremely flexible working schedule.”
5. Helping people achieve independence
The physical and emotional difficulties of becoming less mobile can be devastating for some people without proper care and attention. Without a doubt, becoming a carer is an incredibly impactful career move – not just on an individual level, but for the entire community.
“Coming in every day and getting to know people, their lives and family members, is so rewarding,” says Lisa. “Helping people to live in dignity and without fear of losing their autonomy is such a valuable experience, there really is nothing quite like it!”
To apply for a position as a carer or learn more about the role, visit wesimplycare.co.uk or call 01473 311192.
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