A local care company is urging jobseekers from all walks of life to bring their valuable skills to the care sector.
As the pandemic brings unemployment and an uncertain future for the job market, Home Instead, which has 50 care roles to fill, is urging local people to consider a career in care.
The plea comes about as the pandemic has caused a surge in demand for home care as people look to protect their loved ones.
Some of the 50 caregiver jobs on offer are for live-in caregivers who move into a client’s home to provide care.
Christina Uppenkamp, owner of Home Instead Dartford, says: “Jobseekers overlook skills such as being friendly, chatty and approachable. Much of the care given is companionship based so these are essential skills for care. We are interested in hearing from individuals from the area who may be unemployed due to the pandemic, or looking for a change in career.”
57-year-old Diane used to work in retail in ladies fashion. When she suffered a close family bereavement, she felt she wanted a new career where she could give back. She joined Home Instead as a caregiver, working part-time alongside her retail job. When the pandemic forced non-essential retail to close, Home Instead gladly offered Diane more hours. Diane commented: “Initially I upped my hours with Home Instead due to my main role being closed, but now I don’t want to go back- I enjoy caring so much that I want to do it full time.
“I enjoy going to work; caring gives me a purpose and feeling of fulfilment, yet no two days are the same. I can utilise the transferable skills I gained in my previous job, but I’m also given a wealth of opportunities to enhance my training and knowledge of the sector. Caring for others is truly an honour, and I plan to work for Home Instead for as long as I possibly can.”
Home Instead takes a unique, person-centred approach to home care, which benefits both clients and the team. Clients are supported to live as independently as possible, by caregivers that they come to know well and who visit for a minimum of an hour at a time. Caregivers’ duties are tailored to the needs of individual clients and ranges from companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, post-discharge care, personal care, shopping and errands.
To find out more about Home Instead Dartford and their caregiving vacancies, please call 01322923750 or visit https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/dartford/
Image above: 57-year-old Diane Charlesworth from Dartford switched retail for caring, finding a new, rewarding career path.