Your career journey

New to care?

• Commitment, dedication and the right attitude towards our customers are more important than experience.
• You have more relevant skills than you may think, from your experience of life.
• Start with an informal job chat to learn about the job and ask questions.
• Fill in an application form – we can do it with you if you don’t like forms.
• Come for an interview with one of our friendly team

Experienced care worker?

• Go straight to application and interview as above. 

What happens when I’m offered a job?

• Job offers are subject to references and a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.We are not allowed to let you go out to work until these are all back, but we can start your training.

What if something comes up on my DBS check?

• If you know something will come up, you need to tell us on your application form, or it isn’t going to look good.
• Some offences, like violent assaults, or robbery, are so serious that we cannot risk employing someone with that history, for the safety of our customers.
• If your offence was less serious and/or a long time ago, we can have an open and honest discussion with you, and may well decide that your application can go ahead.

What training will I receive?

• E-learning modules to give you the basics in all aspects of care – you can start these while you are waiting for your references and DBS check, and have until the end of your probation period to complete them.
• Paper workbooks if you don’t like online workbooks.
• 2 days induction training in the office, including practical skills such as moving and handling, and administration of medication.
• Shadowing an experienced care worker, for at least 2 days if you have experience, and at least a week if you are new to care.You won’t be sent out on your own until you are ready.

What support will I have during my 12 weeks’ probation?

• You will be paired up with a “mentor”, who will be available to support and encourage you.
• A supervisor, or mentor assisting the supervisor, will speak with you at least once a week, at a customer’s home, in the office, or on the phone.
• Outside office hours we have an on-call phone, and someone is available on that number for the whole of your working hours.
• If you are struggling, you will be given extra support, and your probation may be extended for up to another 12 weeks, with agreed targets for you to meet.

What happens when I have completed my probation?

• if you already have NVQ Level 2 or the Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care, you will immediately qualify for a pay rise.
• If not, we will sign you up for the next available Level 2 Diploma course, and you will get your pay rise as soon as you successfully complete it and get your certificate.
• Make sure that you tell Dominique or John in the Gloucester office, who deal with the accounts for both offices, otherwise your pay rise might get missed!

What next? 

There is always more training available. Discuss with your Care Manager, Recruitment and Training Liaison, or Supervisor what you would like to do next.  You may want to:

• Take your Diploma in Health and Social Care to the next level;
• Choose an area of care to study in more depth, for example, dementia, or end of life care;
• Attend short courses on different care topics;
• Set your sights on career progression, and discuss the route which is right for you.All our supervisors and coordinators, and our Recruitment and Training Liaison, Donna, started out as Care Assistants.They have all obtained their qualifications as they have progressed through the company.If we expand further and need another Care Manager, we could well appoint one who has been home-grown.The sky is the limit!