Award-winning UK-based home care company, Guardian Angel Carers, has offered tips and advice for care professionals in light of the tens of thousands of job openings created by sustained high demand for quality at-home care.
These vacancies are coupled with a lack of information to support applicants trying to compare roles, remuneration packages and training opportunities.
Guardian Angel Carers is a values-based home care service with a fast-growing number of independently managed home care franchises across England and Wales. Its sector-leading team boasts impressive staff retention statistics, positioning the group as an authority in home care recruitment.
Understanding the Credentials Home Care Job Applicants Must Look For
Guardian Angel Carers was prompted by the volume of enquiries and applicants for varied care positions across the network. The organisation reports that many candidates looking for secure roles in care delivery, coordination and management have found that advertised care positions were not paid on the same basis as originally advertised.
MD of Franchise, Vikki Craig-Vickers, says, ‘Quality doesn’t solely apply to the way home carers look after the needs of people in the community, but to how a home care agency manages its staff, communicates information with its workforce, and supports continued development – upskilling dedicated carers so they can excel, and learn new skills and abilities as they gain further practical experience.
Our first advice for anybody working in home care or transitioning to the sector is to review the terms of employment before accepting a job offer. We hear countless stories about zero-hours contracts or guaranteed minimum hours that don't materialise, leaving talented home carers looking elsewhere or, unfortunately, leaving the profession altogether.
With such enormous shortages of qualified carers and junior home care staff keen to access professional training, it is incredibly important that applicants look beyond advertising to see what the job really offers and whether it is backed by a credible, respected home care agency that takes great care of its staff.
I advise looking for an agency with verified CQC registration, a positive score on sites like Glassdoor, Homecare Association membership and – for home care businesses that adopt a franchise model like our own – British Franchise Association membership.’
Statistics Related to the Underpayment of Home Care Workers
Issues around underpayment in home care have been around for some time. Carehome.co.uk reported in 2021 that care workers were underpaid by up to 39% per year, compared to similar roles in other sectors.
A further report conducted by Resolution Foundation and published by CommunityCare in January 2023 had comparable findings. Care workers were deemed to be expected to tolerate poor pay and substandard working conditions, with some employers relying on a sense of vocation or a lack of alternative work to retain qualified care staff.
This study identified that domiciliary care workers were often paid at an unlawful rate beneath the National Minimum Wage, usually because they were expected to work without pay when travelling between visiting care placements. Collated statistics show that:
- Experienced carers, on average, earn just £0.07 more than untrained recruits.
- The median hourly pay rate for frontline, in-person care workers in April 2022 was £10.90 – lower than that paid for junior transport, call centre and office-based roles.
- The average unpaid time travelling between home care placements means that, on average, home care staff are paid £0.30 lower than the minimum wage.
All of these reports reflect the same outcomes; even if advertised hourly, weekly or salaried pay rates appear reasonable, there is often a risk that home care professionals will find themselves fulfilling essential aspects of their role without pay – resulting in a drop in their earning capacity below the legal minimum.
Advice for Home Care Workers Comparing Job Vacancies
Craig-Vickers recommends that every candidate consider the support structures and professional training on offer rather than focusing solely on pay rates. While the latter must be above minimum wage, supplementary education, financial help with formal qualifications, and encouragement to progress often have the biggest impact in the long term.
She says, ‘Our CareAngels are a fundamental part of our business – and we select applicants with great care to ensure every representative of their local home care service shares our passion for respectful, compassionate and family-feel care.
That is reflected in our recruitment approaches, where we offer complete transparency about pay rates, hours worked, expenses arrangements for mileage, and the myriad support our care managers provide to help every employee reach their full potential.’
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About Guardian Angel Carers:
Guardian Angel Carers is a leading home care provider dedicated to delivering compassionate, personalised care services. With a strong focus on independence, dignity, and quality of life, the company supports individuals in the comfort of their own homes, offering a range of services from companionship to complex care needs.
Media Contact:
Vikki Craig-Vickers
03333 660550
www.gacarers.co.uk
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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/
Published by: Steve OBrien