Calls for more carers in Devon to help fend off winter pressure

A DEVON care provider says it needs more staff to help look after the county’s elderly and vulnerable during the festive season, which is the most demanding time of year (December 2019).

Guardian Homecare, which delivers home care in the Exeter area, says the winter months can be the most hectic, as the cold weather can adversely affect service users.

Manager at Guardian Homecare, Catherine Porter says: “Pre and post-Christmas is our busiest time of the year, so we’re urging anyone out there, who is looking for a new career and is kind, honest and reliable, to get in touch today to find out how they can join our friendly team. Full training will be given and we offer a package of competitive benefits too.

“Falling temperatures can impact severely on our service users especially with fears that we’ll have another visit from the ‘Beast from the East’ this season. As the weather gets colder and damper, the elderly are much more susceptible to illness, which means they may need additional care. Many are not able to get out and about as easily as they could in the summer, due to freezing temperatures and snow or ice, so the number of errands they will need our carers to run for them can increase.

“As they are less able to go out on a daily or weekly basis, they are also starved of socialisation, often our carers are the only friendly faces they will often see. We’re also a vital service for those who need reminding to eat and drink regularly, and to keep warm. It’s not unusual for the elderly and vulnerable to struggle with looking after themselves due to issues such as dementia and therefore daily contact with our carers is a godsend.

“We’re not the only ones that feel the pressure in winter though, other health services also face high patient numbers and there will be long waiting lists in emergency departments. During the winter months, the elderly and vulnerable are admitted to emergency departments with multiple health problems.

“Being able to look after our service users properly at home helps reduce the stresses and strains on the NHS. Being at home has also been proven to help aid recovery rates and ensures service users are in an environment they know and love with all their possessions around them and even their pets with them.”

Guardian Homecare employs nearly 200 domiciliary carers in south Devon to look after its service users in their own homes and is currently searching for 100 new honest and kind-hearted individuals to help add to its teams.

Catherine adds: “We provide an invaluable service to the people of south Devon and new staff are needed on a daily basis to help us continue with our work. We offer free, full training and the opportunity for career advancement. We’re also very flexible with working hours, so if anyone is interested in joining our team, they should get in touch for more information.

“Being a carer is a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society. With a job for life like this, people can start at the very bottom and work their way up and we will offer them full training and access to industry-leading qualifications.

“No experience is necessary to become a carer, as free, full training is provided. We offer new recruits a five-day training induction and a 12-week on-board 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.”

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.

“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 and also covers holidays and electrical goods.”

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 visit www.guardianhomecare.org.uk.