Contrary to misconceptions, home care can offer generous pay rates, ongoing support with progression toward advanced qualifications and skills, and stability, with sustained and ever-increasing demand across the communities we serve.
To help anyone considering applying for a home care job with Guardian Angel Carers, we’ve created this concise guide to explain what you might expect from your day-to-day role as a CareAngel, and to highlight the perks and benefits many applicants are unaware of.
A Day in the Life of a Care Assistant: What to Expect From a Home Care Position
One of the many positive aspects of home care is that no two days are the same. Although carers get to know and build strong relationships with the families and individuals they support, it’s also common to have a varied routine tailored to each person’s needs and preferences.
Junior carers always complete comprehensive training before undertaking any direct client care, and, in most cases, are offered time to shadow an experienced colleague, either during or after completing Care Certificate training. This ensures they have the hands-on skills and confidence to deliver the standard of care we expect.
Going forward, you might be asked to help with preparing fresh meals, providing companionship and emotional support, reminding individuals to take medications, assisting with visits or appointments, or simply ensuring the person is happy and well and has everything they need.
We create detailed, bespoke care plans for every care recipient, which set out exactly what tasks and chores they wish their carers to be involved with. That means care roles are genuinely ever-changing, and can include early morning care visits, twilight care to help clients settle down in the evening, and weekend shifts alongside daytime work.
The Skills and Qualities We Look for in Home Care Job Applicants
As we’ve stated, those new to the caring profession aren’t expected to already hold formal certifications and qualifications, which is why we focus on the characteristics and values all great carers possess. Applicants to any entry or junior positions throughout Guardian Angel Carers should have the following:
- Excellent communication skills, being comfortable chatting and getting to know people and colleagues and being able to listen attentively.
- Patience, recognising that some people need extra time to respond to questions or remember things, or will require help with navigating their homes and enjoying their meals.
- Empathy, because caring is always based on kindness and respect, and every carer in any role must be happy and able to lend a hand wherever they are most needed.
- Adaptability, without being phased by a busy home care diary that may require different tasks or approaches.
- Sensitivity, ensuring that care recipients are looked after in the way they want in the comfort of their own homes, with encouragement to share their preferences, enjoy their favourite shows or hobbies and feel relaxed and at ease at all times.
Importantly, new home care colleagues also need to be willing and able to learn, because, as they advance in their care careers, they will need to absorb a significant amount of knowledge and information. That could relate to best practices in care, specific skills such as supporting individuals with conditions like dementia, or managing more advanced care responsibilities.
Training and Formal Educational Opportunities for Guardian Angel Carers Employees
Entry-level home carers always begin with a fully funded Care Certificate. This qualification teaches a set of standards governed by Skills for Care, Skills for Health and Health Education England, with 16 requirements carers need to meet.
Alongside inductions, shadowing and mentoring, home carers work through sections about understanding their roles, safeguarding adults and children, equity, diversity and inclusion, privacy and dignity, communication and health and safety, as just a few of the modules.
From there, many of our carers progress further, which can range from apprenticeships, internal promotions, NVQs, and other training depending on whether a colleague has a certain specialism or interest.
Example Pay Rates and Additional Benefits for Entry-Level Colleagues
The exact rates of pay and working hours will necessarily differ between care roles, but we’ve shared an insight into the remuneration on offer for a small selection of the current vacancies across the Guardian Angel Carers group.
- We’re currently recruiting Care Assistants in Newark and Lincoln with a full driving license and access to a car. The role includes an hourly rate of £13.50 per hour, far in excess of the new 21+ minimum wage from next April, paid travel time and mileage, an unlimited usage phone, paid training, fully funded apprenticeships, a paid MOT and more.
- Guardian Angel Carers Worthing is recruiting Loneliness Companions for full-time or part-time hours, with alternate weekend hours. These roles have a generous salary of £15 to £16.25 per hour, plus mileage, healthcare, NVQ training, and other benefits as described above.
- Our York territory is looking for Care Assistants interested in flexible hours, many of whom are students who fit caring jobs around their studies. They are offering a competitive pay rate of £14.25 an hour, paid holiday, pension contributions and of course, fully funded Care Certificate training.
This demonstrates the variety of roles on offer and shows that those interested in starting a career in care don’t need to accept minimum pay rates.
Browse Junior Home Care Jobs With Guardian Angel Carers
You should now have a clearer idea about the types of training opportunities and pay rates on offer, and the reasons so many professionals are transitioning from less stable sectors to home care, bringing with them their own personalities, skills and enthusiasm.
If you’d like to learn more about applying for a home care job, or about the selected vacancies we’ve summarised above, you’ll find all the information you need via the Guardian Angel Carers careers pages, or you’re welcome to get in touch with any of our territories for an informal chat.