Why apply for a care job through Your Care Job?
A job in care is a great career choice and there are many reasons why. Not only do you make a significant difference to people’s lives, you’ll also enjoy training, flexible working hours and full support from any business listed on Your Care Job.
Support & Career Development
When starting a role through Your Care Job, you’ll enjoy much more than just a job. It’s the start of a journey, building one of the most rewarding professional careers available.
No previous experience needed
Applications are welcome from people who have worked in care roles before, but the companies we work with are just as keen to hear from you if you have no previous experience at all.
All that matters is that you have the right attitude, you’re caring, hard-working and ready to learn. What are you waiting for?
Getting you off to the best start
The companies we work with provide the very best induction training for care staff. As a new care assistant, you will complete a full five-day induction training programme covering all the core knowledge you’ll need to start working in the community.
Once you have completed your initial training, you will remain under close supervision during your first twelve weeks of employment. Following the requirements of the mandatory Care Certificate, you will be observed delivering care and your competency will be assessed so that you can be given the necessary support and instruction to turn you into a competent and confident care assistant.
All the support and supervision you need
As a care assistant, you’ll be closely supervised so that you feel supported and confident in your work. Supervisors in the community will be on-hand to lend a hand if you feel out of your depth or an emergency arises.
The team in the office will also offer support by telephone and you will have regular supervision sessions in the office giving you the opportunity to talk over any issues or concerns with a line manager.
As a valued member of the team, you will also be invited to attend regular team meetings, giving you the chance to meet colleagues and to discuss pressing issues.
Formal qualifications
All the employers we work with will support you to obtain professional care qualifications, giving you the perfect launchpad for your career in care:
- In England, new care assistants completing the twelve-week induction process described above will receive the Care Certificate (which is mandatory).
- In England and other parts of the UK, all eligible care workers will be given the opportunity to complete a fully-funded QCF Level 2 certificate in health and social care.
In due course, once you have completed your level 2 certification and if you show potential, you may also be given the opportunity to obtain a level 3 certificate.
Taking your career in care to the next step
If you have ambitions to take your career in care to the next step, there are tons of opportunities for care assistants with the right qualities to take the step up into supervisory or management roles. Lots of the managers in the companies we work with, including those at a very senior level, started out as care assistants.
Who knows, by applying for a care assistant’s position through Your Care Job today, you could opening up a whole new chapter on your working life. What are you waiting for? Apply today.
Pay & conditions
The companies featured on Your Care Job benchmark their employment terms and conditions against local competitors to ensure that they remain competitive. And, with Your Care Job it’s about a whole lot more than just the pay…
Competitive pay rates
No one is under the illusion that care work is a high-paying career option – it’s not, but the companies we work with constantly review their pay rates to ensure that they remain attractive in local job markets and they ensure (of course) that all their care assistants are paid at least the National Living Wage.
Rates vary according to the local employment market – once you submit an application and are selected for interview, you will be informed about the pay rates. Depending on where you work, pay enhancements are also available for working anti-social hours, such as evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Most care assistants are paid once every four weeks by bank transfer.
A range of employment terms
Most care assistants are employed on flexible hours contracts, which means that they are paid for the hours of work they deliver each week. This arrangement gives both the employer and the care assistant greater control and freedom over their working patterns.
In some locations, and in some Extra Care schemes, care assistants may be employed on ‘guaranteed hours’ contracts in which they are paid a fixed amount to do a fixed number of hours’ work each week. Care assistants are also usually free to take on additional hours over and above their guaranteed hours.
If there are guaranteed hours contracts available at the location you apply to, you will be told about these during the application process.
Flexible hours and working arrangements
People usually need care in the mornings, at lunchtime, in the early evening and at bedtime. Although services are also required at other times, you will be more likely to build up a rota that works well for you if you are available at some or all of these times.
Because people need care seven days a week, it’s also really important that the companies we work with have sufficient staff capacity to meet service demands at weekends as well as on weekdays. For this reason, you will find more opportunities if you can work on Saturday or Sunday (or both) as well as on some weekdays.
Most care assistants are employed on flexible hours contracts which means that the number of hours they work will vary according to their availability. Most care assistants who want a regular rota will build one up quickly, however, and although you may get asked to provide care for new people on a temporary basis, you will probably find you quickly get a regular group of clients to visit.
Holidays and time off
All care assistants are entitled to take 5.6 weeks’ paid annual leave each year (including all public holidays).
Care assistants are also entitled to statutory sick pay if they are absent from work due to illness. Time off work may also be granted for other reasons depending on the situation.
Employee benefits
The companies we work with are able to supplement care assistant’s pay with access to some of the best employee benefits out there. Contact us for more information.
Pension
All care assistants will be eligible for a pension scheme in line with national auto-enrolment pension regulations.
Developing as a care assistant
Everyone that joins the companies we work with gets full pre-employment training before they are allowed to work unsupervised, so you can be sure that you’ll have been told everything you need to know. Induction training is comprehensive and follows national standards, so you can be sure that your skills will be top-notch before you start work.
You’ll also get full written information to support your learning and make sure you’re ready to go!
Once you’re out and working, you’ll benefit from an ongoing programme of training and support and have the opportunity to obtain a formal care qualification.