Everybody needs good neighbours says care firm
A CARE firm in Wales says anyone can become a good neighbour by signing up to provide care to their community (April, 2017).
Abacare, which has offices in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), is offering people the opportunity to train as a carer and provide its services in their neighbourhoods.
Peter Angelides, CEO of the award-winning care provider, said: “If a person has limited transport or wants to work closer to home it can become difficult to find work so we’re offering people interested in becoming a carer the opportunity to work in their own communities and not have to travel further afield.
“We have found that there are often people living in the same small community as someone who needs care and support and working in a close-knit community enables a richer relationship between the carer and the person supported, as they can have more in common and can also pop in more easily.
“People who need our care services love to see a friendly face and to have someone from their own community providing the care they need will help them tremendously. They will also trust a familiar face much quicker than they would do if it was a carer they do not know caring for them.
“Where this kind of match between the person needing support and the carer can be made it also helps enormously with safety during the winter months, as locally based carers can almost always reach someone even in poor conditions such as heavy rain or snow.”
Anyone interested in working for Abacare should call the RCT office on 01443 742645 or emailrctjobs@abacare.org.uk.
Peter added: “It’s not easy for people to find work that fits in with their lifestyles so it’s up to 21st century employers to offer flexibility that gives a good work life balance.
“Individuals who have busy lifestyles, another job or have to look after a family and take on the school run often think that jobs won’t be able to fit around their schedules, but we’re offering flexible working arrangements to the right candidates.
“As well as daytime work we can also offer evening opportunities or even weekends only if that is what potential candidates need.
“Caring is incredibly valuable work and our staff who have a second job with Abacare often tell us how much they gain from their work with us. Some of our carers have main jobs, which are office based, and really enjoy the chance to go out and help someone face to face and to spend time with new people. One carer said: “I care for two people in my own village and I really enjoy it, it’s very different from the work I do nine to five’.”
Abacare provides all staff with full training and shadowing before they start, and they have additional, on the job support from the team 24/7.
They are given free uniforms, access to a staff scooter scheme for those needing transport and a national staff discount scheme for all major brands as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.
Abacare operates a professional Care Management Team that is committed to providing high quality care to individuals in their own homes.
The large team of trained, specialist, care workers provide positive based outcomes and person centred care to people throughout Wales.
Abacare’s core values, instilled into every staff member, include ‘make us proud’, ‘focus on our service users’ wellbeing’, ‘communicate, listen well and speak with respect’, ‘be passionate, honest, caring and considerate’, ‘recruit and develop the very best’ and ‘lead by example’.
It believes it offers inspiring work for inspirational people.
It is a member of the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Ceretas (formerly British Association of Domiciliary Care), The National Homecare Council and The Information Commissioners Office (Data Protection). It is also registered with the Care Social Services Inspectorate Wales.
Abacare has been awarded an Investors in People accolade for its staff training and development for the fourth year running.
Investors in People is a national standard, which provides a framework that helps organisations to improve performance and realise objectives through the effective management and development of their staff.
It was also named Britain’s ‘Most Outstanding Care Agency’ at the UK Over 50s Housing Awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
For more information about Abacare, please call the RCT office on 01443 742645 or visitwww.abacare.org.uk. Alternatively, please follow the company on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/Yn4zmS or on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/visitabacare.