SCA Care backs national campaign showcasing vital work carers do
We’re backing a national campaign launched this month to showcase the work domiciliary carers do and celebrating the way they empower the people they support (November 2021).
We’re keen to raise awareness of the Department of Health and Social Care’s latest campaign highlighting how emotionally rewarding care roles can be.
Ricky Rossiter, our Director of Integrated Services, who started as a carer and has progressed through to his current role, says: “This new ‘Made with Care’ campaign tackles perceived barriers to care work, emphasising the importance of personal qualities over qualifications, the opportunities for training to develop a career in adult social care and the availability of flexible working. These are all vital things that we’re keen to champion here in Southampton too.
‘Made with Care’
“‘Made with Care’ aims to raise the profile of the adult social care sector and to show it as a rewarding and stimulating place to work. It’s hoping to attract people with the right values to consider a career in social care.”
The social care sector is under increasing pressure from an ageing population, and the rise in care needs post-pandemic, to provide help to vulnerable individuals across the country.
In Southampton, SCA Care, which is part of our not-for-profit group, is able to look after all its current service users but is aware there is growing demand to help others in the city, so it is looking to recruit 50 people before Christmas to expand its provision.
Great sense of pride
Carer Megan Ticehurst says: “For me care work is a fulfilling way to spend my days and I feel a great sense of pride in what I do. I made the decision to get in to complex care support this year after my grandma passed away.
“I had first been primarily my grandad’s carer in 2014 and then, after he passed, my grandma’s health declined, and I cared for her. I have lived experience of care, so appreciate how important it is to those I’m supporting. I would suggest anyone who may have cared for a loved one as I did and is now looking for a career that they will love and will give back to them as much as they give, to get in touch with SCA Care today.”
Positive based outcomes
SCA Care operates a professional care management team that is committed to providing high quality care to individuals in their own homes.
Its team of trained, specialist, care workers provide positive based outcomes and person-centred care to people across Southampton.
Team member Rebecca Brooks says: “I started caring at 18, I really wasn’t sure if this job was for me, but 13 years later I’m still doing it! Being a carer is very rewarding. It’s comforting to know that what I do makes someone else’s day that little bit brighter.”
Flexible working
SCA Care offers flexible working arrangements that would be suitable for parents coming back into the workforce after paternity or maternity leave or students, wishing to work around their studies.
Ricky, who also has lived experience of care with his brother, adds: “We are looking for kind, honest, caring and reliable individuals who wish to have a stable and long-term career in care, and who would like to forge rewarding relationships with the service users they care for. No experience is necessary, as free, full training is given.
Community-focused role
“This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is looking for a change of career or someone who is looking for a more community-focused role. Being a carer really makes you feel good about yourself, and you get to meet lots of wonderful people too.
“Obviously, home care requests increase as we enter the winter months, so we do anticipate greater seasonal demand. However, our recruitment drive is based on expanding the service we offer and not plugging any shortfalls, as we have these covered already.”
£10.50 plus per hour
New recruits at SCA Care are given their birthday off as a paid day’s leave, free uniforms, free training, PPE and all the equipment they need to make their calls. They also receive above average rates of pay, £10.50 plus per hour, as well as 30 days paid holiday inclusive of bank holidays, paid mileage and payment for any time someone spends travelling to and between calls.
Ricky adds: “No experience is necessary to become a carer, as we cover all the costs of DBS checks and training for staff who remain with us after their probationary period and pay staff to attend training sessions. We offer new recruits an induction and on-boarding programme, as well as buddying-up with other experienced team members, and we train staff to an industry standard with all employees completing a Care Certificate. We also offer flexible working hours, both full and part-time, plus competitive wages and a generous holiday allocation, including giving an additional free day for a team member’s birthday.
Career pathway
“Joining us as a carer is a great opportunity for people to achieve a recognised qualification and they’ll also be able to access a career pathway, if they wish, through from carer to management. Plus, you’ll be joining a charity, not some large money-making machine, we’re strictly not-for-profit and care is at the heart of what we do.”
For further details, please checkout our job pages here https://bit.ly/3qjgjf1.