‘Uber’ style social care recruitment app launches

A new smartphone app – OUTT – has been launched to help home care and other social care employers to bring in temporary staff.

The new app allows registered staff to be hired instantly, literally at the press of a button.

Employers post a job on the app and can choose from a list of care assistants and support workers, based on locality, experience etc.

When registering, employees are interviewed online and all background checks carried out.

This includes police checks, disclosure certificates, passports and photographs. Staff will also be given ID badges to wear when working.

Staff can work for more than one employer registered on the App, but the technology only allows them to do so if there is a minimum gap between shifts.

This ensures they don’t become over-tired and remain working within government guidelines.

The app differs from Uber in the sense that staff are not self-employed.

‘The benefits for employers are obvious in that it is much more transparent than using an agency,’ said an OUTT spokesman.

‘They can check for themselves details about potential employees, rather than just take an agency’s word for it. They can do this immediately and in their own time.

‘And there are plenty of pluses for staff too. They don’t pay agency fees, they can choose whether or not to take a job, and employers must pay them a minimum wage of £10 an hour.

‘Ongoing, it allows both the employer and temporary member of staff to build up a working relationship which may easily result in a permanent position after a few months,’ added the spokesman.

Photo Credit – FirmBee (Pixabay)