Dispelling the myths in homecare

Heather Ronald from the Great Care company dispels some of the myths around working in home care.

The care sector continues to face some of the most challenging times ever. But at the Great Care Company, we think now is also a great time to celebrate the benefits of working in home care, especially when you join our team. As we mark Professional Care Workers’ Week there really are a lot of benefits to working in care.

The sad fact is that many of the stereotypes about a job in care are simply not true. We want to put these myths to bed once and for all, especially when it comes to working with the Great Care Company.

Myth #1: Low Pay

Not with us. National Minimum Wage for Lincolnshire and Yorkshire for people aged over 23 is currently £8.91 per hour. We think our carers deserve a more competitive wage and pay between £10 and £16.65 per hour, depending on experience. We also have a pay band reward scheme where our staff can progress through different bands as they develop in their roles.

Myth #2: It’s all zero-hour contracts

Not so. At The Great Care Company, we offer fixed hour contracts to all staff to suit their working requirements. This helps to achieve a healthy balance between working and everyday life.

Myth #3: Staff are overworked

We recognise the need for rest and relaxation as caring can be hard work. That’s why all our staff can enjoy over 5 weeks annual leave each year!

Myth #4: No opportunities to progress

Again, not true with us! We give our staff plenty of opportunities for promotion and make personal development a priority. We also create positions internally to enable staff to progress, train and develop.

Myth #5: Staff aren’t listened to

Definitely not the case. All our staff have a dedicated support team to assist with any issues they may face. They also receive regular supervision to help them progress within their role, highlight any concerns to their line manager and put actions in place for a better work life balance.

Our teams go above and beyond for those we look after

While it’s true that working in care can be difficult at times, it’s also incredibly rewarding. Working in care makes a positive difference to people’s lives – what could be better than that?

Our values as a company is going the extra mile and so we’ve set up an initiative to encourage staff to do just that – go the extra mile for our clients. Through various incentive schemes our Extra Mile Fund enables staff to think of new initiatives, small acts of kindness to create positive interactions and experiences for our clients.

Whether that’s helping clients to connect with their family through using technology or writing a poem to bring a smile and cheer to a person’s day. The Extra Mile Fund is at the heart of what we do and according to feedback from our clients and their families, it’s what we do well.

Certainly one of the reasons why we are so proud to have achieved the Top 20 Home Care Providers award in the UK, East Midlands and for The Yorkshire and the Humber regions from positive client review scores.

New home care assistant, Heather Ronald, said: ‘I was bored in my old job and felt like I needed a new opportunity.

‘Then I came across the position of home care worker with the Great Care Company. Having read about the job and about the company, I was excited to apply.

‘When I started, my training involved shadowing other team members in the first weeks. They were friendly and helpfully showed me the ropes. The clients are happy and I enjoy the work I do to support them to live well.

‘The Great Care Company really does go out on a limb to make sure their staff and clients are comfortable and happy. I’m loving learning every aspect of this new job!’

Even with the worst of the pandemic hopefully behind us, there are still many hurdles ahead. We believe with the right team, the right planning and continued dedication to our clients we can help everyone achieve their potential when they choose a career in care with us.

Photo Credit – The Great Care Company