Care agencies to become a thing of the past

A new mobile app has been launched to help connect individuals seeking care, companionship or support with self-employed care workers.

Carecite, which was launched this month, was designed to help connect people in need of care contact a self-employed healthcare worker instead of having to rely on care agencies.

Since a community hub celebrating the new technology was held on 19^th June at the Friary in Guildford, which was opened by the area’s Deputy Mayor, Sallie Barker, the new platform has experienced a huge number of subscribers.

Alongside helping vulnerable individuals, the app also guarantees carers up to 50% more income and can reduce the costs for care seekers by up to 25%.

This news comes after it was announced by the Department for Education that agency social worker pay could be capped to the equivalent earned by permanent staff under government plans to reduce the use and cost of locums in statutory children’s services.

Surrey County Council, who have been working alongside Carecite, commented on the app’s launch: ‘We’re delighted to have partnered with Carecite in trialling the app in our area. We saw an immediate improvement in the consistency and quality of care being delivered.

‘We had fewer calls to our care support team and saw an improvement in the physical and mental well-being of the care recipients. All in all, it was a huge success.’

Due to the event at the beginning of the month being such a hit, the Carecite Community Hub returns to the Friary Shopping Centre in Guildford on Friday 30^th June and Saturday 1^st July.

Carecite Co-founder, Jonathan Glover said: ‘’Carecite is pioneering a new era of in-home care and feedback from the first Community Event has reiterated that the current care structure is broken. Care Agencies will be a thing of the past.

‘We offer a better, more hands-on solution than traditional agencies and our successful partnership with Surrey County Council can now be further enhanced, and we can continue to focus on growth with other councils and local authorities across the U.K.

‘Carecite is disrupting the care sector for good, and we are only just getting started. We urge other companies in the Care sector to change policy and follow suit. Together we can change the broken system and deliver better care and support for everyone in the communities.’

Image: Paul Hanaoka