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Monday, 6 October 2014

Do You Have What It Takes to Work in Domiciliary Care?

My Name is Garry Costain and I’m the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care company. Domiciliary care is often referred to as home care for the simple reason that it involves carers going into peoples’ homes and providing care services for them. The services that are provided can range from companionship through to live-in care.  

Caremark Thanet was started in 2012 by me and Jayne, my wife. We are always looking for outstanding carers to join our existing team. We know that the quality of care that we provide is only as high as the quality of the people who deliver that care for us. For that reason, we don’t just accept anyone and everyone who wants to join us. 

Let’s face it; working in home care is not for everyone. It takes a certain type of person to work as a care and support worker in domiciliary care. It takes a certain type of person with that little bit extra to work for Caremark Thanet. Do you have what it takes to work in the care sector? Do you have what it takes to work in the care sector and that little bit extra that it takes to work for Caremark Thanet? 

The very fact that you are still reading this suggests that you believe that you have what it takes to be one of our care and support workers. Well, I tell you what, keep reading. After you have finished; if you still think you have what it takes, get in touch with us.  

Let me begin by saying that we don’t set high standards for our carers: we set the highest standards. We know that for many people who might be thinking about joining us that we expect too much: but we think that this is more than reasonable. After all, if you become one of our carers you will, along with our other carers, be the most important people in the business. I’ll repeat that just in case you missed it the first time:  if you become one of our carers you will, along with our other carers, be the most important people in the business. 

The reason you and our other carers are the most important people in the business is because it is you who deliver the services to our customers. When you go out to our customers you are our representative, our ambassador and, more importantly, you are the person who cares. Without you there is no Caremark Thanet; without you there is no care service; quite simply, without you there is no care.  

Therefore, we think we are quite reasonable in having the highest expectations of you. Let me tell you what some of those expectations are. I’ll just mention three, just to give you an idea. First, we expect that you will always be punctual and always carry out all your scheduled visits. Being late for a meeting with us or one of your colleagues is bad; being late for a care visit is unforgivable; missing a care visit is shameful. We say never be on time: we say be early. We accept that very occasionally the world can conspire against you. We know you don’t have a crystal ball. We know you don’t know if there’s going to be a traffic jam tomorrow. However, mostly crystal balls are not needed. For example, if you live in Thanet, you don’t need a crystal ball to know that the traffic is unpredictable.  

Second, we expect you to be professional. You are our representative. When our customers deal with you they will form an impression of you and that will influence the impression that they form of the company. We want that impression to be the right one. Working for Caremark Thanet you are never just a carer. You will be one of the most important people in your customer’s life. You will be one of the most important people in our business. A responsibility that is too much for some people. Caremark Thanet is not just a care provider. It is a company that employs some of the most important people in the lives of its customers. Could you be one of them? 

Third, we expect you to provide a level of service to our customers that is outstanding. Our customers are the reason we are here. Our customers have a choice. They can choose to have care from another home care company. It is because of the high quality services that our carers provide that our customers choose to stay with us. We can only tell our customers that our carers are outstanding: you can demonstrate it. And we expect you to do that. 

If you have got this far you will have formed the view (correctly) that we have uncompromisingly high standards – as I said above we set the highest standards. You might be forgiven for thinking that it’s all take and no give on our part. But that is very far from the truth. Just as we feel entitled to have high expectations of you, we feel that you are entitled to have high expectations of us. 

If you become one of our care and support workers you will be joining the best team of carers in Thanet. You will be rewarded with pay rates that are amongst the best (if not the best) on the Isle for carers. We will ensure that you are allocated to customers on a permanent basis. You will have a full induction and training. You will find a support system that is just about as good as it is possible to have.  

If you prove yourself to us; we will invest in you because we know the value of good carers. When we find good carers we want them to stay with us. Where possible we will provide you with the training that will develop you in your career. We feel that it is important that you see working for us as a career not just a job. If you think working for us will be just a job: it is not the career for you. 

But we know it’s a career that’s not for everyone. Do you have what it takes to work in the care sector? Do you have what it takes to work in the care sector and that little bit extra that it takes to work for Caremark Thanet?

If you think you have what it takes call us today on 01843 235910 or email thanet@caremark.co.uk

Take a look at our CQC report here.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.


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