The Transformation of Domiciliary Care

Why Work in Domiciliary Care?

Why should anyone want to work in domiciliary care? There are multiple reasons, very compelling reasons, but let's face it domiciliary care does not always enjoy a good press. Spend more than a few minutes searching the internet and you will find plenty of stories to put you off working in domiciliary care.

However, I believe that there is reason for working in home care that, perhaps, you have not thought of. And that reason is that domiciliary care is changing - let's not put too fine a point on this: it is not just changing; it is transforming. It is not there yet. There is some way to go. But the change has started. And we intend to be instrumental in that transformation.

Yes, the world of domiciliary care is changing. It is a change for the better. It is a change that benefits those who work in care and those who receive care. Working in care is no longer "just a job" and those who work in care are no longer "just carers". This change is happening; it is happening now, it will continue, it has to continue, it cannot be slowed.

Domiciliary care has to evolve into a profession. It has to be seen by potential workers as a career. It has to be able to offer people opportunities to gain valuable experiences and qualifications. It has to become an industry where those who are prepared to shoulder responsibility are rewarded. This is a transformation. A transformation that will not happen without a driving force. That driving force must in the first instance be employers; in the second instance carers and potential carers.   

The Brave New World of Home Care: Is It for You?

If working in domiciliary care is truly going to offer you a career, it must transform into a place where there are greater opportunities and greater rewards. It must offer these opportunities and rewards to two groups of people who occupy two ends of a spectrum and to all those who fall in between. As is often the case, few people occupy the extremes of the spectrum; most fall somewhere in between.

At one end of the spectrum are those of you who are eminently reliable, conspicuously good at your jobs, see caring as a calling but, for various reasons, do not want to take on the burden of too much extra responsibility. You are very happy to be well trained and develop your skills because you know this enables you to provide the outstanding care that your customers have a right to receive and you have a duty to deliver. You will be very happy that care is gaining an enhanced status; you will see this as an enormous benefit for you and your customers. You will also be pleased that there are greater opportunities emerging and that, should your circumstances change, you may be able to avail yourselves of these opportunities.

At the other end of the spectrum are those of you who want a career; therefore, you may initially have entered care as a stepping stone into nursing or some other profession. You may have gone into care unsure of what you wanted and discovered you like it a great deal. Whatever your precise circumstances, you find you have joined a company that is ambitious, and has the vision to see how things must develop, and has the drive to implement change, and the awareness to recognise talent, and the desire to reward hard work. You may now realise that you are working for a dynamic company in an embryonic profession where there exists manifest opportunities for capable, enthusiastic people. Moreover, you can play a part in helping the profession mature.

This world of domiciliary care is one where the expectations upon you will be high and where diligence and talent are rewarded. It is a career, a vocation, a profession. It is not a refuge for the feckless but a proving ground for the capable; it is not a harbour for apathy but a home for industry, for enterprise, for energy, for enthusiasm.

Why Should You Work in Domiciliary Care?

Do you recognise yourself on the spectrum I have described above? Then the question for you is answered. Do you recognise the changes I have described? They are happening. Why not play a part? 

Why not find out more?

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.

Care and Support Workers Recruitment Open Day: 12 September 2017

Caremark Thanet held another exceptionally successful open day on Tuesday 12 September 2017 for prospective care and support workers. The purpose of these events is to provide information to people who want to work in domiciliary care, generally, and for Caremark Thanet, in particular.

Fourteen people attended the event at the The Yarrow Hotel in Broadstairs. The format of the event aims to give people all the information they need to make an informed choice about working in domiciliary care for Caremark Thanet.

Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton, got things started with an introduction session. This was followed by a brief presentation by Managing Director, Garry Costain, which focused on the high expectations that the company has for its care and support workers and the rewards and opportunities that are available for outstanding, reliable care workers. Following the presentation, there was then a chance for people to ask Garry any questions that they had.

Next, attendees had the chance to chat with one of Caremark Thanet's care and support workers and its Senior Supervisor. This was a chance for people to ask someone who is doing the job questions about what it is really like to work for Caremark Thanet.

All attending received application forms; several were filled in immediately and several more have been returned subsequently. Interviews will be held over the next two weeks or so.

If you'd like more information about working for Caremark Thanet or about future open days call: 01843 235910; email: thanet@caremark.co.uk.

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.

Care and Support Worker Recruitment Open Day 12 September 2017

 

Caremark Thanet is a domiciliary care company that provides care throughout Thanet. On the 12 September 2017 we will be holding one of our Care and Support Worker Open Days at the The Yarrow Hotel, Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs, CT10 1PN. There will be two sessions: one starting at 10.30 am and the second at 12.00 midday.

These events have proved incredibly popular with people looking to work in domiciliary care. The main purpose of the event is to provide potential care and support workers with information about working in care generally, and working for Caremark Thanet more specifically.

Care and Support Worker Recruitment Open Day 11 July 2017

Caremark Thanet is a domiciliary care company that provides care throughout Thanet. On the 11 July 2017 we will be holding one of our Care and Support Worker Open Days at the The Trinity Community Resource Centre, St Mary's Avenue, Margate CT9 3TN. There will be two sessions: one starting at 10.30 am and the second at 12.00 midday.

These events have proved incredibly popular with people looking to work in domiciliary care. The main purpose of the event is to provide potential care and support workers with information about working in care generally, and working for Caremark Thanet more specifically.

Working in domiciliary care presents challenges and brings enormous rewards. It is a career that is not for everyone. If you have never worked in care and want to get some idea about what is involved; this event may be just right for you. Experience is useful but not essential. What we look for is people who are caring, reliable, hardworking and flexible.

If you have care experience, you will probably be more concerned about finding out what it is like working for Caremark Thanet. Working for us will not suit everyone. We have high expectations; in turn; you rightly should have high expectations of us. We are a company that is prepared to invest in the right people. If you feel you have something to offer; come along and see what we can offer you.

The format of the session will probably go something like this:

First, there will be an introduction session led by our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton.

Second, there will be a presentation from the managing director of Caremark Thanet, Garry Costain. This presentation gives the audience a little bit of information about our history; emphasises the company’s ethos based on an uncompromising approach to the quality of care delivery and valuing of our carers; outlines the benefits of working for us and the wider opportunities available, and rounds off with a glimpse of the plans for how our success story will continue.

Third, there will be an opportunity to ask Garry any questions that the audience might have.

Finally, we always try to invite along one or more of our carers so that the audience can ask questions directly to someone who is, in fact, doing the job.

The feedback from our most recent open day on 7th March was extra-ordinarily positive. Most people went away with one of our application packs. We subsequently interviewed several candidates and were able to offer jobs to some of these people.

Spaces are limited so you are strongly advised to book a place. To guarantee your place, please contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910 or email jemma.clayton@caremark.co.uk.

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 on01843 235910or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.

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Care and Support Workers Recruitment Open Day: 24 May 2017

Caremark Thanet held another successful open day on Wednesday 24 May 2017 for prospective care and support workers. The purpose of these events is to provide information to people who want to work in domiciliary care, generally, and for Caremark Thanet, in particular.

Ten people attended the event at the Oak Hotel in Ramsgate. The format of the event aims to give people all the information they need to make an informed choice about working in domiciliary care for Caremark Thanet.

Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton, got things started with an introduction session. This was followed by a brief presentation by Managing Director, Garry Costain, which focused on the high expectations that the company has for its care and support workers and the rewards and opportunities that are available for outstanding, reliable care workers.

There was then a chance for people to ask Garry any questions that they had. Amongst other things, Garry explained that guaranteed hours contracts may be available for people who want them and prove themselves to be reliable; that all care and support workers are entitled to 28 days paid holiday per year, and that there are promotion and training opportunities available for ambitious people.

Following Garry's presentation, attendees had the chance to chat with one of Caremark Thanet's care and support workers. This is a chance for people to ask someone who is doing the job questions about what it is really like to work for Caremark Thanet.

Eight application forms were given out; one candidate was interviewed on the day and offered a position and there are six interviews scheduled for week beginning 29 May 2017.

If you'd like more information about working for Caremark Thanet call: 01843 235910; email: thanet@caremark.co.uk.

 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.

Funding Social Care in England: What the Main Political Parties Propose: UPDATE

At the time of writing this article, political parties have published their manifestos and are actively campaigning throughout the country for our votes. Predictably, there is little agreement amongst the parties on most things. There is one point, however, upon which all parties agree, and with which few people in the country would take issue: that point of agreement is that our social care system needs reforming. There is no agreement, though, about how this reform will be funded. This article very briefly looks at what the main parties propose for funding social care in England.

The week just gone, week beginning Monday 15 May 2017, saw the Conservatives publish their manifesto. The proposals contained in that manifesto for funding social care have received quite an amount of media attention. At the moment, financial help with social care fees is provided to people with savings less than £23,250. With regard to domiciliary care, the equity in your home is not taken into account (it is for residential care fees).

The Conservative's proposal is that help with social care fees will no be available for people with savings up to £100, 000. However, the equity in your home will be included in the calculation for qualifying for help with both residential and domiciliary care fees. You will not have to sell your property during your lifetime nor whilst a surviving partner is living in your home. You will, though, have to take some form of loan to pay for your care fees until your savings drop below £100,000.

The thing that occurs to me is that the long term consequence of this may be to discourage home ownership and saving and in a generation or two's time we will be back to a social care funding crisis. To prevent this occurring there may need to be penalties incurred by those who dispose of assets in their lifetime and/or some kind of social care tax or insurance. Which brings me to the Liberal Democrat's proposals.

The proposals from the Liberal Democrats include an immediate one penny rise in the basic, higher and additional rates of income tax. This will raise, it is claimed, £6 billion that will be used to fund the NHS and social care. At some future point, this one penny increase will be replaced by a health and care tax, which may involve a reform of our national insurance system. Eventually, the aim is for one health and social care budget.

Labour's proposals include developing a National Care Service for England. Social care will receive an extra £8 billion during the first Parliament of a Labour government, with an additional £1 billion in the first year. The National Health Service and the new National Care Service will require £3 billion extra in the "first years". A limit will be placed on an individual's lifetime contribution to care fees. To pay for these proposals the Labour manifesto suggests options including wealth taxes, employer contributions and/or a social care levy.

The inescapable fact is that the money to fund social care has to come from somewhere. To give more money to social care either some other area of Government spending receives less, or more money is raised. And the ways of raising more money are fairly limited.

Update

As you are undoubtedly aware, Teresa May announced last week (week beginning 22 May 2017) that, should the government be re-elected, there would be a cap on the amount that you are expected to pay for your social care; notwithstanding that this commitment was not present in the Conservatives' manifesto.

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.

Care and Support Worker Recruitment Open Day, Royal Oak Hotel Ramsgate, 24th May 2017

Caremark Thanet is a domiciliary care company that provides care throughout Thanet. On the 24th May 2017 we will be holding one of our Care and Support Worker Open Days at the Royal Oak Hotel in Ramsgate. The full address is 66 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, CT11 8LN. There will be two sessions: one starting at 10.30 am and the second at 12.00 midday.

These events have proved incredibly popular with people looking to work in domiciliary care. The main purpose of the event is to provide potential care and support workers with information about working in care generally, and working for Caremark Thanet more specifically.

Working in domiciliary care presents challenges and brings enormous rewards. It is a career that is not for everyone. If you have never worked in care and want to get some idea about what is involved; this event may be just right for you. Experience is useful but not essential. What we look for is people who are caring, reliable, hardworking and flexible.

If you have care experience, you will probably be more concerned about finding out what it is like working for Caremark Thanet. Working for us will not suit everyone. We have high expectations; in turn; you rightly should have high expectations of us. We are a company that is prepared to invest in the right people. If you feel you have something to offer; come along and see what we can offer you.

The format of the session will probably go something like this:

First, there will be an introduction session led by our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton.

Second, there will be a presentation from the managing director of Caremark Thanet, Garry Costain. This presentation gives the audience a little bit of information about our history; emphasises the company’s ethos based on an uncompromising approach to the quality of care delivery and valuing of our carers; outlines the benefits of working for us and the wider opportunities available, and rounds off with a glimpse of the plans for how our success story will continue.

Third, there will be  an opportunity to ask Garry any questions that the audience might have.

Finally, we always try to invite along one or more of our carers so that the audience can ask questions directly to someone who is, in fact, doing the job.

The feedback from our most recent open day on 7th  March was extra-ordinarily positive. Most people went away with one of our application packs. We subsequently interviewed several candidates and were able to offer jobs to some of these people.

Spaces are limited so you are strongly advised to book a place. To guarantee your place, please contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910 or email jemma.clayton@caremark.co.uk.

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.

Caremark Thanet: Care and Support Worker Open Days

On Tuesday 7 March, we held the third of our carer open days. The first was held at our offices; the second and third were held at Smith Court’s Hotel in Margate.

Smith Court’s Hotel is a superb venue and the staff there look after us very well. The open day on 7 March was very well attended – 18 prospective care and support workers in total over two sessions.

The purposes of these days are to provide information, advice and guidance to people who think that they might want to work in domiciliary care, and more specifically to work for Caremark Thanet.

The format of the day is typically as follows:

First, there is an introduction session led by our Business Development Manager, Jemma Clayton.

Second, there is a presentation from the managing director of Caremark Thanet, Garry Costain. This presentation gives the audience a little bit of information about our history; emphasises the company’s ethos based on an uncompromising approach to the quality of care delivery and valuing of our carers; outlines the benefits of working for us and the wider opportunities available, and rounds off with a glimpse of the plans for how our success story will continue.

Third, there is an opportunity to ask Garry any questions that the audience might have.

Finally, we always try to invite along one or more of our carers so that the audience can ask questions directly to someone who is, in fact, doing the job.

The feedback from our 7 March open day was extra-ordinarily positive. Most people went away with one of our application packs. We interviewed two people on the day, one of whom attended an induction the next day. We have subsequently interviewed three other people to whom we have offered positions with us.

Many thanks to all those who attended and to Smith’s Court Hotel for its hospitality.

If you’d like information about our next open day, contact Jemma Clayton on 01843 235910 or email jemma.clayton@caremark.co.uk.

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.

Caremark Thanet are introducing guaranteed hours contracts for care and support workers

Do you work in domiciliary care?

Would you be interested in a guaranteed hours contract?

We are Caremark Thanet: Providers of Outstanding Domiciliary Care to the Residents of Thanet.

We are looking to recruit a small number of experienced care and support workers to supplement our existing team. We are looking for people to cover: Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Westgate and Birchington.

We have a number of guaranteed hours contracts available

Benefits include;
* excellent rates of pay
* an element of paid travel time
* 28 days paid holiday per year (pro rata)
* excellent training opportunities

Find out more about us by visiting:

our website: www.caremark.co.uk

and Facebook page: facebook.com/caremarkthanet

If you feel that we are the type of company that you would like to work for: telephone now on 01843 235910 or email thanet@caremark.co.uk

Do You Employ your Own Carers Privately?

Isn’t it strange how some days you can’t remember what went on the day before and yet events from decades ago are recalled as though they are playing out before your eyes at the very moment you are thinking of them?

You may wonder what that question has to do with employing carers directly rather than going through a home care provider. If I may crave your indulgence for a short time and ask you to read on you’ll see how it all fits together. If you do employ your own carers or are thinking of doing so, I’m going to tell you about a fantastic little tool that you can use for dealing with tax and national insurance.

Anyway, back to the question in the first paragraph. One such event (from decades ago) is playing out for me in my mind’s eye at this very moment as I type. I was about nine or ten, at school and doing some kind of survey. The two classmates I was working with told me I had to record the information differently from how I was doing it. I just could not accept that I couldn’t do things my way; even though they were right and I was wrong.

There are two important points that emerge from this story. First, if you want to do something you should go ahead and do it whatever the opposition (there are a string of exceptions to this like not doing things that are illegal, but I won’t go into these). Second (with the same exceptions applying), you should still continue doing what you are doing, even if what you are doing is wrong (not in the sense of being illegal), or not what others might think is the wisest move on your part.  

For many years, much of our health and social care system has been provided on a paternalistic basis. What I mean by this is that there is always someone who thinks they know what is best for us. As you may imagine from what I said above, I have always been of the view that each of us, most of the time, is best placed to know what is best for us. And even if we want to do something that’s a little risky, we should be allowed to make our own mistakes.

There was a time, and it is a time that is not so very long ago, it was almost unthinkable that you could employ your own carers, or personal assistants. But things have changed. Just because you will become an employer and have a number of duties and responsibilities imposed upon you is not an argument for not employing your own carers. Becoming an employer might be daunting but there is plenty of help available.

I know that one of the most daunting things is dealing with tax, national insurance and pensions. If you employ people, you will be responsible for ensuring that their tax and national insurance are calculated and paid.

From 2018, all employers will be responsible for offering workplace pensions for their employees. The date from which the requirement to provide a pension starts depends upon how many people you employ. For further information; look at this page.

If you employ carers, you will need to submit information to HMRC online, something that goes by the name Real Time Information or RTI. For more information on this; go to this page.

How, then, do you submit information online? There are a number of systems that are available. Most you will have to pay for. There is, however, one system that is free, very simple to use and is provided by HMRC itself. It’s called HMRC Basic PAYE Tools. You can download the software here. HMRC gets a great deal of criticism; however, they should be congratulated for this.

When I first started in business, I used this tool for about a year and a half. The only reason I stopped using it is because you can only have a maximum of fifteen people on it. You don’t have to worry about calculations as the amounts of tax and national insurance that have to be paid are calculated for you. I understand it can also be used to handle pension contributions, although I never used it for this.

Way back in the second paragraph, I asked you to keep reading as it would be worthwhile. If you try the Basic PAYE Tool I think you will agree that reading to the end was worthwhile. If you use it let me know what you think. I’ll be interested to know.

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.