Salary: £16.81 per hour
Location: Central Cambridge, Royston, Linton, Soham, Ely, Milton, Cottenham, St Ives, St Neots, Peterborough, and other surrounding areas.
Contract: Full time, 40 - 50 hours per week (Part time can be considered at minimum of 30 hours per week)
The Trust
This trust provides domiciliary care to vulnerable adults in their own homes. Our aim is to support each service user to remain safe, comfortable and as independent as possible while receiving care that meets their individual needs.
Areas We Cover
Our trust operates across Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas, including:
Central Cambridge, Royston, Linton, Soham, Ely, Milton, Cottenham, St Ives, St Neots, Peterborough, and other surrounding areas.
As a domiciliary care worker, you will travel between service users' homes according to your allocated rota. Your rota may cover more than one area during the working day depending on service-user needs and the availability of care packages.
Working Hours
A typical full-day shift is:
Morning/Day Shift: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Unpaid Break: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Evening Shift: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
The period between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM is an unpaid break.
As domiciliary care is based around the needs of our service users, actual call times and schedules may vary depending on the care packages allocated to you.
Number of Care Calls
During a full working day, a care worker may normally be allocated approximately 15–18 care calls.
You will travel from one service user's home to another according to your allocated rota. The length of each call will depend on the service user's assessed needs and agreed care package.
Single and Double-Up Care Calls
Our service users have different levels of care and support needs.
Some service users require single-carer calls, where one care worker can safely provide the required support.
Other service users require two care workers (double-up calls) because of their assessed care needs. This may be required for safe moving and handling, transfers, use of a hoist or other equipment, or where two members of staff are required to safely complete the service user's personal care.
Where a care plan requires two carers, staff must follow the care plan and moving and handling guidance and must not carry out a two-person transfer alone.
Morning Calls
Morning calls are generally the busiest part of the day. Many service users have approximately 45-minute morning calls.
Your duties may include:
* Supporting the service user to get out of bed and prepare for the day
* Personal care, including washing, showering, dressing and continence care
* Supporting safe transfers and mobility
* Using moving and handling equipment where required
* Preparing and serving breakfast
* Supporting or administering medication in accordance with the care plan
* Making the bed and carrying out light care-related household tasks
* Ensuring the service user is safe and comfortable before leaving
* Completing accurate care records following the visit
Lunch Calls
Lunch calls may include personal care and continence support, preparing and serving lunch, medication support, mobility and transfers, and ensuring the service user has sufficient food and drinks available.
Tea and Evening Calls
Tea-time calls may include preparing and serving meals and drinks, personal care, medication, continence support and assistance with mobility.
Bedtime calls may involve helping the service user prepare for bed, changing into nightwear, providing personal and continence care, supporting medication, completing safe transfers into bed and making sure the service user is comfortable and safe for the night.
Travelling Between Service Users
Domiciliary care is different from working in a care home because you travel to each service user's own home.
You may visit several service users during your shift and may need to travel between different towns or areas. Staff therefore need to be comfortable with travelling and working across their allocated geographical area.
We try to organise rotas appropriately; however, because care packages can start, change or end, we cannot guarantee that staff will always work in one particular town or with the same service users.
Mileage Payment
When using your own vehicle for work, our trust Solution Limited pays:
30p per mile
Paid mileage is calculated from your first service user to your last service user.
For example:
Home → First Service User: Not paid
First Service User → Second Service User → Third Service User, etc.: Paid at 30p per mile
Last Service User → Home: Not paid
Travelling home or making personal journeys during the 2:00 PM–4:00 PM unpaid break is not included in paid business mileage.
What We Expect From Our Care Staff
Domiciliary care requires staff to be reliable, flexible, caring and professional. Good timekeeping and communication are particularly important because service users rely on carers arriving for essential personal care, medication, meals and other support.
You will be expected to follow each service user's individual care plan and risk assessments, including instructions relating to medication, moving and handling, safeguarding and infection prevention.
You must maintain the service user's privacy, dignity, confidentiality and choices at all times.
The purpose of our role is not simply to do everything for the service user, but to support and encourage them to maintain their independence wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Working in domiciliary care can be busy and involves travelling between different service users, but it is also a rewarding role where you can make a meaningful difference to vulnerable adults who wish to continue living in their own homes.
Please contact Mathure for further information
Salary description
£16.81 - £16.81 per hour