Networking Event Launches Council’s “Home Careers – We Care, Could You?” Campaign
06/10/2015
Reading Borough Council Press Release
A NETWORKING event at Reading College this month will aim to match home care providers with students and members of the public interested in a career as a home care worker and demonstrate why Reading is a good place to be a home carer.
The free event, on Tuesday 20th October, runs from 10am to 1pm at Reading College on Kings Road. People can find out more about work in home care by speaking directly to representatives from 12 of the providers on the Council’s Home Care Framework. Council officers will also be on hand to answer questions and offer advice.
The Council, along with providers on the framework, are launching a recruitment drive which kicks off with this event, to encourage a take up of careers in home care in Reading. The “We care, Could You?” campaign aims to highlight the many benefits of working in the care sector and dispel some of the misconceptions people might have.
The drive also aims to highlight the job satisfaction of making a real difference to someone’s life. Home care workers work with a variety of people and develop rewarding relationships by meeting individual care needs.
The employers attending the event are all part of the Reading Borough Council Home Care Framework which means they offer fair pay, benefits and conditions, thanks to the Council’s commitment to the Unison Ethical Care Charter. All of the Reading home care workers on the framework must be paid at least the living wage, as well as having their uniforms, DBS checks, travel time between appointments and mileage paid for.
The Council has set up a dedicated webpage, where people can find out more about a career as a home care worker and view the jobs currently available at www.reading.gov.uk/hcf
Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, Rachel Eden said:
“Reading, like most of the country, has a growing demand for home care workers to help people to live independently in their own homes. In Reading we aim to make this a career where you can progress and earn a fair wage. If you would feel a sense of personal achievement from helping other people live better lives this could be the career for you.”
No prior qualifications or experience are necessary, making it the ideal choice for a career change or young people starting their first job from school or college. Training towards recognised qualifications is often provided, with opportunities to learn new skills and to move up the career ladder. Care working can be very flexible, with a range of working patterns available, so people can do hours that suit them, for example, if they need to work round other commitments or balance the needs of a young family.
The initiative aims to build on work of the Council’s Home Care Framework, launched in June this year, where the Council developed a list of 12 preferred providers. These providers must comply with Reading’s local Dignity Charter to promote and protect the dignity of individuals, and must also meet the requirements of the Unison Ethical Care Charter, which the Council adopted in 2014, to promote better quality of care and working conditions for care workers. This includes paying the living wage, proper training and payment for travel time.
