Care Minister Caroline Dinenage calls home care a 'hugely rewarding career'

Care Minister Caroline Dinenage has called care work a "hugely rewarding career" and has paid tribute to home care staff at a Home Instead Senior Care branch in London, to thank them for their 'outstanding' work.

The minister popped into Home Instead Senior Care Westminster and City of London branch to congratulate staff after the Care Quality Commission rated the domiciliary care service 'outstanding' after its latest inspection.

Ms Dinenage spoke with the home care firm's business owner Fred Mairet and met care workers Minna Haukka and Adrian Smith to understand how they help older people to live well in their own homes.

“Care work is a hugely rewarding career which has a real impact on people’s lives, supporting them to enjoy their later years,” Ms Dinenage said.

“It’s great to see a home care business which is so passionate about helping older people age well. Quality care like this plays a crucial role in enabling older people to stay living healthily and happily at home for longer.”

The minister said she is keen to dispel the negative perceptions of being a care worker and has backed Home Instead’s #YouCanCare campaign, which urges people to consider a career in care.

Care worker Adrian Smith told the Minister: “There is a lot of negativity about working in the care sector. But when care is done the right way – not rushed visits and really focusing on the person and building a relationship with them – it is one of the most rewarding jobs ever.”

Mr Smith, who used to work for the police and as a casting agent, before working in care, said: “The people I look after may be in their 80s but they still want to enjoy life. They are not defined by their age; they’re a person with hobbies, interests, passions and a personality."

Home Instead Westminster and City of London offers home care services such as companionship, housekeeping and personal care.

Mr Smith added: “I always remember one of my clients, a gentleman in a wheelchair, who just loved getting out and about. He asked me to push him faster in his wheelchair. I ran along as fast as I could and he absolutely loved it – the smile on his face and his laughter made his day, his week and possibly even his year.”

The branch's business owner Fred Mairet said of the minister's visit: "If we can work together with older people’s interests at the heart, it will go some way in helping to address the issues we face in our ageing population.”