Coronavirus recruitment drive: Thousands of care workers urgently needed to help elderly and frail

Home care providers up and down the country have launched a recruitment drive to take on thousands more staff to help care for the elderly and frail during the pandemic.

The demand for people to work in the care sector has been huge due to the pressures coronavirus is putting on the healthcare system, with one of the leading job sites for home care, homecare.co.uk, seeing a 138 per cent year on year increase in jobs posted by home care agencies to its jobs board,

’We are keen to hear from those passionate about helping others and when the chips are down, show their mettle’

The home care agencies are urgently wanting to recruit front line care workers to support elderly and vulnerable clients in their homes during the pandemic. They are looking for people who have recently lost their job or have been forced to cease trading, retired care workers or mums who wish to return to work.

Home Instead Senior Care

Home Instead Senior Care UK is looking to employ a further 3,000 individuals. Home Instead has over 200 offices across the UK, delivering over six million hours of care last year, to over 21,000 clients.

Chief executive of Home Instead Senior Care UK, Martin Jones said: “The UK is under immense pressure due to COVID-19, and we want to ensure we can continue to commit to caring for our older clients following the government’s advice to remain at home.

“We are seeking those who have recently lost a role in hospitality, or retail that might have transferable skills. There are so many people out there who could help us make a positive difference to older people through relationship-led care. We are urging them to step forward.”

Caremark

Caremark Limited has over 100 offices over the UK and supports 14,000 clients who require regular care. The home care agency is recruiting 2,000 staff.

Managing director David Glover said: “We urgently need to recruit 2,000 care and support workers in order to bridge this gap and make sure people who need high quality home care receive it, wherever they live in the country.

“If you’ve been laid off or forced to cease trading and want to help others, perhaps you could join our amazing team. We urgently need compassionate people, so get in touch.”

Bluebird Care

Bluebird Care home care agency is also looking to recruit throughout the UK. They currently see up to 20,000 clients per day throughout the UK.

Neil Murray, head of quality and compliance said: “Everyone we work with is dedicated to making a real difference to our customers’ lives. You could do the same.

"Our services enable customers to remain in their own homes surrounded by the things that matter to them most. Despite these challenging times, we need to ensure that we can continue to do this. Now more than ever, we need everyone to come together and lend a helping hand."

Cera Care

London-based home care company Cera is currently looking to employ 10,000 people around the UK to work in the home care sector in response to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Dr Ben Maruthappu, chief executive of Cera Care said: “Coronavirus has impacted every single part of our society, with an unprecedented burden being felt by our elderly population, families and the NHS.

"Our ability to support and care for our elderly population, who are most at risk from this disease, over the coming months and years will significantly determine our ability to navigate this crisis.”

Optimo Care Group

Optimo Care Group based in Barnsley will take on staff immediately to look after the those vulnerable in their own homes and respond to the impact of coronavirus.

Jane Lister, group recruitment manager at Optimo Care Group, said: “As a result we’re looking to recruit hundreds of people across Huddersfield, Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield to help us deliver the care that is needed.

“As a business we currently work with and support around 1,300 people. However, with the current situation, needing over-70s needing to self isolate and for the NHS to free beds, we have a high demand for our community care services."

HRM Homecare

HRM Homecare is looking to recruit 150 people throughout Scotland. They employ 246 people and provide 9,000 hours of care for 680 people in areas including Falkirk, Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire.

Managing director of HRM Homecare Lynn Laughland said: “We are really keen to hear from those passionate about helping others and when the chips are down will show their mettle.

"As everywhere, we are facing an unprecedented threat to our ability to carry out our jobs due to COVID-19."

All companies give free training and competitive rates.

homecare.co.uk hosts a whole range of jobs on its website. To find out about jobs within the social care sector click here