FAQs

What sort of work do home carers do?

It’s all about caring for older people who still live in their own homes, supporting them in lots of ways.

From taking them out and about
Doing the weekly shop
Medication support
Personal and dementia care

It’s all very similar to what you’d expect to provide for your own family and loved ones.

Does being a carer give me the opportunity to work outside and on my feet?

Some clients might choose to be in their homes more than others, but the idea of a care professional is to enable the client to achieve those things that they might not be able to do on their own and promote their independence and wellbeing.

Sometimes clients might not want to leave the house due to anxiety, depression and lack of confidence and this is exactly where a carer can help, as a friend assisting them to get out and about to their chosen venue;

maybe to the hairdressers
a community group or a doctor’s appointment

Other clients might need some physical help

to enable them to do a bit of gardening
or visit a garden centre or supermarket.

Our carers are there to promote independence and wellbeing, it’s all part of the role.

It might take a little bit of time, plenty of cups of tea and conversations to build up the confidence and trust of the client. After that, we encourage visits and outings as much as each individual client wants.

I’m happy with providing companionship, but I’m not sure about the personal care side?

You’re not alone.

In fact this is something lots of people ask.

It’s also a bit of a myth that this is all there is to care.

Yes, washing and bathing, and other aspects of personal care, can sometimes be part of helping clients in their home.

The truth is it’s often just one small element of a much wider range of help.

Our care professionals very frequently split their time helping with tasks around the home, and offering companionship, which includes every aspect of simply being a friend.

We encourage longer care visits to our clients to give you proper time to care.

This also means you’ll not be moving quickly from client to client.

More time means you can really get to know people and build a special relationship with them.

We’re always looking for carers who enjoy spending time in people’s company, making memories and encouraging our clients to keep up their hobbies and interests.

I’ve never done care work before, do I need experience?

You don’t need any previous experience.

If you’ve got some, that’s great, but we are always taking on people who are making the move into care as a profession for the first time.

If you have compassion for others and empathy then that’s a great place to start.

These are the qualities and attitudes that are important when we recruit. We can train you in all the rest.

Will I receive training to help me in the job?

We provide full training in order to prepare you for your care role.

You’ll shadow others in the field and then receive a structured programme of ongoing training and development.

This ensures you will not only be able to provide the highest level of care to our clients but also be supported and valued throughout your career with us.

What is the Care Certificate and will I have to do it?

The Care Certificate is something that all care workers have to complete before being allowed to work as a care professional.

We can provide all of your training for this and support you through the Care Certificate.

How long does it take to complete the Care Certificate?

You can complete the Care Certificate as quickly as you like.

Many people will complete it in a week or two. For others, it takes a bit longer, depending on how much time you have available.

Do I need to have a DBS check?

Yes, all our care staff need to have an enhanced police check (DBS) to be able to work with our clients.

Do I have to pay for my DBS check?

We do ask our care staff to pay for their DBS check initially, and then we refund it to you in full after you’ve worked for us for six months.

Do I need to have my own transport?

Typically, yes, you need to have your own transport to be able to travel between appointments at our clients’ homes.

While we love bicycling, there’s often some distance between our clients’ homes, which means you need a car or a motorbike/moped to get there on time.

Do I have to pay for my uniforms?

We provide all of our care professionals with super-smart branded Radfield tops to wear. You’ll need to provide plain black trousers and flat shoes to wear with it.

What happens if I encounter a difficult situation when I’m on my own with a client?

This is a very natural concern for many people new to care.

One thing you can be absolutely certain of is that when you’re a Radfield carer you’re never alone.

Our team culture built on strong family values is a key part of what makes us so special.

Everyone in the Radfield family shares the same ethos and values and we are there to support and empower you throughout your care career journey.

What happens if I encounter a difficult situation outside of the office hours?

There is always someone you can speak to anytime of the day as we have an out of hours service available, where you can get advice and guidance as to what to do in a difficult or worrying situation. You’re never on your own! Contact information will differ depending on which office.

Will I have supervisions and appraisals?

Absolutely. We have a really clear programme of regular supervisions and appraisals that all members of our teams receive to help them develop in their career.

Can I take any additional qualifications?

We encourage all our carers to undergo further qualifications in care and additional training courses to enhance their skills and knowledge.

What hours would I have to work?

Our clients need care throughout the day and night.

Carers can choose which hours that they wish to work, however our busiest times are mornings, lunch and evenings so it is important to be available at some of these times.

Will I have to work at the weekend?

Our clients still need care at the weekends so we ask carers to be available to work alternate weekends.

The amount of work that you wish to do at weekends is for you to agree with your manager.

Will I get paid more if I work at the weekend?

Yes, you’ll receive an enhancement for working at the weekend. You’ll also be paid time and a half for public and bank holidays.

I’ve read about a bonus scheme for care staff - what does it involve?

We have a bonus scheme for carers who are employed in some of our offices.

You will be provided with information about this and whether your office is part of the bonus scheme when you apply for a position working with us.

Would there ever be an opportunity to progress my career with Radfield?

Yes, there certainly would be.

Radfield empowers all of its staff to develop further.

We have many examples of staff who have joined the Radfield care team, have shown the right attributes and qualities and have progressed very quickly to a supervisory role, followed by an office role as a care coordinator, field coordinator through to a care manager, managing the branch and care teams.

Have a read of the many case studies on our website, with some great stories shared on career progression.