Finding work quickly - care/support work

[Hellolampost]

I wonder if anyone has experience of working in this sector? I need work quickly.

There seem to be lots of care/support worker type roles advertised. I'm rejigging my CV a bit and will start applying.

I'm not familiar with the application/employment process. I notice one company saying it pays for shadow shifts.... Suggesting that not all do. Are you expected to shadow train - unpaid?

I wonder how quickly this work starts ... Does it in reality take weeks/months to take up references, clearance etc.

As a possible alternative to consider: warehouses are setting on temps for their peak period right now (roughly August to September.)

Thanks. Will have a look.

I started v quickly. Training mon - Friday. Shadowed Friday night and Saturday. Was working by the Monday

My shadowing shifts were paid, I did one shadowing a double care run and one a single care run. They put me on doubles for a while so I was always with someone and then I did some single runs too

Thanks YesQueen. That sounds encouraging. Did you get paid while training Mon to Fri?

I work in care, I visit clients in their own homes. It's hard but very rewarding, however, choose your employer carefully.

I would recommend Home Instead Senior Care if you have a branch near you.

Ex care home manager here - Care work isn't a job that's known for a fast recruitment process unfortunately. They have to obtain at least two references, and a DBS check, which if you've moved around a lot (different police forces) or name changed etc, could take a while. However, the DBS check could also come back in 24 hours! It really is a game of luck.

Re the shadow shifts being paid for, I guess you're looking at community work? Therefore I have no idea as all care homes I've worked in have paid all shadow shits.

Things to consider:
Do you have to pay for uniform?
Do you have to pay for DBS check? Could be about £45 I think.
If community based - how far apart are the clients houses? What petrol allowance do they pay (if any)?
Will they pay you whilst training? Either online or face to face
To do a DBS check, you'll need plenty of ID - marriage cert if name changed, full address history for at least five years (month and year), birth cert, driving licence or passport if you have one, and a bill or bank statement dated within the last three months (unless council tax bill which can be up to a year old).

I did care work in a dementia home.

Applied on a Wednesday with very little experience with the elderly but experience with special needs. Shadowed on four shifts (the next day, Thursday and then Sunday and repeat next week) while the DBS was checked out. It was more for their safety and to cover themselves than to teach me really. It was paid.

This is really useful thanks. DBS cleared currently and it was processed really quickly.

I've just done a weeks training unpaid just waiting on my DBS and references to come back then will do 3 days shadowing all unpaid, we paid for our own DBS £54 and we get one top free but have to pay for anymore we want and we get paid travel pay even if ur a walker.

Crikey, that's a lot of unpaid work. Interesting to hear.
(Hope you get cleared/working soon monty09)