Poor jobs response despite high unemployment

Mary Becket, Director Beechtree Totalcare In Home Care Agency KentWith Health Secretary Andrew Lansley reporting that the number of people in Britain aged over 85 has almost trebled in the past 25 years and is set to double within the next 20 years, a job in the care industry is future proofed.

That is the opinion of Mary Becket a director of Margate based Beechtree Total Care which is running a recruitment campaign to join the award-winning homecare provider but is disappointed at the response so far, despite high levels of unemployment in the area.

Beechtree Total Care provides support to people of all ages in their own homes across Thanet and Sandwich, specialising in dementia and complex needs. It relies on recruiting the right employees to deliver the high standards of service that their clients expect and is searching for people who have a caring nature. It is not necessary to have experience as training will be given.

Mary said: “Our aim is to help our clients stay independent in their own homes by assisting with a full range of practical tasks as well as companion services. We have a very loyal workforce, with a number having been with us for years, but we now need to add to our team.

“A lot of our time and energy is now going into finding the right people to work in this field. In previous recessions we have found interest in a career in caring has risen and we are at a loss to explain why it should be different this time round. The caring profession offers huge rewards from a job satisfaction point of view, as well as being a growth area.

“Our jobs would suit a ‘returner’ to the workplace, someone who has taken care of their own family but now has time on their hands and would like to return to work. There’s no upper age limit, indeed it can be a great advantage in caring to bring real-life experience to the role!”

Anyone interested can find out more online or by phoning 01843 292925.

June 2011