Abacare welcomes one-off payment for Welsh social care workers
AN AWARD-WINNING Welsh care agency says it welcomes the recent (May, 2020) announcement from the Welsh government of a £500 one-off bonus payment for social care workers.
First Minister, Mark Drakeford announced the bonus as part of a move to show staff in the sector that their hard work is appreciated and recognised during the coronavirus pandemic.
Caroline Jones, Regional Manager at Abacare, which has offices in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) and provides care in the surrounding areas, said: “Since the coronavirus pandemic people have had their eyes opened to the exceptional, life-saving work social care workers carry out to protect the most vulnerable in our society and to see this recognised by the Welsh government in the form of a £500 bonus for social care workers is absolutely fantastic.
“We already know how amazing our care staff are and we reward them wherever we can, but at the moment we are facing huge PPE costs, so for the government to step in and thank everyone working on the frontline at the moment, is a huge help for all.
“We hope that the rest of the UK will follow suit. It is great to see carers getting the recognition they deserve. They have all also felt thoroughly appreciated during the Thursday night clap for carers and NHS workers and we feel this newfound appreciation will continue once the pandemic is over too.”
The Welsh government confirmed it was working with local authorities, which commission social care services in Wales, and with trade unions and Care Forum Wales, to finalise the small print.
It has also said that the payment will also apply to people on zero hours contracts.
The first minister has also called on the UK Government not to tax the extra payment, enabling social care workers to keep the full amount.
Due to the current pandemic, Abacare needs to boost its team numbers immediately, so it can continue to protect its service users and the NHS.
It is calling on anyone who is currently fit and healthy but unable to work, following business closures and restrictions, to sign up for a care role and to help in their own communities.
Abacare can offer full training and paid work immediately to anyone willing to become a professional home carer in Wales.
Caroline added: “Services like ours are alleviating additional pressures on the NHS and its resources, which we know are being tested to the limit at the moment. Our role is to maintain people’s health in the comfort of their own homes and to keep them safe.
“We’re urging anyone who needs work and feels they can help us to get in touch immediately. If you’ve previously had a customer-facing role, then you’ll have transferrable skills and we can give you full, professional training too. You will be doing invaluable work supporting those most in need, while, also, protecting the NHS. We have had hairdressers, dry liners and even chefs who are no longer able to work, transfer their skills to us.”
Abacare is urging anyone who needs full-time or part-time, flexible paid work and who has recently been made redundant or laid-off, or who is looking for work for other reasons, to get in touch for an interview.
Caroline continued: “We’ll do Skype or Facetime interviews, so you don’t have to leave home unnecessarily. If you are fit and well and want to make a real difference to people’s lives and wish to support the NHS during this crisis, we can train you quickly.
“Anyone interested should call the RCT office on 01443 742645. Our office team will be able to have a chat with you and they will be able to set up interviews via Skype or Facetime to talk you through everything. They can also find out more information about job vacancies at www.indeed.com/cmp/Abacare.
“We will be able to provide our free, full training on a fast-track basis to make sure everyone we take on is ready. This includes a company induction, first aid, information on dementia, health and safety, food safety, infection control, handling medication and moving and handling service users, with the opportunity to achieve Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) after the initial three months probationary period. The Government has also taken steps to ensure a quicker turnaround on DBS checks, so we can get people into work even quicker.
“New recruits are given free uniforms, access to national staff discount scheme for all major brands as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.”
Abacare operates a professional Care Management Team that is committed to providing high quality care to individuals in their own homes.
The large team of trained, specialist, care workers provide positive based outcomes and person-centred care to people throughout the UK.
Abacare’s core values, instilled into every staff member, include ‘make us proud’, ‘focus on our service users’ wellbeing’, ‘communicate, listen well and speak with respect’, ‘be passionate, honest, caring and considerate’, ‘recruit and develop the very best’ and ‘lead by example’.
It believes it offers inspiring work for inspirational people as well as a flexible and supported working environment.
Abacare is a member of the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Ceretas (formerly British Association of Domiciliary Care), The National Homecare Council and The Information Commissioners Office (Data Protection). It is also registered with the Care Inspectorate Wales.
For more information or to enquire about a position at Abacare, please call 01443 742645, visit www.abacare.org.uk or www.indeed.com/cmp/Abacare. Al
