First process in recruitment is a detailed job description that is the beginning of the vetting process to ensure only those suitably qualified apply. Once this has been created, we advertise using various methods including Social Media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter); Job sites such as Indeed, Total Jobs; Job Fairs and Word of mouth. We aim to attract candidates from the onset whose values and beliefs resonate with the organisation. This is in line with the Winterbourne View Hospital Review, which stated the need to consider values at the heart of social care and ensure values are displayed at every level of the workforce. Once this has been done, we vet the applicants for the most suitable candidates. A panel does this and once everyone is in agreement, we conduct a telephone interview. If they pass this stage, they are then invited for a formal interview and asked to bring relevant documentation such as right to work. We also provide staff to nursing homes and hospitals hence have an on-going recruitment process to attract the best possible staff due to expansion of the business. This allows us to select suitable staff to integrate into the various care roles.
Pacific Care Services operates on ethical grounds and invests back into the workforce thereby creating a great working environment for our staff. Staff will be well paid (in line with council/government standards) and supported. Every member of staff will be highly valued, from the carers/support workers in the field to Registered Manager. Promotions are on performance and merit. We will actively retain high quality staff by offering various incentives such as competitive pay, holidays, promotions, bonus schemes and so forth. Additionally we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our workforce to have a good work life balance. This also includes allocation of work nearer to people’s places of residence to minimise travel times and costs.
We will develop our work force by investing in their development. Each member of staff will have a personal development plan, which is in line with, or workforce plan and strategy. The personal development plan includes:
- Meeting minimum training standards of attaining the Skills for Care Care Certificate
- Undergoing an induction and shadowing when commencement of employment
- A programme of continuous professional development relevant to the role, setting and the needs of the people accessing home care and support services in line with the Regulated Qualifications Framework.
- Effective supervision and appraisal of all employees
- Setting minimum learning targets. We offer staff numerous courses and carer progression opportunities as the company expands
- The rewarding of achievement and career advancement opportunities. We are a family focused organisation hence view each member of staff as being part of the family. Some of the staff that started working as carers for the organisation are now working in the office or Care Co-ordinators.
- Development of learning sets, mentoring and peer support processes. We have an open door policy where staff are free to come and discuss anything that’s on their minds be it work related or personal. Their physical emotional and psychological well-being is essential to us. We even offer carer advice to students who work for us as they study.
- The offer to employees of a pathway to professional advancement and career development encouraging participation in the ‘I Care’ Ambassador scheme created and developed by Skills for Care.
We believe in investing locally hence recruit locally and use local based trades people for all services we need. We are also in the process of starting an apprenticeship programme for young people wanting to get into care. Most organisations are reluctant to provide them with hands on experience with some stating that they are too young to be looking after people, however, due to building lasting relationships with some our clients, we have managed to convince them otherwise. When in the field, these young people will not be on their own but with an experience senior carer. We are through our efforts creating a platform for young people who may have an interest in the care sector to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and also to plug the human resource gap that sometimes exists in Health and Social Care
