Are you a Live-In Carer? Great start! Do you want work? Even better! Whether you have a wealth of experience or are just starting your career, there are many things you can do to help increase your chances of obtaining jobs through a Live-In Care Agency.
I’m Jess, and my job as Bookings Manager at Access Care is to match our wonderful Living in Carers to our clients, and I have learned many ways in which you can help us get you a job.
With a range of clients requiring different levels of care, Live-In Care Agencies will not only focus on a match of experience of a certain condition, but also interests and personality.
Here are my top tips from the point of registration to securing a job with a Live-In Care agency.
First Impressions
How you present yourself during the registration process speaks volumes to people meeting you for the first time, and this will stay with them. With many introductions being made on Zoom, it’s hugely important to give the right impression in the small frame you are given. Wear something comfortable but smart, make sure you are sat up right in good lighting, and stay focused on the content of the meeting. And smile!
Maintain Those Impressions
Now that you’ve wowed us in your registration process, it’s time to keep that momentum. We love it when domiciliary carers show their personality on phone calls and emails, giving us a sense of who they are. This gives us a great starting point when presenting you to clients - feedback about our dealings with you will go a long way coming from the agency directly.
Playing Your Part
Like any ‘job interview’, you have got to be proactive and sell yourself! So, when you see a job you like, make sure you tell us why you would be perfect. Details about previous clients with the same condition, or a shared hobby you have ALWAYS read the details of your booking before you arrive. Remember your client’s name! Pay attention during the changeover- you might be experienced but won’t know the ins and outs and lack of focus is always NOTICED Read and follow any instructions given by the client TO THE LETTER- got a question? Ask them! noticed are all really helpful when we are talking about you to the client.
Keep Us Updated
One thing that will make you memorable is helping us help you - keep us up to date with your availability, whether you are suddenly available or suddenly not, update us with your levels of experience if you have learned a new skill, and respond to our emails when we are contacting you directly. Many Live-In Care agencies have a lot of carers registered with them, so remember we can’t always keep in touch with all of you at once so you taking the lead will make our day!
Be Responsive
One of the biggest challenges I face when finding home carers work is that they will call me one day and say the are looking for work, and by the next day they are not answering their phone or emails! If you are actively looking for work, it is so important that you are ready to answer calls and emails. We often get emergency bookings that need a quick response and it is so disappointing when care workers miss out because they responded too late.
TOP TIP
Set up notifications on your phone to let you know when you’ve received a new email- and if you are not likely to listen to your voicemail change your message to indicate the caller should text you instead.
Meet The Client’s Wishes And Go The Extra Mile
So you’ve got a Live-In Care job with the agency! Great! The next bit is simple, let me break it down!
ALWAYS read the details of your booking before you arrive.
Remember your client’s name!
Pay attention during the changeover- you might be experienced but won’t know the ins and outs and lack of focus is always NOTICED
Read and follow any instructions given by the client TO THE LETTER - got a question? Ask them!
I hope this helps you prepare for your next search for work - the best feeling is calling a carer to tell them they have a job!
Best wishes
Jess
Bookings Manager