Looking for a new challenge? A career in care could offer more than you think.

As a profession, caring suffers from the unwarranted reputation that it’s an undervalued job with few opportunities for progression. To those receiving care, the opposite is true, carers can mean the difference between people being able to stay in their own home as opposed to going into residential care or hospital. Here, leading care company, ECL addresses some of the common misconceptions:

1. There are few opportunities for career progression  

ECL promotes from within as much as possible, so there are plenty of opportunities for career development. If you have the passion, they’ll help you fast-track your career. Employees have a personal development plan with agreed yearly objectives and training goals. Annual bonuses are available if these objectives are met or exceeded.

2. You don’t get paid for your travel time between visits

This varies depending on the company but in addition to paying 45p per mile, ECL also pays staff for waiting time and time between visits.

3. Carers don’t get many benefits

In addition to great hourly rates including Bank Holiday double pay, ECL carers benefit from generous leave entitlements, annual salary reviews, extensive training opportunities, a company pension, a Blue Light card, a comprehensive health and wellbeing scheme, and a refer-a-friend bonus scheme.

4. You need health and social care experience and a qualification

Not true! Anyone who is a caring, compassionate person can be a carer. Community Care Assistant Harry is proof of this, watch his story: https://youtu.be/Ar_5uksNfXI

A carer’s view:

ECL carers make a positive difference by enabling people to live independently again. Hear from some of our carers why a career with ECL appealed to them:

Kim’s story  https://youtu.be/YpJgZYQAcMk

With a long and varied career in health and social care, Kim interviewed for a care assistant role but recognising her experience, the interviewer suggested she apply for a field care supervisor role instead. She did, and the rest is history!

Kim said: “I am 64 and this job fits me perfectly. It’s great to have found an organisation which understands the huge benefits that come with employing experienced, mature people like me. ECL is committed to making sure that everyone, customer or colleague has the best possible experience.”

Godwin’s story  https://www.ecl.org/media-area/blog/meet-godwin

Godwin was doing an unrewarding job in retail before joining ECL. Feeling overworked and underappreciated, he decided to make a move into care. One year on he is flourishing as an ECL Community Care Assistant and has learnt a range of new skills.

Godwin said: “This is entirely different to anything I’ve done before. Meeting so many interesting people and seeing the progress they make week-on-week is so rewarding. ECL is brilliant to work for, the wages are good, the support available is excellent. Plus there are many options for career progression if I want to pursue them. I’ve grown to feel confident in my abilities and comfortable with my team – I’m so glad I decided to bite the bullet and change career. I haven’t looked back since!”

ECL delivers therapy-led reablement throughout the London Boroughs of Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Essex, and South East England supporting adults to live independently within their own homes following a spell of ill health or a hospital stay. If you are looking for a fulfilling job with guaranteed hours, good rates of pay and a good work/life balance then a career in care could be the answer!

Explore a fulfilling career in care with ECL today! Visit www.ecl.org/careers to learn more.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.