Campaign to attract men to care sector launched in south Devon
CARERS at a leading south Devon care provider want to challenge the stereotype that care work is more suited to women and are urging men to consider joining the industry (October 2020).
The team at Guardian Homecare, which looks after people at home in Exeter, says men are urgently needed in the sector.
Manager, Catherine Porter says: “I believe that lots of kind and caring men may overlook working in care when they seek a job because they believe it’s an industry for women only.
“But our male carers say it is an extremely fulfilling. It enables them to make a real difference in their communities. The roles that male carers can take on are exactly the same as females, all it takes is a person that is kind, caring and committed, gender doesn’t matter.
“I would urge any men out there who have previously thought about working in care to reconsider, as it really is a job for life. By having more male carers for our male service users, we’re also helping to prevent many from being very lonely. Loneliness is a ‘silent epidemic’ among men in Britain, with more than one in three feeling lonely at least once a week according to the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.”
Historically care has been a female dominated sector, but the team at Guardian Homecare want to raise awareness of the need for male carers in south Devon and attract more men into the industry.
Field Care Supervisor at Guardian Homecare, Shibu Jacob, has worked in the industry for seven years. He says: “I enjoy having contact with our service users, assessing their needs and working with the team to deliver the highest levels of care. I also like helping my colleagues, so they can perform to the very best of their abilities in the field.
“We’re a tight knit team and we look after each other and give each other lots of support when needed. In my role, organisational, communication and interpersonal skills are a must.
“It’s a very rewarding position and care is a good, secure career that can last a lifetime. I would recommend it to anyone who is kind, caring, honest and reliable.”
According to Government statistics, just 16% of carers across the sector are male.
Deputy Manager, Jason Young, has been with the Guardian team for two years. He says: “I get a great deal of satisfaction from keeping my carers happy, motivated and committed to their roles, and the high levels of care we provide. Giving our service users the very best person-centred care that we can deliver is also essential and it gives me immense job satisfaction to help provide this. To do my job you need to be confident, organised and team-minded.”
Jason has a Level 3 NVQ in care and is working towards a Level 5 through on the job training and opportunities provided by the company.
Many of the people receiving care into their old age are men and when it comes to personal care in particular, many prefer this to be done by another male rather than a female.
Catherine says: “The care industry has always been female dominated but we want to encourage men to break the stereotype and join us.
“If anyone, whatever their gender, would like to join our team, then we have a variety of positions available across south Devon in elderly care, adult and complex care and reablement care.
“We provide new recruits a five-day training induction and a 12-week onboarding programme. We also offer flexible working hours, both full and part-time, as well as competitive wages, and a generous holiday allocation.
“It is a great opportunity for people to achieve a recognised qualification. They’ll also be able to have access to exclusive discounts online and in-store from retailers including Tesco, Primark and Argos, as well as deals on holidays and electrical goods.
“Being reliable is key to this role as people will be looking after the needs of vulnerable adults. Applicants also need to be honest, even tempered and caring and must enjoy making a positive difference to people’s lives. Being patient, able to cope with change and having the ability to display empathy and warmth are also essential.
“Working in care is an extremely fulfilling job. Men can really help make a difference in their communities by caring for the elderly, those with dementia and other life-limiting illnesses.”
Anyone wishing to find out more about Guardian Homecare, should call 01803 853198 or visit https://www.facebook.com/GuardianHomecareUK/jobs/.
