Care recruiter awarded Rose of Northamptonshire as staff work ‘24/7’ during pandemic

The managing director also made sure her neighbours were cared for and supported
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A Northampton care recruitment business has been awarded a Rose of Northamptonshire as staff worked ‘24/7’ throughout the pandemic to ensure care providers were supplied with carers.

Elite Care Recruitment, based in Derngate Mews, sources temporary staff (also known as locums) for care providers - the demand for which rose significantly as the pandemic hit last year.

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The family-run business, which has around five office-based members of staff, has been operating in the town for 13 years and mainly supports elderly care homes.

Valerie Bowes (left) and the recruitment staff (right).Valerie Bowes (left) and the recruitment staff (right).
Valerie Bowes (left) and the recruitment staff (right).

In March 2020, when Covid-19 cases began to rise dramatically, there was a larger than usual need for locums as other staff may have been self-isolating or shielding.

The recruitment company was rushed off its feet sourcing care givers, but also making sure their workers were educated about PPE and had the correct Covid training.

Now the team has been awarded for its efforts during the pandemic and has received a Rose of Northamptonshire award, which celebrates individuals and organisations that have gone above and beyond.

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Valerie Bowes, managing director of the company, said: “We have an on-call system and we kept it on 24/7 during the first wave.

The company's Rose of Northamptonshire award proudly on display.The company's Rose of Northamptonshire award proudly on display.
The company's Rose of Northamptonshire award proudly on display.

“Staff took phones home so we could be reached at any time and we didn’t switch off at all.

“We had to get a set up going for training and we provided the locums with as much support as we could.

“Locums could only be placed in one home because of Covid restrictions so we also had to deal with the practicalities of that too.

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“Throughout it all we made sure we we were there for our clients and locums and to make sure they were protected.”

During the pandemic, the company had anywhere between 30 to 130 locums working full-time, part-time or the days they chose, but Valerie is proud to say none of their workers caught the virus.

As well as keeping the company going and providing vital care support, Valerie also made sure older and vulnerable people neighbours were supported in terms of food shopping and prescription collections.

Due to Valerie’s and her staff’s hard work, one of the company’s care provider clients nominated the business for a Rose of Northamptonshire award to thank them for continuing to provide staff.

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Valerie added: “It’s been a difficult year as we also moved office from Milton Malsor to a town centre location, so to be recognised is wonderful.

“We have been so busy so we didn’t think a client would ever nominate us, especially as we are just doing our job at the end of the day.

“We are just trying to help the clients we have and they obviously appreciate what we have been doing, which makes it all worthwhile.

“We did what we did and we are glad that we are out the other end and looking forward now.”

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Looking to the future, the company is hoping care restrictions will begin to ease so they can get more locums back into support care homes. They are also hoping to recruit additional locums.

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