Free training for 84 carers offered by Northampton company

Unusually for home care businesses, Home Instead Senior Care sticks to a minimum time slot of an hour, meaning it needs ever more staff to offer that level of service to more people across Northamptonshire.

Owner Ray Warburton is offering free training to people who want to make a difference to older people.

He said: “We do a minimum of an hour and also keep the consistency.

“We want the client to look forward to care giver going in.”

The model is in contrast to some block providers, who have been criticised for offering slots as short as 15 minutes so they can cram in as many clients as possible.

Home Instead will speak to training candidates then train the suitable ones for free. They hope to take people on at a rate of seven a month.

More than enough work is available as potential clients have had to be turned away in order to maintain the model of adequate visits.

Mr Warburton said: “The need is massive.

“Lots of times we hear of people going into hospital and being immobile for weeks then coming out worse than they were.

“Putting in a little bit of care at home can help prevent that hospital stay in the first place and everyone benefits.”

Speaking about the need to train more staff, Mark Darnell of Home Instead in East Northants said, “The impact of a national shortage of carers is being felt locally and creating problems for the elderly in particular. In 2016 it’s time to care.

On completion of their initial training, caregivers will become eligible to receive the nationally recognised Care Certificate and can go on to further develop their skills with additional qualifications should they wish.

For example, Home Instead’s Alzheimer’s care training is accredited by City & Guilds.

For more information call Northampton 01604 211190.