FAQ – Working in Home Care

The minimum age to work at AM2PM is 18, this due to the nature of the care industry and our joint responsibilities to the client.

Yes. At AM2PM we believe that it is essential for a live-in carer to have their own bedroom. Before a contract starts, one of our assessment team will visit the property to check that it is suitable.

It helps if you can drive as it means you can easily travel between clients. You’ll need a full UK driving licence, access to a car. You will receive a generous mileage allowance in return.

This can be discussed at interview, but weekends are just as important to our clients as weekdays. We offer a real flexibility in work hours compared to other care roles or care jobs and even guarantee set hours.

All new staff that we recruit at AM2PM receive face to face training, a full induction and shadow shifts prior to starting homecare work with us and our valued clients.

We provide full training and shadow shifts prior to starting your work, to ensure you have the knowledge and confidence to carry out your role. You will complete training whilst we make sure you are fully compliant to work with us (references, DBS checks and right to work checks). Then you will spend the first week in our offices before starting shadow shifts until you are fully competent and confident.

Working in homecare doesn’t require qualifications like a GCSE or degree, as we provide all the necessary training. However it would be preferable if you have some first aid skills and an NVQ in health and social care, level 2 and 3 or experience of caring for a friend or relative. A caring nature is essential. The only necessity is a driving licence and often access to a reliable car.

There are number of reasons why you should consider a career in homecare.
If caring is your nature, this is very rewarding – You can enjoy meeting new people. – You will learn new things and have a rewarding career.
– You can see the results of your hard work.
– Caring can offer flexible hours to fit in with your life.
– You can work near where you live.
– You receive ongoing training.

The responsibilities of a homecare worker include:
• Getting to know clients and their interests and needs.
• Sometimes helping with personal care like washing, using the toilet and dressing.
• Food preparation, feeding and giving out medication.
• Carrying out general tasks like housework, laundry and shopping.
– Following care plans and company policies.

The ability to work on your own initiative and prioritise your workload.
Good listening and communication skills.
The ability to understand and follow policies and procedures.

Working in homecare brings a lot of new experiences, these qualities will definitely help:
– Being a caring individual
– Loving your job
– Having good communication skills
– Patience
– Sense of responsibility

A home care job in Epsom with AM2PM requires more compassionate, caring and friendliness, rather than skills and experience, this is something we cannot teach you! You do not need care experience if you have the right personal skills and are passionate about bringing light into your clients lives.

1. You can make a massive difference to peoples lives.
2. The flexible hours can really benefit some homecarers.
3. On-going growth and professional development through our training.
4. The ability to specialise your skills and develop a career in care.

This is a necessity in almost all homecare companies, as the work is split across different peoples homes. Even for a live-in care role, you may be required to take the client shopping or to the doctors for example.

This is more than a job, it makes a daily difference to someone else’s life, so working in home care is rewarding. Home care jobs often come with a lot of local travel, so a driving licence is essential. But you will get a chance to work with different people and have flexible working hours. AM2PM provide guaranteed hours unlike many other providers.

We must be capable of patience and have a good sense of humour. You should be energetic and able to assist your clients as needed.

Domiciliary care, often referred to home care in the UK is basically for the people who want to stay at home and receive the treatment they need, that would otherwise require hospitalisation or to move into a residential care home. Homecare is now widespread in the UK and beneficial to people of all ages and of all requirements. At AM2PM we support live-in care, visiting homecare, mental health homecare, dementia homecare, end of life care, palliative care and complex care.

AM2PM support trainee homecare workers as well as experienced and senior home care workers. But the key skill at all levels, regardless of care experience is passion and compassion. To work in the care industry, you will be helping people on a daily basis regardless of their background, age or issues they may face.

This is another name used for home carer or support worker. The role of a domiciliary care worker really depends on the requirements of the client and their needs, which will sometimes vary on each visit.
As a domiciliary care worker you may be visiting people in their own homes to assist them in household tasks, personal care and occasionally accompanying the client on trips or visits for example to the doctor or shops.
Sometimes homecarers will provide a full range of personal care too, from assisting with washing and dressing in the morning, to aiding with toileting during the day.

Summed up by our favourite quote received from one of our homecarers “I love seeing a smile on their faces when I walk in the door.”