A Newtown-based care provider is concerned that many elderly and vulnerable people are being cared for by untrained staff after it was revealed experts fear 500,000 inexperienced carers are advertising their services online.
Abacare says its service users are in safe hands with its fully trained carers and that anyone seeking care for themselves or a loved one should always use a licensed care company.
Neil Griffiths (pictured), Regional Manager at Abacare, which provides care across the Newtown area, said: “It is worrying to read that many unlicensed and unskilled people are caring for the elderly and vulnerable and this gives a bad name to the care industry and those of us who are fully invested in full training and qualifications for carers.
“We would recommend anyone in need of care approach a proper, licensed care company, such as ourselves.
"While people can apply for a care worker position with us without having any previous experience, we ensure they are given a comprehensive training schedule, which includes a company induction, dementia awareness, enablement, first aid, health and safety, food safety, infection control, medication, person-centred care and moving and handling service user training.
“Our training rooms are fully equipped so a carer can see a typical service user environment and familiarise themselves with how things work.
“Our new carers take on five full days of training and go on to work shadow shifts alongside our most experienced carers. Only when a supervisor feels both parties are confident that the care work can be carried out to an excellent level, will the new carer be signed off and able to work on their own with service users.”
As well as full training, new Abacare recruits are also offered the opportunity to achieve Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) after the initial three months’ probationary period.
Neil added: “We’re proud that our carers are so highly trained as it ensures a consistent delivery of care and improved standards and because of the training and opportunities for career advancement that are available, our carers feel supported in their jobs too.”
For more information about job with Abacare, call 01248 677 919 or visit www.abacare.org.uk.
