Carers Archives - Altogether Care

Start a Career Where Your Work is Appreciated

Posted on 5 May 20225 May 2022 by Access Performance

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people came to appreciate how important key workers are to our society. Emergency services, health and care workers and the armed forces were all there to help when the nation needed it most.

Many organisations are keen to show their appreciation for key workers and have joined the Blue Light Card scheme to offer discounts on shopping, meals out and attractions.

One of the perks of a career with Altogether Care is that you qualify for a Blue Light Card. This gives you access to over 15,000 discounts, both locally and online.

With your card you can enjoy every day discounts when you: go to the cinema, eat out at numerous participating restaurants, buy a mobile phone, shop from famous brands, book a holiday, go to a theme park or just queue up for your coffee. The list of participating companies reads like Who’s Who of famous retail and leisure brands.

Work With People Who Enjoy What They Do

Blue Light Card discounts come on top of many other advantages of working for Altogether Care. First of all, we’re a happy crew. You’ll get to work every day with a team of people who enjoy what they do and take great pride in their work. That has to be better than being surrounded by long faces waiting for the hands of the clock to tick round.

The clients you work with are also an incredible group of people. They all have a story to tell and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing what a difference you make to their lives every day.

Your work in the care sector will be appreciated in so many ways. The discounts offered through the Blue Light Card is just one of them.

If you’d like to have a discussion to find out more about working in the care sector, contact Altogether Care on 01305 230488 or email careers@altogethercare.co.uk, or check out our current vacancies.

Care Staff: Among the Most Valuable Employees in the Country

Posted on 31 October 2019 by dukadmin

The value of somebody’s work can’t always be measured in money. A better measure might be the positive impact people have on society and the lives of others. And if that’s the case, care staff must come out pretty near the top of the list.

Day-in, day-out we see just how much the work of our care teams mean to the people we care for. It isn’t just the care tasks they perform that help people cope a little better and get more enjoyment from life, it’s also the way they work – bringing positive interactions to people’s lives, making so much difference to wellbeing and health.

Is Your Job Worthwhile?

Care work isn’t easy, but it’s rarely dull and always rewarding. Let’s be honest, how many people can truly say that the work they do is worthwhile and making a difference? For everyone working in care, that’s the daily reality. The rewards are about much more than money.

We understand the value of the work that our people do. So, we try to give back as much as we can with a competitive salary, flexible working hours and professional development. Everyone is supported to grow their skills and their career.

Altogether Care staff enjoy additional benefits that not all care companies offer, including staff discounts, a generous mileage allowance, childcare vouchers, free mobile insurance and free Nero coffee.

Family Values

Altogether Care is a family-run business and we aim to make our employees feel part of a wider family. We have shared values and support each other to do the best job possible for our clients. And that’s what Altogether Care staff say is one of their favourite things about working at Altogether Care – the family atmosphere among all the staff and residents.

So, if you’re looking for more from your job than a pay packet, or if you’re in a care occupation and feeling under-appreciated, we’d love to talk to you. We currently have vacancies in our care homes in Dorset and our growing care at home teams in Dorset, South Somerset and Hampshire. For more information, contact us today by calling 01305 206140.

What Are Your Care Options if You Want to Stay in Your Own Home?

Posted on 25 October 2019 by dukadmin

As you get older it’s likely that you’ll need some kind of care or assistance with everyday life. This might be long-term or for a brief period to help you recover from illness or a fall. For many people it’s important to remain living in their own home for as long as possible while they receive the care they need.

Home, or domiciliary care can be less expensive than residential care. It also means you can stay in familiar surroundings and remain connected to friends, family and social activities.

There are many options available for the care you can receive in your own home. These range from simple tasks such as picking up prescriptions, shopping and preparing meals, through to nursing care and medication. Some people want help with getting out of bed, washing and dressing and some just want help getting out of the house to meet friends.

Visits from your carer could be a few times a week, once a day or several times a day depending on your needs. The Care at Home service offered by Altogether Care is built entirely around the help you need.

24/7 Care

It’s also possible to arrange around the clock care in your own home by opting for live-in care.

This can be particularly helpful in the case of Alzheimer’s and dementia care, where memory becomes an issue and having a familiar carer on hand can be helpful. But many people just like the reassurance and value the friendship and personal bond they form with a live-in carer.

Live-in care helps people maintain a degree of independence. Staying in familiar surroundings can be particularly important for the wellbeing of some people. Keeping pets, for example, is often important and not usually possible in residential care. The live-in carer can make sure that both pet and owner are well looked after.

Depending on your needs and circumstances, residential care could still be your best option. But it’s far from your only choice if staying in your own home is important.

How Can You Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing in Later Life?

Posted on 9 October 2019 by dukadmin

World Mental Health Day on October 10th is designed to promote greater awareness of issues around mental health and to help remove the stigma that can surround it.

Mental health problems are more common than many people imagine, particularly in later life. The Mental Health Foundation estimates that 22% of men and 28% of women over 65 suffer from depression. So, what are the most important factors in maintaining good mental health in later life?

Relationships

Good personal relationships are well known to promote better mental health. All normal human interactions affect the levels of chemicals such as serotonin and oxytocin.

Serotonin is important for general mental wellbeing as it helps the brain to function normally. Oxytocin is sometimes called the ‘love hormone’ as it affects our ability to form personal relationships. Human interactions help to boost the levels of these healthy chemicals, which is partly why isolation and loneliness can be so harmful to mental wellbeing.

Participation in Meaningful Activities

Keeping active, doing something purposeful and interacting with other people have also been proven to help maintain good mental health. This won’t surprise anybody; but it can be a challenge to find the right types of activities that are accessible in later life. You have to wonder how much health spending could be saved by investing in more community activities for older people.

Physical Health

Physical health and mental health are closely linked. A good diet helps to boost the levels of healthy chemicals in the body and also provides the energy to take part in activities. Regular exercise is also important, whether that’s walking, gardening or a few gentle stretches with friends during the day.

Care providers have a vital role to play in promoting better mental health in older people. We need to work closely with health services and ensure we support people in our care with the right nutrition and activities. We’re also aware that we may be the first to notice the signs of mental health problems – so we need to make sure our people are trained in what to look for and what to do.

At Altogether Care, resident’s health and wellbeing are at the focus of what we do. If you would like to find out more about either our care homes, care at home or our live-in care services please get in touch.

A Better Way to Recruit Staff in Dorset, South Somerset and Hampshire

Posted on 18 July 2019 by dukadmin

Unfilled job vacancies are at unprecedented levels in the UK. According the Office of National Statistics there are 2.9 vacancies for every 100 jobs. The average time taken to fill posts is also growing.

Among the sectors suffering most are hotels, food service businesses and health and social care. Around Dorset, South Somerset and Hampshire we are certainly seeing some of this pressure.

There’s a real challenge for organisations, from hotels and restaurants, to schools, surgeries and care providers to find not just people, but the right people. The question is, where to turn for help?

One option is the recruitment agencies who, to be honest, are struggling just as much as anyone to find good candidates.

Another option is to work with a more specialist expert in this field, that has over 30 years’ experience recruiting its own staff in roles as diverse as chefs, cleaners, handymen, admin, care and nursing. We recently launched Altogether Connect to share our recruitment expertise with other organisations in Dorset, South Somerset and Hampshire, looking specifically for these types of staff that can be especially hard to find as the competition for staff intensifies.

We seem to have an eye for spotting talented people who are ready to build a career with an organisation. We must be doing something right because many of our own staff have been with us for over ten years. The process starts with attracting and identifying the right people in the first place, with the skills, values and behaviours needed to be a productive and valued colleague.

As an employer and a care business, we also have first-hand experience of how to recruit these people and what they are looking for, which gives us a unique insight that other recruiters may lack.

Given our background, we specialise in recruiting care staff, nursing, chefs, handymen, catering staff and cleaners (domestic and commercial). And we help find people to fill these roles in restaurants, hotels, schools, doctors’ surgeries and social care providers. We also help individuals find trusted people to provide these services in their own homes.

So, if finding good quality staff in and around Dorset, Somerset or Hampshire is one of your biggest headaches give Altogether Connect a try. Find out more and enquire here.

Care Staff Need Some TLC Too

Posted on 10 June 2019 by dukadmin

National Carers Week 2019 runs this week, from 10^th-16^th June. The week quite rightly draws attention to the valuable work carried out by unpaid carers day in, day out, right across the country. The week also encourages carers to become better connected and mutually supportive.

The week brings the value of all types of care work into focus. In our field of elderly care, our teams help people continue to live independently in their own homes and enjoy safe and fulfilling retirement living. They are also there for the more challenging times such as delivering nursing care for people with complex health issues, helping people with dementia and ultimately helping them to experience a dignified and caring end to their life.

It’s not an easy job. And the rewards are definitely not financial ones. But it’s rewarding, nonetheless.

Care at home staff have the additional pressures of spending days travelling from one care user’s home to another. It can be busy but rewarding which is why we extend a warm welcome to any of our staff who need to call in at one of our centres for a refresh and refuel.

There’s a growing awareness of the importance of good mental health for all of us. The role played by the workplace and good employer support in promoting mental wellbeing is vital. It’s essential that in focusing on delivering the best possible care to our clients we never overlook the need to take care of our people.

Their work is all about caring for other people. To do this effectively they also have to take care of themselves. We work hard to create a supportive environment where people feel safe to speak up if they’re experiencing stress or anxiety, whether in their work or home life.

We believe that to deliver the best standards of care you need care staff who are happy, well-motivated and well looked after, which is the environment we always strive to maintain.

Care at Home Carers: Come into a Branch for a Refuel

Posted on 27 March 2019 by dukadmin

All of our carers are always welcome to pop into any of our Care at Home offices for a refuel.

Take a break from a busy day at work and help yourself to complimentary refreshments in any of our branches.

We always have a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks available for you to enjoy!

Here are a few of our carers enjoying refreshments at our Wareham branch.

Employee Awards – March 2019

Posted on 20 March 2019 by dukadmin

We are delighted to reveal the latest Employee Awards that have been presented to some of our Care at Home carers to celebrate their long service and impressive work at Altogether Care.

We would like to congratulate…

Caitlin Hughes

Congratulations to Caitlin at our Care at Home office in Yeovil for achieving a Long Term Service Award for being with us for five years.

She is an outstanding manager who covers the Somerset area from our Yeovil Branch. She has also recently received an ‘outstanding in care’ from CQC.

Kellie Gumbrill

Congratulations to Kellie at our Care at Home branch in Beaminster for achieving a Long Term Service Award to celebrate five years of working with us.

Kellie co-ordinates over 600 hours weekly, covering Beaminster, Bridport and Lyme Regis areas.

Slawek Barylak

Congratulations to Slawek for being awarded Carer of the Month from our Wareham Care at Home office.

Slawek has worked with the company for over nine years, covering the Swanage areas. He has been awarded this due to consistent feedback from clients regarding his kindness and caring approach that he shows to them.

Once again, well done to all our award winners and thank you for your amazing work!

Respite care for you and your carer

Posted on 8 June 2016 by dukadmin

Respite care is for people who need to stay in a care home temporarily. It might be because you need extra care for a period of time or to give your regular carer a break from their responsibilities.

It’s different from residential or nursing care, which is for people who need a more permanent arrangement, or require more in depth nursing care.

Respite – or replacement care as it’s sometimes known – might be planned or used to help you through a difficult time.

For instance, if you’re recovering from an injury or illness and it’s not safe for you to stay at home, a short stay in a care home might be the answer. You’ll get the specialist, around-the-clock care you need whilst you recover, and can then move back home when you feel ready.

Or if you’ve recently become disabled, you might need temporary support while you adjust to your new lifestyle. It would also provide some time away from your home while special adaptations and aids are fitted.

It can also be an opportunity to experience a home. So that should you need residential care in the future it can help you choose somewhere you feel comfortable, adjust to life in care and get to know the staff.

Caring for someone – whether it’s a family member or loved one – is a big responsibility and can be stressful. So taking a break is important for you and the person caring for. Respite care allows you to go on holiday, catch up on sleep or simply have some time alone with peace of mind that your loved one is being well looked after.

Which home you choose for respite care will depend on the person’s needs. For instance, you may need somewhere that provides specialist nursing or dementia care.

Some residential homes provide places for people who need to stay temporarily, while others are specialist respite facilities. They’re set up to provide a balance between independent living and professional care; offering activities and events to give residents an enjoyable and refreshing break.

If you are considering respite care for a loved one, Altogether Care provide a range of services to cater for individual needs, from care at home services to care homes such as Steepleton Manor. A stay at Steepleton Manor provides an individual with the finest accommodation, alongside professional care and a wealth of activities to ensure it is an enjoyable break.

To find out more about how Altogether Care can help you and your loved one you can visit the website or contact us directly on 01305 300 161.

Why choose Altogether Care?

Posted on 16 March 2016 by dukadmin

As they say, you work for the majority of your life and you are at your work more than you are at home. So it is vitally important to do a job that you love and are passionate about for an employer who appreciates what you do for them.

A career in care is hugely satisfying, having the ability to make a positive difference to an individual and their families’ life. Positions in care offer varied work and with everyday being different it gives you the chance to develop your skills and knowledge further. Working so closely with individuals receiving care gives you the opportunity to develop rewarding relationships whilst providing the company many crave.

Altogether Care, are an independent family owned business that has been running for over 30 years. We have strong family values which are embedded within all of our Care Homes and Care at Home services. But what are the advantages of choosing us?

We aim to be the employer of choice; being caring, honest, open, involving, creative and ethical. We recognise that every member of our staff are our biggest asset and are therefore always striving to develop rewards and benefit initiatives to demonstrate this. Our benefits include a Government recognised pension, training and development programme, mileage allowance plus more.

Altogether Care has recently introduced a staff benefit scheme which includes: retail discount vouchers, child care vouchers, discounted holidays and travel insurance, various leisure and restaurant vouchers, a hospital plan and much more.

We are committed to providing the very best in terms of quality care, the same we would want for our own family, ensuring our residents are treated as individuals and with respect and dignity.

If you’d like to find out more on pursuing a career in care with Altogether Care please get in touch.

See what some of our staff have to say about working for us:

Ami (Field Care Supervisor, Care at Home, Bournemouth)

I love my job with Altogether Care because I am able to interact with both carers and clients whilst developing my supervisory skills. Working as a Field Care Supervisor has been a big confidence booster, as I have to communicate with a wide range of people; health and social care professionals, family members and fellow colleagues. I am seen as the ‘face’ of Care at Home (Bournemouth) and I get great job satisfaction dealing successfully with any staff or client queries or concerns.

I particularly enjoy completing the initial assessment with a new client as you really get to know them and their past history – it’s both rewarding and fascinating.

Altogether Care has opened up a lot of opportunities for me. I have completed the Level 5 in Health & Social Care & have attended various training courses to build my portfolio.

Above all, probably the best aspect of my job is that I am not just sitting in an office. I am out there, in the ‘field of care’ ensuring that our carers are delivering a consistently high standard of care to our service users, something which really enhances their comfort and day to day standard of living. It’s a great reason to get up in the morning!

Tag: Carers