Our Care Staff
Who are our carers?
We are very proud of our carers. Many of them have been with Sunshine Care since the start. We have a strong team of regular and highly experienced live-in care staff. They come from a variety of backgrounds and range in age from 18 to 70. We have both male and female carers, many whom have their own transport and are able to visit elderly people in their homes.
Our continuous training policy ensures that we deliver the highest quality of care possible.
Our team is always up to date with the latest health and safety issues such as lifting and food hygiene.
To find out more, see the list of Carers’ Frequently Asked Questions
I have little or no care experience. Could I be a successful carer?
Caring can a very satisfying vocation. Many carers gain great satisfaction and enjoyment from helping others, and take the physical and emotional demands of the job in their stride. To be a successful carer you’ll need a degree of maturity and to feel a passion for the task. You will also need the presence of mind to cope with changing and sometimes demanding situations, to be dependable and with plenty of common sense.
Working in care is very demanding. You must be prepared to put your social life on hold during your assignments. You should be a reasonable cook, and you must be happy to do housework and laundry, and to help keep our care home clean and tidy. A part of your duties will be helping people to wash, dress, bathe and use the toilet.
Most of our clients are elderly and many are confused or in poor health. A successful carer must be capable of patience and good humour at all times. You are dealing with vulnerable human beings, and must therefore be a genuinely compassionate person.
There is no upper age limit to becoming a Sunshine Care nurse or carer, but you need to be energetic and fit enough to help your clients get out of a bath, for example, or strong enough to push them around in a wheelchair. At all times, for your own and your client’s protection, you will need to follow our strict guidelines for manual handling.
Inexperienced carers will initially be allocated ‘light care’ or companionship/ housekeeping roles. We will be happy to organize and provide further training for staff wishing to upgrade their skills and increase their earning potential.
You must understand and speak English to a high standard.
Will I have enough work?
Sunshine Care has hundreds of clients. We are almost certainly able to offer you as much work as you would like.
Carers aged over 25 and with a driver’s licence are particularly sought after. A driving licence is obviously essential if you are hoping to find domiciliary care work.
Why do I need a driving licence?
Many of our live-in care clients own their own cars. They may, for example, ask you to drive them to visit friends. Consequently, we have less work for carers who cannot drive. If you are from overseas you may be able to use your own driving licence for a year after entry into the UK, but it will be worthwhile purchasing an international driving licence for use in this country.
Domiciliary care workers must have their own transport and business car insurance. You may have ten clients to visit in a day, and you’ll need to make your rounds quickly. Using public transport would not be a viable option.
How often will I work?
With live-in care you can choose a pattern of work that best suits you. Some staff prefer plenty of time off between assignments, whereas others need only a week. Some carers work just a few weeks each year, but they return to us time and time again for an enjoyable, worthwhile and remunerative ‘working holiday’.
We have new assignments starting on every day of the week (usually ending on the same day two weeks later) and we aim to offer you work that coincides with your other commitments. You would be required to work at least every other weekend. Domiciliary care workers usually work between the hours of 7am and 10pm.
Where will I work as a Live-in Carer?
Most of our live-in care clients live in the south west of England. You are likely to be working in some of the most beautiful places the UK has to offer.
For regular work and the greatest choice of assignments you should be prepared to travel.
How old must I be?
To be a domiciliary care worker the law requires you to be above 18 years of age.
However, Sunshine Care live-in clients often prefer more mature carers who have experience managing a home. Consequently, we rarely employ people under the age of 21. In practice, carers aged over 25 are preferred – clients’ cars are often not insured for drivers under this age. We have no upper age limit, though older carers must be fit enough to help frail and disabled people with their mobility and weight transference.
Do I need to have a police check?
Healthcare workers in the UK must obtain a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure and Protection of Vulnerable Adults check before they are allowed by law to work in the health care sector. You can obtain both by completing a form that we will give you.
If you have lived abroad you should also obtain a police check from that country.
Where will I live when not on assignment?
If you are a live-in carer you must have somewhere to stay when you are not working. You may have friends or family with whom you stay between assignments.
The websites http://www.visitbritain.com/, http://www.visitus.co.uk/, and http://www.britainexpress.com/ will give information on available local accommodation, including bed and breakfast, hotels and hostels.
Do I need a bank account?
Live-in carers are normally paid weekly by BACS, so you will need to have a UK bank account.
Domiciliary carers will be paid fortnightly by BACS and will also need a bank account.
What daily rate will be paid to live-in workers?
The daily rate for live-in care personal care workers is currently between £60 and £80.
What will I be expected to do while on a Live-in Care assignment?
Personal care needs will vary from client to client, and you will be briefed about a particular client’s needs before you begin.
Tasks may include helping your client to dress, wash and have a bath, assisting them with going to the toilet, and perhaps helping them to eat. Personal care also means providing emotional support, and generally helping clients to achieve and enjoy a better and more rewarding life. Some clients may only need companionship, or a reminder to take their medication, or an arm to steady them when walking. However, if you work with us on a regular basis, you must be prepared to do some physical personal care. Only district nurses and registered nurses are permitted to carry out nursing tasks such as wound care and injections.
You will be given as much information as possible about a client before the assignment commences. It is Sunshine Care’s practice to keep in touch with carers by phone to check progress and to ensure that all is well.
Each booking will probably also involve cooking, shopping, and housekeeping. Carers are expected to keep a client’s home clean and tidy, bringing particular attention to the kitchen and bathroom. Often, the client has a car that they need the carer t
