Dorset care home group recruiting 500 new staff to help NHS with non-COVID patients

A Dorset care home group is looking to employ more than 500 new staff with adult social care experience to help look after non-COVID patients who are ready to leave hospital.

Encore Care Homes Care Club is looking for experienced staff to fulfil a range of roles at Great Oaks Care Home in Bournemouth, Oakdale Care Home in Poole and Fairmile Grange in Christchurch.

The care home firm has partnered with the NHS to temporarily take extra non-COVID residents at short notice as pressure increases on hospital staff and coronavirus patient numbers rise.

The roles available include registered nurses, care practitioners, senior healthcare assistants and healthcare assistants based in Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch.

Mark Mould, chief operating officer of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have seen a sharp rise in the number of patients with COVID since Christmas.

"This means we need to free up capacity across our hospitals in order to accommodate these patients.

"As with all hospitals across the country, we have patients in our care who are medically ready to leave but can’t as the community is working close to the maximum of established capacity so there is nowhere for these patients to go to.

"Working closely with Encore has been fantastic as they have been able to increase the external capacity we can access and take some of these patients offering specialist care.”

Benefits for members of the Care Club include a choice of care home you wish to work in, flexible shifts, a cash bonus scheme for every full shift worked and high rates of pay. All new staff will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine.

Those who are new to working in care homes with relevant experience will be encouraged to become part of the Care Club team with full training provided as well as ‘Buddy’ to work alongside as they get to know the role, and ongoing training support.

Maggie Tomlin, home manager at Great Oaks, said: “If you have got empathy and genuinely want to help people then it’s a very good career. You can work your way up to make it a career that you can be proud of. The reason I wanted to become a care home manager is because I wanted to make a difference. Since I started working in care, I’ve never lost my enthusiasm for it.”

Strict COVID-19 protocols are in place at Encore with all incoming residents being tested for COVID-19 before they arrive at the care home. The new resident also undergoes a period of self-isolation, with the team’s support.

All care home residents are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, with staff accessing twice-weekly Lateral Flow rapid testing.

Tony Spotswood, chairman of Encore Care Homes said: “Our care teams are steadfast in their desire to help to relieve the pressure on the NHS locally during this unprecedented time."

For more information and to apply for a role within Care Club, go to Careclub.encorecarehomes.co.uk

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