FAQs for applicants

Is training free and / or provided?

Yes – you receive a FREE full health and social care mandatory training provided by Abacare, including manual handling, dementia and first aid training

When do I get paid?

You will be paid four weekly

Do I get paid travel time?

Yes – Travel time between calls is automatically calculated using Google Maps and is fully compliant with HMRC regulations.

Do I get paid holidays?

Yes – You are entitled to 28 working days paid holiday (5.6 weeks in each holiday year). Holidays are pro-rata depending on how many hours per week you work. It’s important to know that if you only work part time then we will calculate your annual leave entitlement based on the hours you work.

Our holiday year runs from January to December. This entitlement includes public holidays which will not be granted in addition to the 5.6 weeks mentioned above. All holiday dates must be approved beforehand by your Senior Manager at least 4 weeks in advance of your expected leave.
Time off over the Christmas and New Year period is by agreement with your Senior Manager only and must be in line with the rest of the team and business requirements as our care obligations do not stop during this period. As I am sure you can appreciate, most of our team will want to have some time off over this period and we have found that the best way for everyone to be happy is by the whole team coming together and working as a team to agree a fair rota for the festivities.

Do I need a car to do my job?

Not necessarily – working with a car can offer more flexibility but we do in some areas have runs that can be completing by walking

Do I receive a uniform?

Abacare provides 2 blue tunics, it is your responsibility to purchase black trousers (not leggings) and to wear black sensible shoes and most importantly to keep your uniform clean at all times.  We also provide you with a company ID badge which should be worn at all times during your working day.

Am I provided with gloves and aprons?

Stocks of gloves and aprons are provided to you on a regular basis but your Regional Manager and local office have supplies.

Can I claim tax relief for expenses from employment?

You can claim:
• Uniforms, work clothing and tools
• You may be able to claim tax relief on the cost of:
• cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing, eg a uniform or safety boots
You can’t claim relief on the initial cost of buying small tools or clothing for work.
You can either claim:
• for what you’ve spent – you’ll need to keep receipts
• a ‘flat rate deduction’
Flat rate deductions are set amounts that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has agreed are typically spent each year by employees in different occupations.
If your occupation isn’t listed, you may still be able to claim a standard annual amount of £60 in tax relief.
You don’t need to keep records of what you’ve paid for if you claim a flat rate deduction.

Business mileage and fuel costs

You may be able to claim tax relief if you use your own vehicle on business or for fuel you buy when you use a company car.
You can’t claim for travelling to where you work, unless it’s a temporary place of work.
If you use your own vehicle for business, you may be able to claim ‘Mileage Allowance Relief’.
To work out how much tax relief you can claim, add up your business mileage for the tax year and multiply it by the approved mileage rates.
If your employer doesn’t pay you a mileage allowance you can claim the full approved amount of Mileage Allowance Relief.
If your employer pays you a mileage allowance but it is less than the approved amount, you can claim Mileage Allowance Relief on the difference.
If your employer pays you more than the approved amount you’ll have to pay tax on the difference.
You must keep records of the dates and mileage of your work journeys.

What Benefits do Abacare have?

• We operate a major employee discount scheme called Lifeworks where some of our employees have benefited from reduced motor insurance (including cash back) reduced hotel accommodation (with cash back).  You can join this scheme from day one of your employment.
• Refer A Friend – to support recruitment we offer a Refer A Friend scheme which all existing staff can participate in by referring a friend for employment.  Where the person is recruited, the referring employee may qualify for a voucher worth £200.  Please note that you must get the referrals agreement to pass on their details to the recruitment team based at any of the branches.  The new carer must successfully complete three months of employment during which they must deliver 100 hours of care for the referring employee to receive the £200 voucher.

Who can I talk to if I have any concerns about a client?

You should speak to your Line Manager regarding any concerns regarding a client and you have a duty of care to report any issues.

Who do I talk to if I have a concern about another Carer or my Manager?

Abacare have an open door policy. If you feel that you cannot speak to your Manager, you can call and speak to the line manager or the HR Department. We operate a culture of two-way discussion and you must never feel you do not have a voice, our management and supervisory structure should allow you to communicate any concerns or frustrations you have, we ask you speak with respect and honesty as we respect and are honest with all our team.

What if I feel that the care sector is not for me or I want to leave the team?

We want to ensure you are happy in your role, if you’re not happy, please speak to your Branch Manager to see if there is anything that can be done to resolve any issue you may have. Should you feel the role is not for you we would ask you give the proper notice period so as not to leave vulnerable people without care, anyone who just decides to not do their shifts will need to be reported to the CIW and will go on register as being a person who should not be employed within the care sector.

Downloads

Download a copy of our application form and also copies of our home care job specs:

Download a job description for a Carer delivering Home Care Job Description Home Care