Vacancies

Abacare is looking for kind, reliable, and caring people to join us as care professionals.  Experience is not essential – we offer full and ongoing training.

See our latest vacancies.

We can offer you:

• Competitive hourly rates
• 28 days of paid holiday
• Paid travel time between calls
• Paid mileage
• Full and part-time positions
• Consistent runs and hours
• Free full training
• Guaranteed zero hour, 16-hour, 24-hour, and 30-hour contracts
• Advancement opportunities
• QCFs level 2, 3, 5 opportunities
• Refer-a-friend payment scheme
• National discount scheme

Contact your local office to apply for a new job in care today!

Training

Abacare is committed to training its employees to the highest standard in health and social care. For people who have already worked in the care sector, we offer refresher training and advancement through QCFs and apprenticeships.

For people who have never worked in care, we offer free and comprehensive induction training followed by shadowing with experienced members of the team, as well as the opportunities for advancement via QCFs and apprenticeships.

We work to ensure Abacare is at the cutting edge of the latest and best practices. We maintain a caring ethos within the group, to ensure our core values are never forgotten, and to share, wherever possible, in the success of the business with our care professionals. We employ, through various schemes, in order that the entire team will continue to feel valued and aim for the same goals.

Do I need any skills or qualifications?

To register as a community carer, no formal qualifications are required. However, the position of a community carer is a big responsibility and is often very demanding. An honest caring nature is essential.

We promote the continuing professional development of all employed community carers who, following the induction period, will be offered and encouraged to attain a QCF Level 2/3 in Health & Social Care qualification. It’s also generally a requirement that you can drive a car, scooter, or motorbike.

What help and support do you offer community carers?

We aim to support our care professionals through continuing career development, spot checks, and supervisions. We provide 24-hour on-call service, responding to any problems or queries you may have.

FAQs for applicants

Is training free and/or provided?

Yes! You receive FREE health and social care mandatory training provided by Abacare. This includes manual handling, dementia, and first-aid training.

You will be paid four-weekly.

Do I get paid for 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’re 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, 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 four 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 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 have runs that can be completing by walking in some areas.

Do I receive a uniform?

Abacare provides two blue tunics. It’s your responsibility to purchase black trousers (not leggings) and to wear sensible black shoes. It’s important 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. 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 (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 what you’ve spent (you’ll need to keep receipts) or 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.

Can I claim business mileage and fuel costs?

• You may be able to claim tax relief if you use your own vehicle for 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’s 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 offer?

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.

To support recruitment we offer a Refer-A-Friend scheme, which all existing staff can participate in by referring a friend for employment.  When the person is recruited, the referring employee may qualify for a voucher worth £200. Please note that you must get the referral’s 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. 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 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 that you speak with respect and honesty, as we respect and are honest with all our team.

What if I feel 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’s 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 decides to not perform 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

Care professional job description