Loading Jobs...

If you or a loved one are suffering from an illness, have recently come home from hospital, or find that age is meaning you can’t do things around the home as you normally would, it might be time to consider a home carer. A home carer can make a huge difference in your life. They can ensure that you stay living independently in your home; as opposed to having to go to an assisted living facility or a care home. This can be very beneficial to people who don’t want to leave their homes, surroundings, and pets behind. When it comes to the time to get a home carer, it can leave you with a number of questions. The first of these might be “where do I find a home carer near me?” (You’ve come to the right place – here at Secure Healthcare Solutions we can help you with this.) The second might be what hours do I choose for a home carer? If you are stuck at the hours you should select, this article should be able to provide some clarification…

Consider how much you can spend

The cost of care differs around the country but tends to be between £15-£20 an hour. Sometimes councils will be able to contribute to the cost. It is a good idea to get in touch and find out if they can help and how much by. You can also speak to your healthcare team who can advise you on if you are eligible for any funding for care at home services.

Think about the reasons you need a carer for

There are many reasons that you might need a carer. As an example, here at Secure Healthcare Solutions we provide personal care, live-in care, respite care, holiday care, 24-hour care, overnight care, and assisted living – to name but a few! Consider if you need a carer for a specific purpose. This might be to help with medication, to get you up in the mornings, and to bed in the evenings. Or for a company during the middle of the day. There are many reasons that a home carer can help you so think about what will be best for you and your circumstances.home carerPhoto by Cristina Serí on Unsplash

Is it permanent or temporary?

Once you have a home carer it doesn’t mean that you will have one forever. It might be that you have just come out of the hospital and need help with your daily tasks while you recover. Or it might be that you have recently had a fall and can’t get around as you did, but you will be better soon. When you are thinking of the hours for a home carer, consider if it is permanent or only temporary.

Remember hours can change

It is important to keep in mind that your home carer hours can change depending on your needs. You will regularly meet with your home carer (or they can speak to a loved one for you). They will ensure that you are getting the right care for your needs. If you start with just an hour in the morning and the evening but then find this isn’t enough, we can up your hours to something more suited for you. Similarly, if they are coming for too long each day and you don’t need them for that amount of time, let them know and your hours can be cut down.

These are just a few tips when it comes to choosing the hours for your home carer. If you are looking for a home carer, please get in touch with us at Secure Healthcare Solutions today and find out how we can help.

If you are a home carer looking for a new role, we have a number of vacancies that you can see here.

There may come a point in your loved one’s life where they can’t live by themselves in the same capacity that they once did. Whether due to an illness or that they get concerned about their safety when going about their day to day tasks, there are many reasons this might be the case. Yet many don’t want to go into a residential home. They can see this as losing their independence completely and moving away from a house they have likely lived in for a number of years and is filled with all their favorite belongings and items that make them feel safe. This is why it is so good that there are other options you can look into, such as a live-in carer. With round-the-clock, permanent care, you can feel safe in the knowledge that your loved one is being looked after, while also retaining a level of independence. A live-in care agency such as ourselves at Secure Healthcare Solutions is here to help you find the perfect live-in care service. If you haven’t looked into having a live-in carer, we have put together just a few of the benefits having one can bring. If you are on the search for a private live-in care job, find out just what your role might entail too!

1. Dedicated one-to-one care and support
A live-in carer will provide dedicated care and support to your loved one, focusing solely on their needs and wellbeing. They will get to know your loved one on a personal level, becoming not just their carer, but a companion too. They will be there to help with everything from getting them washed and dressed in the morning, to helping with any health matters and making their coffee just the way they like it. A live-in care agency will provide your loved ones with a live-in carer that is best suited for their needs and personality.
2. You can stay in your own home
Losing your independence either due to old age or an illness can be hard enough, without being taken away from your home and all that you know. With live-in care, your loved one can stay in their own home, feeling safe and secure with all their belongings and memories around them. When moving to a care home it is unlikely you can bring most of your things with you, so this enables your loved ones to stay where they are most comfortable. If they have dementia, then change can be very distressing and even make their condition worse, so a live-in care service will help to eliminate this.

Live-in carer

3. It can give family members peace of mind
If you have a family member that is frail or ill and living on their own, it can be a big burden on you. You could find yourself constantly concerned if they are alright if they have had a fall in the night, and if they are lonely. While you will try and be there for them as much as you can, you also have your own life to lead, such as going to work, and you can find this takes an emotional toll. By having a live-in carer you know that there is always someone on hand to help your loved one with medication, getting to the toilet when they need it, and companionship when they need it most.
4. Better value for money
A care home can be expensive and costs can quickly rack up, especially considering the level of care is nowhere near as dedicated as a live-in carer. A live-in carer will provide a completely bespoke package designed around your loved one and their best needs and interests. They are highly skilled in what they do and will provide a dedicated one to one service focused on your loved one. They can help with everything from getting their wash and dressed to food preparation, shopping, and visiting the doctors.

For a live-in care service that you can rely on, get in touch with us today. We provide live-in care in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell, Cannock, Telford, Birmingham, Bilston, and surrounding areas. If you are looking for a private live-in care job, we have a number of vacancies here at our live-in care agency. Please just pick up the phone or drop us an email today.

As we get older, there are plenty of challenges to overcome. Mobility can be an issue. Your memory could begin to fade. The things you used to take for granted become more difficult. The development of a health problem or a condition such dementia may mean you need someone to watch out for you.

Most of us want to stay in our own home – it’s not only good for mental and physical wellbeing but allows us to stay connected to our local community, the friends and people we’ve shared our space with for so long.

Dementia and increasing frailty as the years go by naturally leads everyone to evaluate what’s best for the future. Decisions about what to do are usually down to close family members who can be torn between keeping mum or dad in their home and making sure they stay as safe and secure, and happy, as possible.

It’s easy to think there’s no real alternative but to move your loved one into a care home where they can receive professional, around the clock attention. For years, it’s been the traditional way we care for our older relatives. But for many people it’s simply not the right solution.

Live-In Carers

There can be numerous reasons why you don’t want to choose the care home option. Mum or dad may well want to stay in the family home for a start. If they’ve lived in the same location for most of their life, why wouldn’t they want to stay? You might be worried the care homes in your area are not up to the right standard or that they cope with too wide a range of residents and won’t be able to give your loved one the attention they need.

Another option is to hire a live-in carer. This is where a professional carer comes into your home and stays in the spare room, catering to your elderly parent’s needs on a full-time basis. While care homes are staffed with compassionate and caring professionals, they can’t normally give the kind of one to one care that older people need.

With a live-in carer, this is exactly what you get.

At Secure Healthcare Solutions we know that care isn’t a once size fits all issue. What works for one person, won’t necessarily be suitable for another. We also know that elderly relatives who remain in the familiar surroundings of their home have a better quality of life than those who find themselves uprooted to a care home.

Letting a stranger into your home to look after your mum or dad can be a big decision, of course. Our selection process is quite involved with a care assessment test and face to face interview as well as on the job monitoring. We make sure that all our staff are fully vetted and have a DBS check. Their job is to build a strong, caring relationship, not just with their ward but those around who have an emotional and familial connection. That’s why we take such care on who comes to work for us.

At Secure Healthcare Solutions, we believe t’s not just about having a full-time carer at home. It’s about the right plan tailored for your needs, getting the perfect match and a carer who essentially becomes a part of the family. Yes, they can handle all medical, health and personal needs but they also provide the companionship that so many of us need in later life.

If you wish to learn more about how we can support you, please contact us and let one of our advisers come to see you and your family for a more detailed plan on how we can support you.

Let us help you get the care you need for the life you want.

As we get older, there are plenty of challenges to overcome. Mobility can be an issue. Your memory could begin to fade. The things you used to take for granted become more difficult. The development of a health problem or a condition such dementia may mean you need someone to watch out for you.

Most of us want to stay in our own home – it’s not only good for mental and physical wellbeing but allows us to stay connected to our local community, the friends and people we’ve shared our space with for so long.

Dementia and increasing frailty as the years go by naturally leads everyone to evaluate what’s best for the future. Decisions about what to do are usually down to close family members who can be torn between keeping mum or dad in their home and making sure they stay as safe and secure, and happy, as possible.

It’s easy to think there’s no real alternative but to move your loved one into a care home where they can receive professional, around the clock attention. For years, it’s been the traditional way we care for our older relatives. But for many people it’s simply not the right solution.

Live-In Carers

There can be numerous reasons why you don’t want to choose the care home option. Mum or dad may well want to stay in the family home for a start. If they’ve lived in the same location for most of their life, why wouldn’t they want to stay? You might be worried the care homes in your area are not up to the right standard or that they cope with too wide a range of residents and won’t be able to give your loved one the attention they need.

Another option is to hire a live-in carer. This is where a professional carer comes into your home and stays in the spare room, catering to your elderly parent’s needs on a full-time basis. While care homes are staffed with compassionate and caring professionals, they can’t normally give the kind of one to one care that older people need.

With a live-in carer, this is exactly what you get.

At Secure Healthcare Solutions we know that care isn’t a once size fits all issue. What works for one person, won’t necessarily be suitable for another. We also know that elderly relatives who remain in the familiar surroundings of their home have a better quality of life than those who find themselves uprooted to a care home.

Letting a stranger into your home to look after your mum or dad can be a big decision, of course. Our selection process is quite involved with a care assessment test and face to face interview as well as on the job monitoring. We make sure that all our staff are fully vetted and have a DBS check. Their job is to build a strong, caring relationship, not just with their ward but those around who have an emotional and familial connection. That’s why we take such care on who comes to work for us.

At Secure Healthcare Solutions, we believe t’s not just about having a full-time carer at home. It’s about the right plan tailored for your needs, getting the perfect match and a carer who essentially becomes a part of the family. Yes, they can handle all medical, health and personal needs but they also provide the companionship that so many of us need in later life.

If you wish to learn more about how we can support you, please contact us and let one of our advisers come to see you and your family for a more detailed plan on how we can support you.

Let us help you get the care you need for the life you want.

Caring for a loved one with dementia poses many challenges for families and caregivers. People with dementia from conditions such as Alzheimer’s and related diseases have a progressive biological brain disorder that makes it more and more difficult for them to remember things, think clearly, communicate with others, or take care of themselves. From angry outbursts to more physical manifestations of behavior, understanding and dealing with our loved one’s dementia behaviors may be one of the most stressful parts of being a caregiver. Dementia involves more than just memory loss. A person with this disorder can be a challenge to take care of. Caring for a loved one with dementia poses many challenges for families and caregivers.

The cause of the disease can have a bearing on the type of care given. Before embarking on caring for such a patient consider the following questions.

Is the dementia part of a brain disease process?

Is there a history of brain injury?

Is it the so called senile dementia which is considered part of the aging process?

Where to care for the dementia patient

Depending on the severity and predominant symptoms, a person with dementia can benefit from either home care or institutional based care. Where only personal care issues are involved, a general carer may be able to offer care to the patient. However, where symptoms pose a risk to self and others, then a professional nurse may come in to offer at home care services.

Seven Tips for Communicating with a Person with Dementia

  1. Set a positive mood for interaction. …

  2. Get the person’s attention. …

  3. State your message clearly. …

  4. Ask simple, answerable questions. …

  5. Listen with your ears, eyes and heart. …

  6. Break down activities into a series of steps. …

  7. When the going gets tough, distract and redirect.

Emotional and Physical support

People with dementia feel anxious when they realize that they have mental related problems. Showing Care, patience and reassuring them will help them to cope better and enjoy improved self-worth. Other measures to help these patients lead a dignified life include:

  • Helping them remain clean
  • Helping them dress
  • Helping them eat a healthful diet
  • Assisting them to remain as physically active as possible. This will be determined by their degree of mental or physical disability.
  • Legal representation and protection. Some people may take advantage of the altered mental status of dementia patients. Help them get their rightful state support where necessary and protect their finances from potential fraudsters.

When dealing with difficult behaviors from someone with dementia, it’s important to remember that they are not deliberately being difficult. Our loved one’s sense of reality may now be different from ours, but it is still very real to him or her. As caregivers, we can’t change the person with dementia, but we can employ strategies to better accommodate any problem behaviors. Both the environment you create at home and the way you communicate with your loved one can make a significant difference.

Dementia can cause mood swings and even change a person’s personality and behavior. This Fact Sheet provides some practical strategies for dealing with the troubling behavior problems and communication difficulties often encountered when caring for a person with dementia. If you are the main carer of a dementia person, don’t forget to care for yourself. Burnout is a real possibility. To avoid this, always source for help and take needed break every now and then.

Be aware of the signs of dementia

Memory loss is one of the key symptoms, but others include:

  • increasing difficulty with tasks and activities that require concentration and planning
  • depression
  • changes in personality and mood
  • periods of mental confusion
  • difficulty finding the right words

If someone you know is becoming increasingly forgetful, you should encourage them to see their GP to talk about the early signs of dementia.

Finally, there are so many more behavior interventions, treatments and specialty care providers now than ever before. Don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to one of our qualified advisers.

You can read more top tips for talking about dementia on the UK Alzheimer’s Society website.

 

Nursing is Career … Not just a Job

You’re ready for a new job opportunity. Started job search and managed to book yourself an Interview , all is good and as planned, by this point, you need to do your home work to be ready to sell yourself and the best way in doing so is to have a close look at your potential employer’s website.This will help you grow your confidence level and show your future employer you care and want the Job more than the other candidates.

Did you know that you have a chance of asking HR questions before accepting a job offer as a nurse? The widespread shortage of nurses in many places gives you room to be a job seeker with a choice on who to work for. Don’t be timid. Ask questions about what you consider important to you and how you carry out your job. Worth considering the following questions before giving a definite answer :

  1. About salary and allowances

Ask about your starting salary and compare this with what is offered in your area for similar roles . Inquire about allowances in relation to relocation, overtime and any other special nursing care related duties. Many healthcare agencies fail to guarantee secured working hours for their nurses. A great way to find out is to just ask and check your future employer’s reviews, testimonials and social media accounts.

  1. Job related benefits

What does the company offer for your personal healthcare? This relates to matters such as insurance, paid vacation/leave and maternity leave for women.

  1. Interpersonal relationships

Strive to know the relationship between the administration and the workers. How easy can you have issues resolved between you and a fellow member of staff or between you and the administration? Does the company have a mentorship program?

  1. Education and Training opportunities

Does the company have a continuing education program that will improve your CV and Overall Career Development ? Opportunities to get certifications in certain areas can help in your professional progression. Many healthcare agencies do offer mandatory training , offer courses and development days to help nurses improve their practice and support their continuing professional development (CPD). It is a great chance to ask your future employer if training is included in your employment contract.

  1. Will your personal special circumstances be considered in your new job role?

This can relate to physical or social-family issues. A pregnant or nursing mother for example may find it challenging to work in certain areas. Such mothers may need a department with more flexibility where it may be possible to take a break or reduce working hours (part time ) when circumstances demand. In addition to talking to the HR officer, talk to nurses and other staff who are already working with the company. You will learn from them some things that HR may not be willing to tell you. All these will help you to decide whether take the job opportunity or not.

If you make it a priority to ask these important questions before you accept a nursing job offer, you’ll be much happier with your decision—whether you accept or decline it. It might seem like a good idea to at first take what you can get, but what you want at the end of the day is to love your job and the best way to achieve this is to do your homework beforehand.

Small things like that can be helpful conversation topics during an interview and, ultimately, they can make all the difference in securing the position. Secure Healthcare Solutions is a specialist in establishment healthcare staffing solutions across England. We are actively recruiting and supplying front line staff in Birmingham and the West Midlands,Northampton, Milton Keynes, London, Manchester and Bristol areas.

 

Nursing is Career … Not just a Job

You’re ready for a new job opportunity. Started job search and managed to book yourself an Interview , all is good and as planned, by this point, you need to do your home work to be ready to sell yourself and the best way in doing so is to have a close look at your potential employer’s website.This will help you grow your confidence level and show your future employer you care and want the Job more than the other candidates.

Did you know that you have a chance of asking HR questions before accepting a job offer as a nurse? The widespread shortage of nurses in many places gives you room to be a job seeker with a choice on who to work for. Don’t be timid. Ask questions about what you consider important to you and how you carry out your job. Worth considering the following questions before giving a definite answer :

  1. About salary and allowances

Ask about your starting salary and compare this with what is offered in your area for similar roles . Inquire about allowances in relation to relocation, overtime and any other special nursing care related duties. Many healthcare agencies fail to guarantee secured working hours for their nurses. A great way to find out is to just ask and check your future employer’s reviews, testimonials and social media accounts.

  1. Job related benefits

What does the company offer for your personal healthcare? This relates to matters such as insurance, paid vacation/leave and maternity leave for women.

  1. Interpersonal relationships

Strive to know the relationship between the administration and the workers. How easy can you have issues resolved between you and a fellow member of staff or between you and the administration? Does the company have a mentorship program?

  1. Education and Training opportunities

Does the company have a continuing education program that will improve your CV and Overall Career Development ? Opportunities to get certifications in certain areas can help in your professional progression. Many healthcare agencies do offer mandatory training , offer courses and development days to help nurses improve their practice and support their continuing professional development (CPD). It is a great chance to ask your future employer if training is included in your employment contract.

  1. Will your personal special circumstances be considered in your new job role?

This can relate to physical or social-family issues. A pregnant or nursing mother for example may find it challenging to work in certain areas. Such mothers may need a department with more flexibility where it may be possible to take a break or reduce working hours (part time ) when circumstances demand. In addition to talking to the HR officer, talk to nurses and other staff who are already working with the company. You will learn from them some things that HR may not be willing to tell you. All these will help you to decide whether take the job opportunity or not.

If you make it a priority to ask these important questions before you accept a nursing job offer, you’ll be much happier with your decision—whether you accept or decline it. It might seem like a good idea to at first take what you can get, but what you want at the end of the day is to love your job and the best way to achieve this is to do your homework beforehand.

Small things like that can be helpful conversation topics during an interview and, ultimately, they can make all the difference in securing the position. Secure Healthcare Solutions is a specialist in establishment healthcare staffing solutions across England. We are actively recruiting and supplying front line staff in Birmingham and the West Midlands,Northampton, Milton Keynes, London, Manchester and Bristol areas.

 

In addition to recruiting and supplying staff to other home based healthcare providers, Secure Healthcare Solutions provide direct homecare services.

Housekeeping and housing support

House cleaning and all types of cleaning and other home chores can all be covered by a staff from Secure Healthcare Solutions who may do the actual job or arrange for it to be done by the right people. Payment of bills is also part of this service. Those who are still able to pursue hobbies and a social life benefit from the company’s trained assistants.

Personal care

Here the type of care is determined by the disability the patient has. The aim is however, one – to make the patient comfortable and to maintain their dignity. It entails personal hygiene, continence and other elimination matters. It also means making sure that supplies such as catheters, colostomy bags and other things that the patient may need are in stock and of the right quality.

Companionship

People who live alone may not necessarily be incapacitated by their health issues. However, loneliness can be just as bad. A friendly and professional companion from Secure Healthcare Solutions is always available whenever one is needed.

High dependency care

Here the patient needs near intensive care services. The services offered in this category are complicated and specialised. These are patients who may need respiratory support, tube feeding and intravenous medications or fluids. These are patients who may be having spinal or brain injuries. Others may be terminally ill and in need of round the clock palliative care. A skilled nurse from Secure Healthcare Solutions makes sure that such patients receive the best care possible and that all the doctor’s treatment orders are followed. These nurses also know the right questions to ask when necessary.

Live-in care

A person offering care on a continuing basis in a home considers many things. Secure Healthcare Solutions considers interests, hobbies, age and the type of disability of the client so that, the most appropriate staff is released to care for that patient. Where pets are involved, the staff’s attitude towards them is also considered. This guarantees a cordial co-existence between the carer and the client.

Respite care

Care giving can be stressful and with time burnout can result. When the care giver needs to be away for holiday or for other reasons, Secure Healthcare Solutions is ready to step-in and maintain the same care the client is used to.

Medication management

An aged patient, a mentally challenged person or a child can have difficulties in following prescribed drugs instructions. A qualified nurse is there to ascertain compliance and to prevent accidental over or under dosages. The nurse also makes sure that the medicines are kept safely and they are still potent and their expiry date is still far.

Home from hospital

Discharge from hospital can create new challenges for both patient and relatives. A Secure Healthcare Solution nurse makes sure that this transition is as smooth as possible. The nurse will arrange transport home after making all necessary clearance with the hospital. She will also make sure that all necessary equipment is available and will install what is needed by the patient at home. The homecare assistance will be tailored to meet the specific patient’s needs.

As family structure continues to evolve and homecare solutions continue to advance in various ways, people in need of specialised homecare will need more than old fashion type of assistance. The training offered by Secure Healthcare Solutions and the specific and direct homecare services it offers will become even more relevant. This is in view of the important role the company plays in the homebased healthcare industry that no individual carer can consistently match.