Career opportunities for young people in Guildford and Farnham

During National Careers Week (7 to 12 March) adult care companies like Right at Home Guildford and Farnham (GF) are shouting from the rooftops about adult care as a rewarding career option for young people leaving education.

The home care provider is highlighting that working as a caregiver for a modern, innovative employer like Right at Home GF offers young people entering work a genuine career path, high quality training with the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications plus top rates of pay.

“The employment market in Surrey and Hampshire is very positive so young people have lots of options locally and further afield. Caregiving stands out from many other jobs because you are helping people from Day 1 and you see the impact of your contribution straightaway. You also work in your community, helping people who live nearby, perhaps even in your own town or village,” says Alastair Shanks, Managing Director of the Guildford and Farnham branch of Right at Home.

“Helping an older person get ready for the day, assisting them with their medication or helping them go to the shops may sound like small tasks but by supporting clients in this way, you are making a difference to their lives. And as your skills and experience develops, you can take on more responsibility or specialise in interesting areas such as dementia care or cancer care.”

Right at Home says caregiving roles suit a range of personalities and interests and while doing well in education is a great asset, personal qualities are sought after too. Alastair explains: ”Being patient and a good listener are valuable assets in caring roles and so are being fun and chatty. Being practically minded or having bags of common sense are qualities in as much demand by employers like us as educational qualifications. For young people in particular, being a caregiver offers real-life experience and plenty of opportunity to develop maturity, self-confidence and excellent people skills so we have much to offer young people.”

The view of adult social care as undervalued, routine, low paid work is out of step with the reality of working for a modern care company. Right at Home GF invests heavily in training and even matches caregivers with clients when possible. The company also runs activities in the community such as the Sunflower Cafe and Singing for the Mind which caregivers can get involved with. Its staff recognition scheme aims to celebrate staff who go the extra mile. “Our staff work towards qualifications and we try hard to retain them by keeping the job rewarding and varied and by providing a career path,” says Alastair Shanks.  

To get started in a career in caregiving, websites of major employers such as Right at Home are a good place to start. As well as details of current jobs, there is information about the range of services provided and the sorts of clients caregivers could be working with.

Careers Week is an annual campaign of support to help young people prepare for life after school and college, particularly by working through schools and colleges and with local employers.