Member Article

Call for new recruits to consider care for a long-term career

A care agency manager promoted three times in four years is urging carers seeking a proper career path to join her fast-growing agency.

Joyce Hastie has just been appointed community care manager by Seashells Limited, a Colwyn-Bay-based home care agency.

A care worker for 20 years, Joyce had taken a career break to care for her late father, prior to joining Seashells Limited on Boxing Day 2014.

She said: “The agency supported my studies to get qualifications. They helped me develop management skills. The bosses are so helpful. If you have a problem you can just pop into the office and they’ll make you a brew,” she said.

At £9.26 per hour plus mileage, Seashells Limited rewards carers at well above the minimum wage of £7.50 per hour paid to carers elsewhere.

“They want people to see you can make it a career and not a pit-stop job til something better comes along,” Joyce added.

Joyce, who lives in Rhyl, was promoted to senior carer, then team leader, before being offered her current position. She now oversees a total of35 staff working for hundreds of clients in an area between St Asaph and Llandudno.

Founded in 2008, Seashells Limited provides a domiciliary care service for older people and adults with learning difficulties, either in their own homes or in supported housing, in Denbighshire, Conwy and Gwynedd.

Co-founder and director Stuart Owen said: “Joyce is a fantastic member of staff. She’s worked hard to get her qualifications, she is committed to the clients, and it’s paid off with promotions.”

He explained that there is a move across Wales to professionalise domiciliary care, which includes mandatory qualifications.

Stuart added: “Seashells pays above average because we are serious about finding the right people who want a long term career.

‘We also place an emphasis on valuing all of our employees’ career paths and offer as much support and guidance to promote this as is required.

“This benefits clients, who get the best service, and the agency itself, as we have less staff turnover.”

For details of vacancies visit www.seashellsltd.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Harris .