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- Tasks: Support older residents with personalised care and maintain their dignity and independence.
- Company: Join Friends of the Elderly, a charity with over 120 years of experience in compassionate care.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, pension plans, wellbeing support, and discounts to make your salary stretch further.
- Other info: Be part of shaping a brand-new care home and enjoy ongoing training and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while working in a vibrant, state-of-the-art community.
- Qualifications: 2 years of care experience and ideally an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent; compassion is key!
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Contract type: Permanent – Full Time (42 hpw average)
Hours: 12 hour shifts, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m
Working Pattern: Nights, Weekends - working on rolling rota of 3 consecutive days on and 3 consecutive days off.
About Us
Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel, we have been supporting older people for over 120 years. The charity provides care home and day care services for older people, as well as grants for older people in financial difficulty.
About Friends Place, Calcot
Due to open in July 2025, Friends Place, Calcot will be more than just a care home - it will be a vibrant, welcoming community designed to provide exceptional residential, dementia, and respite care.
Run by Friends of the Elderly, where we pride ourselves on delivering personalised, compassionate care in a state-of-the-art facility.
Located in the heart of Calcot, Reading, our home will feature:
- A cinema for residents to enjoy movie nights and entertainment.
- A stylish salon offering professional pampering.
- A peaceful library for reading and reflection.
- A vibrant bar for socialising and relaxation.
The modern facilities are designed to create a warm and homely environment where residents feel safe, valued, and supported.
We are recruiting for Senior Care Assistants to join the team.
Joining us as a Senior Care Assistant, you will be working as part of a dedicated team and will act as a key worker for a named group of residents. You will assist with formulation and maintenance of resident’s care plans to deliver person-centred care, unique to each individual, and support and enable our residents to maintain key skills, personal interests, independence, choice, and dignity, so that they can lead fulfilled lives.
To succeed in this role, you will need great communication and interpersonal skills, so that you can form great relationships with your residents and effectively handover information to colleagues. Number and digital skills are also required along with the ability to problem solve and adapt to situations, and to recognise and report situations where there might be a need for safeguarding.
You will have at least 2 years’ experience in a care setting, ideally with an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, or working towards it. You will be able to take the initiative, be hardworking, have a compassionate nature and a positive can-do attitude. We’ll provide you all the outstanding training and tools that you need; all we ask is a willingness to learn and a genuine enthusiasm to encourage others to live their lives to the full.
This isn’t just a job; it’s about making a difference to older people’s lives every day.
Why Join Friends of the Elderly?
- Heritage of Care: Work with a trusted organisation backed by over a century of expertise.
- Non-Profit Mission: Be part of a charity that prioritises people, not profit. While we take a commercial approach to our work, we are not for profit and we are committed to our charitable values.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: Lead a cutting-edge care home designed for comfort and community.
- Professional Development: Access training and career development opportunities.
Make Your Mark
This is a unique opportunity to shape the culture and success of a brand-new care home, leaving a lasting impact on residents’ lives and the community.
In return for your hard work and dedication, you can look forward to a wealth of benefits:
- Group Pension Plan, with a 6% contribution from us.
- Generous annual leave.
- Wellbeing support through various initiatives, including an employee assistance programme.
- Learning, development, and progression opportunities.
- Monthly prize draw, with 3 prizes to be won.
- Retail discount schemes to make your salary go further.
- Access to loans at affordable rates, saving directly from salary and advance pay already earned.
- Health cash plans for you and your family.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Long service awards that increase with length of service.
- Refer a friend to work for us and receive a £200 bonus.
- Uniforms are provided.
- Free DBS checks.
Safeguarding:
Keeping everyone safe is one of the charity’s core values, and is central to everything we do at Friends of the Elderly. All staff follow our Safeguarding Policy & Procedures and, if they see or suspect abuse, we expect staff to report it straight away.
Criminal record checks:
As this role involves a regulated activity, successful applicants will undertake an enhanced DBS check, with barred lists check, and any offer of employment will be dependent on a satisfactory outcome. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar a person from working for us, this will depend on the circumstances and background of any record.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Friends of the Elderly strives to treat all staff equally and be a diverse and inclusive workplace, where everyone can be themselves and everyone accepts each other’s differences. A charity where everyone is equal but definitely not the same.
Our ambition is to ensure equality and celebrate diversity, all working together to create an inclusive workplace, which attracts and retains the best people. People that care and can make a difference.
We currently do not provide sponsorship but we welcome applications from those who have a right to work in the UK.
Don’t delay in sending your application as we may need to close the vacancy early if we manage to appoint before the advertising closing date. We interview applicants as they apply.
Senior Care Assistants - Nights employer: Friends of the Elderly
Contact Detail:
Friends of the Elderly Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Care Assistants - Nights
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the values and mission of Friends of the Elderly. Understanding their commitment to compassionate care and community will help you align your responses during interviews, showcasing your passion for making a difference in the lives of older people.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in person-centred care during any discussions or interviews. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've supported residents in maintaining their independence and dignity, as this is crucial for the Senior Care Assistant role.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your communication skills by preparing to discuss how you effectively collaborate with colleagues and engage with residents. Consider sharing anecdotes that illustrate your ability to build relationships and handle challenging situations with empathy.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the new facility, Friends Place, Calcot, and its innovative features. Being knowledgeable about the state-of-the-art amenities and how they enhance resident care can set you apart and show your enthusiasm for joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Care Assistants - Nights
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the responsibilities and requirements of a Senior Care Assistant. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the specific needs of Friends of the Elderly.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasise your previous experience in care settings, particularly any roles where you provided person-centred care. Mention your NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualifications, if applicable, and any specific skills that relate to the job.
Showcase Your Soft Skills: Since communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for this role, provide examples of how you've successfully built relationships with residents or colleagues in the past. Highlight your compassionate nature and problem-solving abilities.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for making a difference in the lives of older people. Use this opportunity to express your enthusiasm for joining Friends of the Elderly and how you can contribute to their mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at Friends of the Elderly
✨Show Your Compassion
As a Senior Care Assistant, demonstrating your compassionate nature is crucial. Share specific examples from your past experiences where you made a positive impact on a resident's life, highlighting your ability to connect with older people.
✨Highlight Your Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully communicated with residents and colleagues in previous positions. Consider sharing a situation where clear communication helped resolve an issue or improved care.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
The ability to adapt and solve problems is essential in care settings. Think of instances where you faced challenges and how you approached them. This will show your potential employer that you can handle the dynamic nature of care work.
✨Express Enthusiasm for Learning
Friends of the Elderly values a willingness to learn and grow. During the interview, convey your eagerness to develop professionally and how you plan to utilise the training opportunities they offer to enhance your skills.