Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support residents with personalised care plans 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 contributions, wellbeing support, and retail discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of older people while working in a vibrant community.
- Qualifications: 2 years of care experience and NVQ Level 3 or equivalent preferred.
- Other info: Be part of a brand-new care home opening in July 2025, shaping its culture and success.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
Contract type: Permanent Full Time (42hpw 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 residents' 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 hand over 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 will 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.
- 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. 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 in Reading 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 in Reading
✨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 engaging with current staff or residents if possible. This not only shows your proactive nature but also gives you insights into the team dynamics and the type of relationships you’ll need to build in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your problem-solving abilities. Think of scenarios where you've had to adapt quickly in a care setting, as this will illustrate your capability to handle the challenges that may arise during night shifts.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Care Assistants - Nights in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in care settings, particularly any roles where you've worked with older people. Emphasise your communication skills and any qualifications like NVQ Level 3.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for caring for the elderly. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to provide person-centred care and how you align with the values of Friends of the Elderly.
Showcase Your Skills: In your application, clearly outline your interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, and any digital skills you possess. Provide examples of how you've used these skills in previous roles.
Highlight Your Commitment: Express your enthusiasm for making a difference in the lives of older people. Share any relevant training or development you've pursued and your willingness to learn and grow within the role.
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, especially during handovers or when addressing sensitive situations.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Care settings often require quick thinking and adaptability. Prepare to share instances where you faced challenges and how you resolved them, showcasing your ability to maintain residents' dignity and safety.
✨Express Enthusiasm for Learning
Friends of the Elderly values a willingness to learn. Convey your eagerness to develop professionally and how you plan to utilise the training opportunities provided to enhance your skills and contribute to the team.
