What would you like to know?
We've listed the answers to a few questions we've been asked over the years. If there's anything else you'd like to know, just ask.
How do I apply to become a Doris care worker?
It’s really easy. Here’s how it works…
- First, go to the Apply Now page and fill in the form (it only takes a couple of minutes).
- We will then get in touch with you, most likely by telephone, so we can have a quick chat to learn more about you.
- If we invite you to come in for an interview, we’ll ask you to fill in an Application Form first (a bit longer than the Apply Now form – you can see one on our Downloads page).
- Then there’s a face-to-face interview at our offices. Depending on the role we are discussing, you may be asked to more than one interview, but in most cases we find that one meeting is enough to work out if you have what it takes to be a Doris carer.
- If you’re successful at interview, we’ll offer you a job, subject to the necessary checks being completed (see below).
Will you need to do any background checks before I start work?
Yes, definitely! Any offer of work will be subject to checking your qualifications, your work history and employment references, as well as your right to work in the UK. Most importantly, we’ll carry out a vetting procedure known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (formerly known as a CRB check). This service is provided by the government and processes criminal record checks.
Someone said you only hire English care workers, is that true?
No, absolutely not. We hire anyone we feel has the right combination of values, experience and ability to provide the level of care we promise our clients. Obviously, all employees must be legally entitled to work in the UK and have a clear DBS check but, assuming this is the case, what matters most to us is their attitude and commitment to delivering outstanding care.
I don’t have any experience in care. Can I still be a care worker?
Of course! We believe that if a person has the right attitude and values, we can teach them the rest. We welcome people with all sorts of different backgrounds and career histories. While many have worked in a care setting before joining us, some have no first-hand experience at all. And that’s fine – we provide a full induction programme to all of our joiners, as well as ongoing training, support and mentoring.
What training do you provide?
None of our staff attend client visits without full training and preparation. We provide induction training for every new joiner and we tailor our approach to each person based on their experience and the work they’ll be doing.
We are also very keen to provide our team with ongoing training and Personal Development opportunities throughout their time at Doris. We have an annual programme of refresher training on key topics, plus we support each team member with their own Personal Development Plan (PDP). PDPs might include anything from specialising in dementia care or end-of-life care, to NVQs or even working towards relevant degree qualifications.
Much of our training is done in-house by qualified members of the Doris team but we also work with a number of external training organisations to provide a full range of training opportunities.
Will I be introduced to the clients I’ll be visiting?
In most cases, yes. All new joiners go through a series of Shadowing and Handover visits. Shadowing visits are more for those who are new to care, so not everyone needs these. But Handovers are meant specifically to give new carers and clients a chance to meet one another, and are particularly important where the client has complex needs.
There may be rare occasions when you’ll be asked to visit a client you haven’t already met in a Shadow or Handover visit. If this happens, you will be provided with the client’s care plan and a detailed description of their requirements ahead of the visit. And you will never be expected to do anything you are not trained and fully capable of doing.
Will I have a Zero-Hour Contract?
It’s up to you. Some of our staff have Zero-Hour Contracts and some have Fixed-Hour Contracts. It depends how many hours you are prepared to work per week and when you are available to work.
For instance, if you’re prepared to commit to a fixed contract for 30 hours per week and we have work for you at the times you’re available, that’s great! On the other hand, if you want to work 16-20 hours around other commitments and retain more flexibility, a zero-hour contract would probably suit you better.
During the recruitment process we’ll discuss your availability and the number of hours you want to work. We’ll compare them to our current requirements and then decide what sort of contract would work best all round.
How does my pay work?
We have three different pay grades (hourly rates) for our care staff, to reflect different levels of experience and ability. If you are offered a job with the Doris team, you will be told which pay grade/hourly rate will apply to you.
You will be paid Holiday Pay on top of your hourly rate. Whatever you earn per hour, we set aside an additional 12.07% of that amount on top of your pay. So for every £1 you earn, an extra 12p goes into your holiday pot. We keep a record of that additional money and it’s available for you to take whenever you want.
Travelling between visits is a necessary part of the carer role and it can soon mount up, however well we plan your rounds. We want to make sure you’re not out of pocket, so we pay Travel Time at the same hourly rate you are paid for care work. We also pay Petrol Expenses for all eligible mileage incurred between client visits. The guidance from HMR&C is quite complicated but we will explain everything, including our current rates of pay, during the interview process.
The Doris payroll runs monthly.
How far will I have to travel?
Our roster team allocates carers to clients based on several criteria, one of the most important of which is postcode. We want you to spend as much of your time as possible with clients, not in the car travelling between visits. We also try and make sure your clients are relatively close to your home, so you don’t have far to travel at the beginning and end of your rounds. This means that most of the time you won’t have too far to travel.
However, even with the best planning there will always be occasions when we need to ask people to cover visits outside their normal patch, due to sickness, holidays, etc. But remember, if you are occasionally asked to travel further between visits, your time and petrol expenses will be paid.
What if I don’t have a car?
To be honest, homecare work is better suited to drivers simply because of the time it would otherwise take to get from client to client. Having said that, some of our carers are non-drivers and walk or cycle between visits, so it's always worth contacting us. Please just remember that if you are unable to drive to your clients, it will limit the amount of work the roster team can allocate you.
What career progression opportunities do you offer?
Doris Jones has been growing since the day we first opened the doors and that’s not likely to change, so there are always opportunities for people who want to progress. If you’re looking at a particular career path, or you have a specific goal – like becoming a social worker, physiotherapist or nurse, then talk to us about it. We will do everything we can to help you achieve your goals.
Still got a question? Then call us on 01702 472954 or email enquire@dorisjones.co.uk and we'll answer it for you.