Frequently asked questions
At FirstCol we get asked lots of questions by people who are thinking of using a Homecare service or thinking about working in Homecare. You’ll find most of our Frequently asked questions here, please take a look through:
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1. What can I expect being a Homecare Support Worker?
Homecare Services focus on supporting older people in their own homes with daily activities that may have become a struggle. Many older people may need extra support with their regular daily routine due to ill health or general old age, for example they may need support preparing breakfast, cleaning and visiting the local shops, or getting dressed and showering all of which can give them the better quality of life that they deserve.
As a Homecare Support Worker you will spend your time driving from client to client, to deliver care as described above.
2. What training will I be given?
All our Homecare Team are given mandatory training, along with specialist training to assist in delivering the best care possible for a range of requirements. In addition, all our carers are encouraged to enrol via the company on NVQ Level 2 in Care and upon completion the company fully supports any Homecare Support Worker who would like to complete NVQ Level 3.
3. How often do I need to update my training and occupational health details?
How often you need to update your training record is dependent on with whom you took the training with and you should seek clarification from them as to how long the training certificate is valid for. More often than not course providers recommend refreshing your training yearly, but again this is dependent on the course taken also.
4. What are the deadline requirements in relation to timesheets?
At FirstCol we guarantee to pay you weekly on a Friday. Timesheets must be handed in by midday on a Monday to be paid on the following Friday. All timesheets handed in after this time period will be processed for the Friday of the following week. Timesheets must be turned into the office, at most, one week after the shift was completed
5. Do you guarantee me any hours as a Homecare Support Worker?
At FirstCol we offer our support workers various contracts of Employment that meet your work-life balance. These hours are paid accordingly.
6. Do I get holiday pay?
All employed staff are entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday per year. This includes public and bank holidays and is pro rata for part time staff or staff joining part way through the holiday year. Annual leave is requested in line with our Annual Leave policy.
7. How do I get paid and how often?
FirstCol pays their employees weekly into a bank account of the staff member’s choosing. Please note that under no circumstances will FirstCol pay staff in cash.
8. There seems to be a high level of training required, where can I go for this and get these courses done?
FirstCol prides itself on being 100% compliant and this includes ensuring all of our staff are up to date with their training. There are two options that a FirstCol employee can take. Firstly, you book yourself in to our training courses that we hold in our headquarters in Crawley. These sessions are free to attend and lunch is also provided.
Alternatively, you can log onto our training site over at Safe Response and complete the respective courses online. Employees of FirstCol will receive a special discount on the fees applicable to the training programme chosen.
Alternatively, you can log onto our training site over at Safe Response and complete the respective courses online. Employees of FirstCol will receive a special discount on the fees applicable to the training programme chosen.
9. Who does FirstCol provide care to?
FirstCol provides care to a range of clients in their own home.
10. How do I apply to become a member of the Homecare Team?
To Join FirstCol, simply fill in the online form which can be found by clicking here. Once you have completed that a member of our recruitment team will acknowledge your application and process it further.
11. What happens once I have filled in an application form?
Once you have filled in an application a member of our recruitment team will review it, assessing your skills and experience against the posts that we have. At FirstCol we pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and if you meet the criteria then we will invite you for a face to face interview.
12. Why is the registration process so onerous, I never had to do this even for my current employer?
At FirstCol we are proud to have met all the CQC outcomes and it has been achieved through thoroughly vetting those we employ. We can assure you that every process is carried out to ensure the quality of our staff and safety of our clients.
13. Why do I need a Criminal Records check, when I have one that has been done recently with my current employer?
In order to comply with CQC requirements all our Homecare Staff have to have a DBS check at enhanced level raised by FirstCol before commencing work.
14. Is there any age limit?
FirstCol welcomes all applicants as long as they are of legal working age subject to recruitment checks.
15. Do I need experience?
Although we do prefer those who have care experience for some more Senior roles within our Homecare Team, we welcome applications from those who are enthusiastic to begin a career as Carer. We ask that those without prior experience thoroughly research the job role before applying.
