Our assessment and selection process
Our carer assessment and selection process is known as one of the best in the country. Every week, we train new carers to provide high-quality care in people’s homes.
How our assessment and selection process works:
Stringent interview stage
We put shortlisted applicants through a stringent interview process to ensure they’ve got the attitude and personality we’re looking for in a carer
Four-day course
We’re looking for a really high standard of carer to enable our customers’ independence, so our training for live-in carers lasts for four days
Expert-led courses
Expert assessors run our courses, including a whole day of instruction about how to use the moving and handling equipment and offer basic life support
A CQC-regulated process
We’re regulated by the CQC, which means there are a variety of topics we have to cover with every carer we recruit – from customer service, to medication
How do we ensure the best quality of care?
At Helping Hands, we’re very selective about who we recruit to our care teams. We only hire carer applicants who share our compassionate, empathetic approach to home care.
We’re committed to ensuring that every customer can have full assurance about receiving the high standards of care they deserve, which is why we implement so many quality assurance measures in our training and assessment process.
A strict recruitment process
We’re very particular about who we hire to our care teams, only recruiting the kindest, most dedicated 2% of applicants
Advanced DBS checks
All prospective carers undergo a number of extensive background checks before joining to ensure they’ll be a perfect fit
Independent regulation
Our care services are fully regulated and monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), giving you total peace of mind
Industry-leading training
We provide every Helping Hands carer with comprehensive carer training that equips them to deliver truly outstanding care
Directly employed carers
It’s our guarantee that we’ll never offer you the services of a carer who isn’t employed, trained and managed by us
A person-centred support plan
We’ll work with you and your loved ones to deliver you a package of care that is fully tailored to your personal needs and wishes
Training that is industry endorsed
We’re passionate about ensuring our private carers can be the very best they can be.
Our training and induction process has received endorsement from Skills for Care, which is the strategic body for the adult social care workforce. They have endorsed us as a Centre of Excellence, making us the only full-service home care provider to receive this accolade.
Our training covers the essential skills and knowledge to provide care, in line with the Care Certificate. Above all else, you’ll learn how to provide care and support the Helping Hands way.
Some of the many areas you’ll be trained in include:
Mobility support
We’ll teach you how to safely use hoists to help customers get into and out of bed, as well as how to support people to move securely around the home
Personal care
Discreet personal care assistance with routines that family members may be uncomfortable helping with, such as bathing, dressing and toileting
Dementia support
You’ll receive expert-led training in providing care for people living with all types of dementia, so that you know what the condition entails
Medication assistance
You’ll learn how to safely organise and administer a customer’s medication, so that you can provide them with proactive and reliable support
Preparing meals
We’ll teach you how to prepare meals, snacks and drinks to a good standard, and how to help a customer follow a specific dietary plan
Light medical support
Many of our customers rely on stomas, catheters, colostomy bags and more, and we can also support with more complex nursing care
How we support our carers
Personal development
We’re very supportive of carers who want to undertake relevant training and earn qualifications to help them in their roles. We encourage every Helping Hands carer to always be learning and acquiring new knowledge and skills.
Progression within the business
We offer excellent career progression opportunities to our carers because we want every carer to feel part of the Helping Hands family. Many of our managers and senior staff started with us as carers.
24/7 guidance and helpline
Every Helping Hands employee has 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme. This provides them with a constant source of help for everything from mental health support to career advice.
Competitive salary
Our hourly pay rates for carers are well above the UK care industry average. Because we’re so particular about who joins our care teams, we know we’re only employing the very best carers, and we ensure their pay reflects that.
Dedicated care manager
Your carer will have their own dedicated care manager who is responsible for their well-being and will manage their workload, allowing your carer to devote all their time and energy to looking after you
Care coordination team/support team
Being part of a team is an important aspect of a job, particularly when working in care. It can help prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation, and gives you another source of support and guidance.
I have been to so many care courses, and honestly nothing compares. I am so excited about how much I have learned and the quality of the tutorials.
Olutayo, Carer
Join our team
Visit our care jobs page and apply
Visit our home care jobs page and find a local job that suits you. Submit your application and we’ll give you a call.
Interview and assessment
We’ll arrange a convenient time for a friendly, face-to-face chat, so that we can get to know you properly.
Get started
If all goes well, you’ll get started with your local care team and enrol on our industry-leading carer training.
3 simple steps…
Palliative care training
Find out more about our palliative care training process
Carer training and assessment process
Live-in care assessment and selection process
Dementia carer training
Preparing our carers for personalised dementia care
Meet our training team
Meet our expert home care trainers
Page reviewed by Carole Kerton-Church, Regional Clinical Lead, on July 25, 2024.
How we wrote this page
This page has been produced referencing key insights and data from external experts, trusted medical sources and our team of in-house specialists. We have worked hard to ensure that all information is as accurate as possible and reflects current consensus at the time of writing and review in