Care Assistant – Part Time

Blue Octopus Recruitment Limited; Reading; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A not-for-profit charity in Reading is seeking a Care Assistant to help residents with personal care, companionship, and meal preparation. This role is ideal for individuals passionate about making a difference in older people's lives. Training is provided, and the position offers a part-time contract with a focus on building relationships. Join a compassionate team that values care and community.

Benefits

Group Pension Plan

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Learning and development opportunities

Monthly prize draw

Retail discount schemes

Health cash plans

Cycle to work scheme

Long service awards

Uniforms provided

Free DBS checks

Qualifications

• A genuine passion for care is required.
• No prior experience is needed; training will be provided.
• Ability to build solid relationships with residents.

Responsibilities

• Help residents with personal care and companionship.
• Support meal preparation and mobility assistance.
• Maintain up-to-date care records.

Skills

Empathy

Flexibility

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

Contract type: Permanent - Part Time (26.25 hpw average). Hours: 7.5 hour shifts (Early Shift: 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Evening Shift: 2:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) on a rolling rota of 3 consecutive days on and 3 consecutive days off. Working Pattern: Days, Weekends.

About Us

Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to providing excellent care with a family feel. We have supported 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, 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.

Role: Care Assistant

Joining us as a Care Assistant, you will help our residents with various tasks including:

• Personal care.
• Companionship.
• Meal preparation.
• Mobility.
• Keeping care records up to date.

We would like our Care Assistant to be someone who has a real passion for care. Someone who sees this as an opportunity to build solid relationships with our residents, to allow them to live well in later life by putting them at the heart of all that you do. Empathetic and respectful, self-motivated and flexible, you will be a team player who is always willing to go the extra mile, enabling our residents to lead fulfilled lives.

No prior experience is needed, as we will give you all the training you’ll need to excel in this role.

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 who 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.