Scheduler

Home Instead; Folkestone; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Mileage allowance (45p per mile)

On-call rota pay

Employee benefits and discounts

Employee assistance programme

Induction and professional development

Job summary

Home Instead Folkestone, Hythe & Ashford is seeking a Scheduler to ensure clients receive reliable, well-coordinated care. You will create and maintain schedules for clients and Care Professionals, considering care needs, availability, location and travel time.

In this full-time, office-based role, you will plan ahead for leave, respond to day-to-day changes, and coordinate with care, recruitment and quality teams. Driving licence and vehicle access are required for this role.

Qualifications

• Experience in scheduling within home care is preferred.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Ability to plan ahead while adapting to changes.
• UK work rights and full driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain and publish accurate schedules for clients and Care Professionals.
• Coordinate cover for outstanding visits and respond effectively to changes in availability.
• Plan ahead for annual leave, training, weekends and other periods with additional cover.
• Match Care Professionals with clients based on care needs, skills, compatibility, availability and location.
• Promote continuity by providing clients with consistent Care Professionals and visit times.
• Respond calmly and practically to sickness, cancellations and urgent scheduling changes.
• Communicate changes clearly with clients, families, Care Professionals and colleagues.
• Arrange introductions between clients and Care Professionals when required.
• Ensure travel time between visits is realistic and schedules are practical.
• Maintain accurate records of scheduling changes, conversations and actions.
• Identify patterns or pressures in the schedule and develop suitable solutions.

Skills

Organisation

Problem-solving

Communication

Attention to detail

Job description

• Compensation: GBP 26,000 - GBP 28,000 - yearly

Company Description

Home Instead Folkestone, Hythe & Ashford provides high-quality, relationship-led care that enables older people to remain safe, independent and comfortable in their own homes.

Our mission is to brighten the lives of our clients by giving them a sense of purpose, wellbeing and worth. Behind every successful care visit is a well-planned schedule, and our Scheduler plays an important role in ensuring clients receive safe, reliable and consistent support.

We are looking for an organised, resilient and proactive individual to join our friendly and experienced office team in Folkestone.

Job Description

As our Scheduler, you will play a central role in ensuring our clients receive reliable, consistent and well-coordinated care.

You will be responsible for creating and maintaining effective schedules for our clients and Care Professionals, taking into account individual care needs, availability, skills, location, travel time and continuity of care.

Working closely with colleagues across our care, recruitment and quality teams, you will help anticipate future scheduling needs, respond to day‑to‑day changes and find practical solutions when challenges arise.

This is a varied and fast‑paced role that would suit someone who enjoys organising, communicating and problem‑solving. You will be supported by an experienced office team while having the confidence and autonomy to manage your responsibilities effectively.

Key responsibilities include:

• Creating, maintaining and publishing accurate schedules for clients and Care Professionals within agreed timescales.
• Coordinating cover for outstanding visits and responding effectively to changes in availability.
• Planning ahead for annual leave, training, weekends and other periods where additional cover may be required.
• Matching Care Professionals with clients based on care needs, skills, compatibility, availability and location.
• Promoting continuity by providing clients with consistent Care Professionals and visit times wherever possible.
• Responding calmly and practically to sickness, cancellations and urgent scheduling changes.
• Communicating changes clearly and promptly with clients, families, Care Professionals and office colleagues.
• Arranging introductions between clients and Care Professionals when required.
• Ensuring travel time between visits is realistic and schedules are practical and achievable.
• Monitoring Care Professional availability and sharing future recruitment or capacity requirements with the wider team.
• Contributing scheduling information when new care packages or changes to existing support are being considered.
• Maintaining accurate records of scheduling changes, conversations and agreed actions.
• Identifying patterns or pressures within the schedule and working with the wider team to develop suitable solutions.
• Providing regular updates on scheduling priorities, progress and any areas requiring additional support.
• Developing positive and professional relationships with clients, families, Care Professionals and colleagues.
• Participating in the out‑of‑hours on‑call rota and supporting the effective management of urgent issues.

This is a full‑time, office‑based position working Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm, with participation in the out‑of‑hours on‑call rota.

Qualifications

Previous experience in scheduling within home care would be an advantage. We also welcome applications from candidates with relevant experience in care coordination, logistics, workforce planning or another fast‑paced scheduling environment.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the confidence to make practical decisions.
• The ability to plan ahead while responding effectively to unexpected changes.
• A calm, resilient and positive approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• The ability to manage several competing demands effectively.
• Confidence using scheduling systems and other digital platforms.
• The ability to work independently while remaining a supportive and accountable member of the wider team.
• A willingness to learn from feedback and contribute to improvements.
• An understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• A good standard of written and spoken English.

Applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence, have access to a vehicle for work purposes and have the right to work in the UK.

Additional Information

What we offer:

• A competitive salary of £26,000–£28,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Full‑time working hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm.
• Additional payment for participation in the out‑of‑hours on‑call rota.
• Paid mileage of 45p per mile when travelling for work.
• Company pension scheme.
• Support from an experienced local and professional team.
• Refer a Friend Scheme with a £250 bonus.
• Employee benefits and discount scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing professional development.
• Staff recognition awards, birthday schemes and company events.
• The opportunity to play an important part in delivering high‑quality care within the local community.

Due to the nature of our work, this position is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.