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Support for homecare workers

If you are a homecare worker (aka a domiciliary care worker), there may be more financial, emotional and legal support available than you realise. Take a look at the list below.

Homecare Workers' Group

Type of support:

Emotional, Practical

Free not-for-profit peer support network for homecare workers in England. WhatsApp Community. Fortnightly online drop ins. Quarterly in-person meetups.

Acas

Type of support:

Legal

"Acas is an independent public body that receives funding from the government. We provide free and impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives on: employment rights; best practice and policies, and;
resolving workplace conflict. When things go wrong, we help to resolve workplace disputes between employers and employees"

Unison

Type of support:

Legal

For a monthly fee, you can join a trade union. Being a member of a trade union means that your voice can be better represented should the union negotiate on behalf of your workforce with the government. Trade union representatives can also provide formal support and representation in relation to any questions or concerns you have about your employment.

GMB

Type of support:

Legal

For a monthly fee, you can join a trade union. Being a member of a trade union means that your voice can be better represented should the union negotiate on behalf of your workforce with the government. Trade union representatives can also provide formal support and representation in relation to any questions or concerns you have about your employment.

Work Rights Centre

Type of support:

Legal, Health & Care Worker visa holders

"We are a charity dedicated to helping migrants and disadvantaged Britons access employment justice and improve their social mobility"

Citizens Advice

Type of support:

Financial

"Our network of independent charities offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. When we say we’re for everyone, we mean it. People rely on us because we’re independent and totally impartial"

Care Workers' Charity

Type of support:

Financial, Emotional

"We provide crisis grants to people have worked in a paid role in the UK’s care sector and are involved in or support the provision of care" CWC also offers "care workers struggling with mental health free treatment with qualified therapists"

Samaritans

Type of support:

Emotional

If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or in despair, a Samaritans volunteer will listen. Call for free on 116 123 to have a chat with a trained volunteer about what's on your mind. If you live in Wales, you can call their main number as above, or their dedicated helpline for health and social care workers on 08004840555 (English line, 7am-11pm) or 08081642777 (Welsh line, 7pm-11pm).

Mind

Type of support:

Emotional

Mind is a national charity which helps support peoples' mental health and wellbeing. As well as each local branch of Mind offering their own set of free services, there is a wealth of useful information on their website.

Company Shop

Type of support:

Financial

Care workers can apply for a free membership to Company Shop, which from their 14 shops around the country sells surplus supermarket stock at discounted prices, including products from top brands.

Blue Light Card

Type of support:

Financial

'Social care workers' qualify for a Blue Light Card which allows us to access to online and in-store discounts from hundreds of retailers as well as savings on holidays and days out. It costs £4.99 in total to register for two years.

Care Visa Sponsor Database

Type of support:

Health & Care Worker visa holders

Created by The Autonomy Institute, "this is a database of social care providers in England licensed to sponsor workers’ visas. It was adapted from a tool developed by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) for its investigation into the exploitation faced by workers who came to the UK on the health and care visa"

UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline

Type of support:

Health & Care Worker visa holders

The UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline is a victim-centred service run by the charity, Unseen. They are not affiliated with the government or the police. If you contact the helpline, advisors will treat everything you say confidentially and will not pass information to anybody (including law enforcement) without your permission, except if there is a threat to life or a child involved. Advisors at the helpline will signpost you in the direction of the most suitable support. With your permission, an advisor can help refer your case to relevant investigative agencies such as the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority or the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for modern slavery.

International Recruitment Hubs

Type of support:

Health & Care Worker visa holders

Here are the details of all the International Recruitment Hubs which have been funded by the government to support migrant care workers in each region of the country.

Project 17

Type of support:

Health & Care Worker visa holders

"Project 17 works to end destitution among migrant families with no recourse to public funds. We work with families experiencing exceptional poverty to improve their access to local authority support. "

Homecare Workers' Group C.I.C

Ingenuity Centre, University Of Nottingham

Innovation Park

Triumph Road

Nottingham

England

NG7 2TU

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