A DIRECTOR of an award-winning Leominster-based home care firm has expressed concerns over recruitment and employee retention in the sector.

"It is proving ever more difficult for home care providers like ours to hire staff and retain staff being such a transient work force," said Alice Roberts, director and co-ordinating manager at Marches Home Care Services Ltd, who were named Care Team winners at the Hereford Times' Health and Social Care Awards in 2018.

"A chief cause for concern making recruitment tougher is the lack of recognition care staff have in regard to how hard they work for very little financial reward."

Alice said that her own 'treasured team' of carers who work within the Herefordshire area are committed, loyal, trustworthy and compassionate towards the people they look after.

"Often lonely and vulnerable, the people in their care want highly trained staff to visit, staff who treat their work as a vocation and who visibly enjoy their work, finding it rewarding," she said.

"With staff frequently moving jobs in search of relatively small pay increases, this means we lose continuity of care for our service users which is perhaps the most important thing.

"I think everyone agrees that low pay lies at the heart of the recruitment crisis, and we should recognise the higher status of people working in the care sector, rewarding them for their dedication and the obligation they have to training.

"One of the fundamental ways of doing this is to raise their pay."

After the company's recent success in being awarded the Herefordshire Health and Social Care Team award, Marches Home Care Services are looking to start the New Year by inviting prospective applicants to come and join their specialist team.

"Male and female carers who can be reliable, flexible and who would appreciate to do something very rewarding are welcome," said Alice.

"We will look after you."