FAQs

For Career and Support Services

Support Services FAQs

Yes, home care workers can assist with medication administration, but their ability to do so depends on their training. Some home care providers may have taken the decision to only prompt people to take medication, or only dispense from blister packed medication. Our care workers are trained to prompt, dispense and administer medication and their level of need would need to be discussed and agreed in a tailored care plan.

Absolutely, we can accommodate short-term or temporary respite care packages. This provides short-term support for your loved one while the primary caregiver takes a well-deserved break. Our services are tailored to you and your loved one’s needs, designed to ensure continuity of care during your absence. Speak with our team to explore how we can support you with respite care.

Home care for the elderly includes a range of services tailored to meet individual needs, such as:

  • Personal care: Bathing, dressing, and mobility assistance.
  • Companionship: Social interaction to reduce isolation.
  • Household tasks: Cleaning, cooking, and grocery shopping.
  • Health monitoring: Medication reminders and coordination with healthcare providers.

See our support services page for more detail on all of the above. In addition, our team can answer any questions you may have and as part of our process, will help you build a customised care plan for your loved one.

Home care is ideal for individuals living with dementia, offering tailored support such as activities that promote mental engagement and stimulate personal connections. Care in your loved one’s home, can help in establishing stable routines in familiar surroundings to minimise confusion. Home care services also permit professional observation to detect and manage changes in behaviour or health. Our experienced carers are trained to provide compassionate dementia care tailored to your needs.

Following hospital discharge, the Local Authority may setup an assessment to determine the level of support required by the individual and whether this is short or long term. Funded care may be put in place for a finite period or for an unspecified amount of time. A financial assessment will also be carried out during this process and fees may be due depending on earnings and financial circumstances. Where families are working proactively to seek out care & support themselves, there can be funding available in the form of Attendance Allowance that can help towards the costs of privately funded care.

Yes, but hiring private care independently comes with additional responsibilities, such as:

  • Ensuring carers have proper training and insurance.
  • Managing legal and tax requirements as an employer.

Working with a registered home care provider like ours eliminates these challenges, providing peace of mind and high-quality care.

Privately funded care offers several advantages, including your ability to choose which provider you have caring for your loved one. Local Authority funded care is provided based on a number of factors though the family and individual receiving care have no say in who this is. Seeking out care services yourself comes at a cost, but affords choice. Direct Payments is another way to access care that enables care & support to be funded by Local Authorities, yet allows the individual the choice of which provider they’d like to work with, often having to ‘top up’ the amount paid by a small amount, to get the provider of choice.

Private care is ideal for those seeking premium and bespoke services for themselves or their loved ones.

All home care workers should be registered with Social Care Wales in order to meet the standardised conduct expected of anyone working in care. They are also fully insured and subject to full background checks. Our carer workers are fully insured and undergo rigorous background checks, including:

  • Enhanced DBS checks (Disclosure and Barring Service).
  • Verification of qualifications and experience.
  • Ongoing professional development and training in line with and above the standards set by Social Care Wales

We prioritise safety and professionalism to give you peace of mind.

Home carer workers can provide a wide range of support, including:

  • Personal care: Bathing, dressing, and toileting.
  • Domestic tasks: Cleaning, meal preparation, and shopping.
  • Medical assistance: Medication reminders and health monitoring.
  • Companionship: Social interaction and support with hobbies.

Your care plan will be designed to cover exactly what you need. You should discuss what help & support your looking for with your preferred provider. Please see our Support Services page for more detail on all of the above.

Yes, home care can help with mobility issues in a number of ways:

  • Helping with transfers: From bed to wheelchair or chair.
  • Assistance with walking: Using walking aids or offering physical support.
  • Adapting the environment: Risk assessing and providing guidance on how to improve the home environment for all involved

You home care provider should work closely with you to determine needs and support. All of this should be detailed in a tailored care plan, working towards achievable goals – people may wish to remain active following an operation and may need motivation and/or physical support to avoid becoming deskilled. We work closely with you and your loved ones, and external medical professionals to provide comprehensive support that is monitored regularly and changed when needed.

The costs of privately funded home care can vary, depending on factors like:

  • Type of care: How many care workers required and for what tasks
  • Hours required: Full-time, part-time, or occasional support.
  • Additional services: Travel, equipment, activities or specialist training.

For a more comprehensive list of the care and support we can provide, please take a look at our Support Services page. Alternatively, give our friendly team a call. We provide transparent pricing and a no-obligation quote based on your needs. Our final pricing will be provided after we have conducted a no-obligation in-home assessment to ensure we can fully meet the needs of your loved ones, safely and to the level you expect.

Of course. Home care is designed to be flexible, allowing:

  • Adjustments to care plans: As health conditions or personal preferences change.
  • Temporary increases: For short-term requirements like post-surgery recovery.
  • Upgrades or reductions: Based on your ongoing evaluation, outcomes and goals.

We regularly review care plans to ensure they remain relevant and effective. We have a clear process that we’re required to adhere to in order to maintain our ISO 9001 quality management accreditation. Ask a member of our team to talk you through our onboarding process and how we keep abreast of any and all changes, ensuring all care plans remain tailored and specific to your loved ones.

Home care providers will have differing service offers and some may focus on one area whilst others can provider support across a range. It’s important to research your preferred provider and ensure they can meet your needs. Our care workers receive specialised training to support mental health, including:

  • Managing anxiety and depression: Offering emotional support and coping strategies.
  • Building routines: Encouraging stability and structure in daily life.
  • Specialised needs: Supporting clients with conditions like PTSD or bipolar disorder.

We aim to provide compassionate care that promotes well-being and dignity.

Yes, home care services can be accessed at short notice though it will depend on the resources of your preferred provider. It’s important to be clear about your expectations and timeframe when enquiring to determine whether your preferred provider can ensure they can meet the needs of your loved ones. We understand that care needs can arise unexpectedly. We will always try to accommodate your needs wherever possible. Contact us anytime to arrange urgent support.

Home care providers may be able to offer initial meetings with the team and frontline care workers. Often you may only be able to meet with the more senior members of staff but you should enquire with your preferred provider as to whether this is feasible, especially if this is something particularly important to you and your loved ones. Meeting with those who will be working with your loved ones day in, day out can help:

  • Build trust and rapport: Ensuring compatibility and comfort right from the start
  • Discuss specific needs/goals: Directly with the care worker and team ahead of starting to work together
  • Make informed decisions: About who will provide care.

We value your input in selecting the right carer for you or your loved one though it is important to note that for a number of reasons, it is not possible to choose your loved ones care worker. We take every opportunity to best match your loved one to a care worker(s).

Yes, services are not limited to the elderly however there are generally less providers who can offer the required support. It’s important to ask this of your preferred provider. We have been providing care to younger adults for a number of years.

We provide:

  • Support for disabilities: Physical or learning difficulties.
  • Rehabilitation care: After surgeries or injuries.
  • Mental health assistance: Tailored to individual circumstances.

All of our care & support is customised to suit the unique needs of younger adults. We have a keen focus on outcomes and goals, promoting independence and encouraging people to strive towards their goals.

Yes, your home care provider should offer you a choice. Your care & support should be built around you and your loved ones. Our care services are flexible and can be arranged:

  • Based on your preferences: To fit your loved one’s needs
  • Including weekends and holidays: if and when required

We aim to accommodate your specific requirements for maximum convenience. If you need to cancel due to changes at home, we can work with you as long as we have sufficient notice. Terms will be documented in your care agreement and you can ask our team at any time if you have any questions about this.

Yes, home care providers can offer companionship – it is an integral part of many providers’ care, offering. Companionship improves overall well-being and reduces feelings of isolation.

Here are some examples of the kind of companionship support we’re able to provide:

  • Social engagement: Accompanying people on outings or to appointments.
  • Conversation and support: Building meaningful relationships.
  • Encouragement: Assisting with hobbies or interests.

The level of support your loved ones require, whether it be personal care, companionship, a combination of the two, or more will all be documented in your loved one’s personalised care plan. This can be amended at any time as needs change. Take a look at our Support Services page for more detail on this, or you can ask our team about the support you’re looking for.

Yes, your loved one’s care plan should always be able to be changed when needed. THe care plan should be a working document and should be easy to access. Your care provider should also carry out regular reviews of the care plan to ensure that it is up-to-date. We offer flexibility to adapt your care plan as needed, including:

  • Increasing or reducing care hours.
  • Adding or removing services.
  • Adjusting schedules.

Regular reviews help us keep your care plan aligned with your needs. Where increases to care and support is required, additional costs may be incurred, and these will need to be agreed by all parties before changes to care & support services can be actioned.

Home care providers should follow strict protocols to protect your privacy, including:

  • Adhering to data protection laws: Such as GDPR.
  • Secure record-keeping: Both physical and digital.
  • Staff training: On confidentiality and professional boundaries.

We ensure all of the above and constantly monitor our workforce capabilities to ensure accurate and up-to-date record-keeping. Our services are ISO 9001 accredited meaning we need to adhere to a globally recognised quality standard, part of which is ensuring data is handled safely. You can rest assured that your information is handled with the utmost care and respect if you choose Pineshield as your provider.

In the rare instance your regular carer is unavailable, we:

  • Provide a substitute: A qualified and briefed carer will step in.
  • Communicate in advance: Informing you of the change and ensuring minimal disruption.

Our priority is maintaining continuity and quality of care.

Yes, our private care services can assist with:

  • Light housekeeping: Tidying, laundry, and cleaning specific areas.
  • Meal preparation: Ensuring clients enjoy nutritious, home-cooked meals.
  • Errands and shopping: Helping with groceries or picking up medications.

We tailor these services to your preferences while focusing on maintaining a comfortable environment.

Private care is designed for clients who wish to remain in their own homes and offers:

  • Personalised care: Tailored to individual needs in a familiar environment.
  • Flexibility: Hours, tasks, and services that fit the client’s preferences.
  • Cost control: Paying only for the services required, unlike comprehensive fees in residential care.

It allows clients to maintain their independence while receiving professional support.

Costs depend on:

  • Level of care: Basic assistance, specialist care, or live-in support.
  • Frequency of visits: Hourly, daily, or 24/7 services.
  • Specific needs: Tailored support such as medical tasks or companionship.

We provide transparent pricing with no hidden fees, offering value for your investment in care.

Yes, our post-discharge care focuses on:

  • Rehabilitation support: Mobility, exercise, and recovery plans.
  • Medication management: Ensuring prescriptions are followed accurately.
  • Preventing readmission: Through monitoring and proactive care.

We collaborate with healthcare teams to ensure a smooth transition back home.

Carers assist with activities that promote mental and physical well-being, such as:

  • Social engagement: Conversations, games, or local events.
  • Hobbies: Gardening, knitting, or other personal interests.
  • Physical activities: Walks, light exercise, or tailored fitness routines.

Our focus is on enhancing the quality of life through meaningful activities.

Career FAQs

WeCare Wales have created an interactive resource - 'A Question of Care' - that gives you feedback on your values and skills, helping guide you into thinking about where you might need to develop your knowledge and ultimately decide whether to pursue a career in care.

The fact that you're considering it is one step towards you recognising your potential. If you have any questions at all about care work, please do get in touch with our friendly staff team who will be happy to help advise you on what might be right for you; whether that's applying for a role at Pineshield or elsewhere within the social care sector

Personal care is a big part of care work but it’s not the only part of the job. We’ve put together a resource to help you understand what kind of personal tasks you’d be expected to undertake as part of your role; particularly useful if you’ve not worked in care before.

Follow the link to check out our interactive page that gives you more information on each element of personal care. If you have any questions or concerns, please do get in touch

Your employment contract is an important document, but it shouldn’t be scary! We’ve created a summary document that lets you know what’s included in your contract so you can become familiar with everything before signing. We encourage you to read your contract in full before you sign, and you’ll have the opportunity to do so once you’ve been invited to contract signing after successful offer of employment.

We often get asked whether recruits need to be drivers. The reality is that access to your own transport means for more flexibility in a field of work that is centred around travelling from one home to the next, however just because you can’t drive doesn’t mean you don’t have the skills to be a brilliant care worker; we recruit based on values and attitude.

If you can demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in how you will make every effort to attend your calls through conversations with us, and committing to particular ways of working, we will be sure to give you every opportunity to succeed.

Find out more in the vacancies section

If you are a driver, you may be wondering what you need;

  • Access to vehicle you can use for work when required.
  • Business class insurance (talk to us about this to find out more as this is often included in standard insurance packages).
  • Valid tax and MOT to ensure your car is legally roadworthy.

You’ll also need to present us with your valid driving licence, registered to your current address. We need this information to ensure we can evidence we are employing staff who are legally allowed to drive and are providing a safe environment for those we support. We can help you to easily check if your car is roadworthy with some simple online forms available to the public for free so please don't worry if you don't have the information to hand.

We require specific forms of ID in order to apply for a criminal record check, or ‘Disclosure and Barring Services’ (DBS) check. This ensures that we can provide evidence that we have taken every step possible to protect the people we support and aim to provide a safe environment for the individuals who need our services.

It’s important to note that having past convictions will not automatically reject you from our recruitment process. We will of course have to carefully consider any offences that are linked to the work that we do and the people we support. 

What is important is to be open and honest when applying - our application form and interview questions allow opportunity for this to be discussed in a confidential manner – this helps us to avoid wasting any of your time and allows us to get a better picture of your character.

Upon receiving your DBS check, if there are listed convictions, we will ask you to provide a statement for each conviction and will complete a risk assessment to determine whether we can take the application further. Each case is dealt with separately so please do not let this be a barrier to applying.

If you have any questions about this, please do get in touch. We work with people every day and we know that people can change, and that people can make mistakes. We are very keen to employ people who have the right values and do not judge people based on their past.

The documents that are ideal are:

  • Passport
  • Birth certificate
  • And driving licence

Other documents that are useful include:

  • Utility bill (last 3months)
  • P45 or P60 (last 12months)
  • Marriage certificate (note that if you have since divorced we will need evidence of this too)

For a full list of ID if you do not have the documents above, please follow the link to the gov.uk website.

It’s also important to note that we will require 5years of address history, so if you’ve had a number of addresses over the years, please do spend some time trying to remember at least the postcode(s) and house numbers of the homes you’ve lived at so that we can put them into the system. We’ll also need you to remember the month and year you moved from one house to the next, so please come prepared. If you're concerned about this, please talk to us.

If you have ever changed your name through marriage, deed poll or other means, we will need you to provide evidence of such changes too.

Social Care Wales have set expectations that all care workers working in Wales must be registered as professionals, much in the same way as GP or nurse is expected to.

To find out more about care worker registration, follow the link to our dedicated page.

We offer a wealth of company benefits that all employees are entitled to. Follow the link to our company benefits page which talks about them in detail

Have Any Further Questions?

Feel free to contact us today with any queries you may have!

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TRAINING

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SUPPORT SERVICES

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CAREERS

Find out about our current vacancies and how to apply.

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