This project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund.
Support into care work
A free employment support programme
Free help and support to prepare you for employment
Keep learning during the coronavirus crisis with our recently improved online training programmes that you can access at home or via your phone
We provide 1-2-1 support with our employment advisors helping you gain employment in the health and care sector
Please call us on 01582 470900 or email us to find out more.
We know and understand how difficult it can be to find work.
If you have worked in care before or are exploring new areas of work, then we can help you.
Being unemployed can be a difficult time. Previous areas of work may not be available to you anymore.
Our care and work programme could be the starting point you need.
If you wish to return to work in some way but are unsure how to start, then we can help with 1-2-1 support with our employment advisors
- We’ll design a package of training and support to help you achieve your goals
- Our employment advisors will ensure that it all fits with your own learning style; by understanding your strengths and any areas you need to develop
- We will then help you to find work opportunities and submit confident job applications
Please call us on 01582 470900 or email us to find out more.
What’s covered?
Our care and employment support will help develop your care and employability skills.
We will explore suitable work options and can help you to find and apply for jobs.
We can also link you with all our current vacancies for working as a personal assistant.
We can help you identify all the skills and qualities you have to offer and how these relate to working in care.
With these building blocks in place we’ll help you to produce your CV, apply to online vacancies (including CarePair) and develop your interview skills.
Support can include:
Employability skills
- Identify transferable skills
- Job sourcing
- CV writing
- Interview techniques
- Applying online
- Registering on CarePair
- Exploring local work opportunities
- Covering letters and emails
Care Skills
- Different roles in the care sector
- Being a Personal Assistant
- Safeguarding
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Accessing online learning
- The Care Certificate
- Accessing further information
- Wider support
- Money management
- Wellbeing
- IT skills
- ‘Better off in work’ calculations
Working in care as a Personal Assistant (PA)
You can find out more about becoming a Personal Assistant (PA) here:
- Explore jobs roles, watch videos from other PAs and learn all about working as a PA on the Every Day is Different website
- Learn all about working as a PA, along with practical advice to help you find work, do training and access support networks on the Skills for Care website
- Read case studies and learn what skills and experience you need to become a PA in care on the Skills for Care website
Attend an information session to find out more
If you are interested in knowing what it is like to work as a Personal Assistant (PA) in care with a disabled person, please drop in (to our new online meetings) on Fridays at 10am to talk to someone who knows all about it.
You can join our new online meetings every Friday at 10am.
If you are using a mobile device or tablet then you’ll need the Whereby online meeting app.
Download the free Whereby app for Android devices and Apple devices.
Learning from home
Keep learning during the coronavirus crisis with our recently improved online training programmes that you can access at home. Our training may include:
- Regular sessions at our virtual classrooms
- Support from your tutor by email and phone
- Online lessons via our new online courses
Our support and training programmes are popular
We are very pleased to receive many great reviews from people who have taken part in our programmes. Here are just some of the nice things people say about us:
- “This workshop made a huge difference to my daily life”
- “Understanding a lot more about myself has helped me to be positive and confident”
- “Brilliant course, very impressed. Tutor was great”.
- “The course was good and I learnt a lot”
- “The course is helping to develop my skills, my self-
confidence and self-esteem”
Join our brand new and free support programme
If you are a carer, over 50 or have a physical disability, long-term health conditions or mental ill health then you may meet the eligibility criteria for support.
Our project is delivered in Luton, Bedfordshire, Northampton, Kettering, Daventry, Aylesbury and Cherwell.
If you are unsure about any aspect of this programme then please do ask.
Call the team on 01582 470970 or email us with any questions and to book your place on the course.
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We are here for you…
During the new lockdown our team members are all working at home and available to help you, so please do get in contact.
Phone: 01582 470 900
Email: info@drcbeds.org.uk
WhatsApp: 07871 744157
Text us: 07871 744157
Talk to us via Facebook Messenger
Instant help
Simply click the pink ‘Chat with us’ button below, open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
Our support and advice services will continue as normal during the new national lockdown
You can contact us by phone or via one of our online platforms: website chat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and you can text us with your mobile phone.
New central office
We have moved out of our Poynters House venue to the Rufus Centre in Flitwick.
This move is for our internal teams only. However, once we remove the Covid-19 restrictions we will have a new venue in Dunstable/Luton for you to visit very soon.
Free online exercises classes
We are breaking down the barriers to exercising at home.
For people living in Bedfordshire and Luton only.
We are breaking down the barriers and are launching an exciting package of support to help people living in Bedfordshire and Luton to exercise safely at home including:
- Free beginner-level online classes by local fitness professionals
- Join the free classes online by live video or watch pre-recorded sessions and exercise any time
- Free exercise equipment hire of items like resistance bands and balls
Free tablet computer hire and technology training for people without a smartphone, PC/Mac or tablet, so they can join the online sessions
Employment support programmes
Choose from 5 brand new and free employment support programmes from our award-winning team…
Free training workshops for PAs in care
See the new timetable for November to December 2020 including full descriptions, dates and times.
We are running free workshops on these topics and more:
Emergency First Aid*, Health and safety*, Safeguarding adults, Epilepsy awareness, Emotional freedom technique and Covid-19, Learning disabilities awareness, Autism awareness, Deaf awareness, Infection, prevention and control*, Equality and Diversity* and more.
Your open door to advice in Central Bedfordshire
AdviceCentral helps residents of Central Bedfordshire to find the best local and national advice on a wide range of topics including:
Help for carers in Luton
We offer lots of free 1-2-1 help and advice by phone, email and online meetups.
