A CARE company is urging former staff from sectors such as hospitality, retail and the arts to consider a career in care.

As the pandemic leaves some people facing unemployment, Home Instead Durham has seen a surge in demand for home care and has 20 roles to fill.

Owner Trudi Jameson said: “It’s our mission at Home Instead to provide our clients with the best possible caregivers for them personally.

“We are keen to offer like-minded, warm-hearted people that want to make a true difference through an alternative, rewarding career path.”

One of its workers, Mike Schraner, joined the company in 2016, after 12 years as a house lighting engineer and stage manager.

He said: “For the past five years I have been a caregiver. I was seeking a career change and had never considered care until I saw a Home Instead advert.

“I went for a chat with one one of the staff and found myself carrying out a trial period with the company. Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. I love the interaction with clients, and it is seldom, if ever, boring. It has taught me to be a better and more caring person.”

Home Instead supports clients to live as independently as possible, by caregivers that they come to know well and who visit for a minimum of an hour at a time.

Caregivers’ duties are tailored to the needs of individual clients and ranges from companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, post-discharge care, personal care, shopping and errands.

To find out more about Home Instead Durham and their caregiving vacancies, call 0191-3744041 or visit homeinstead.co.uk/durham