In this blog we discuss how homecare businesses can support employees’ wellness, while still maximising business efficiency.

Post-pandemic pressures

The homecare sector is growing at pace. By 2039, there’s expected to be a rise in demand of 50%. However, this is placing more pressure than ever on the homecare sector, and not enough people are entering the industry to keep up with demand. 

Care managers are therefore working incredibly hard to identify a viable strategy for attracting candidates and retaining their current workforce. It's crucial for care managers to integrate a thoroughly planned support network for their carers, so they’re able to promote the growth of homecare, amid rising mental health difficulties among caregivers as a result of the pressures they experience at work.

So, how can businesses help reduce some of the pressures carers experience to enhance their wellbeing, which has a direct impact on overall productivity, efficiency, and business expansion?

Balancing employee wellness and the drive for productivity 

1. Enhance the carer experience

Caregivers devote their careers to helping those in need because they genuinely want to. However, completing paperwork and performing other administrative tasks can take up a significant portion of their day, time and time again.

By converting to a digital system, this paperwork is able to be handled more quickly and with fewer errors, allowing caregivers to spend more time engaging with and caring for others, which will subsequently develop their confidence.

2. Improve pay to boost efficiency

We all know budgets are tight, however, businesses should be prioritising strategies to increase carers' income. Currently, pay is a major barrier to locating and retaining excellent carers, however homecare businesses are receiving little government support for this. If carers feel as though their employers are trying to compensate them for all the hard work they put in, they’re more likely to feel valued and driven to offer a higher quality service.

3. Supporting career progression

Think about how your business could help your carers to advance their career. For instance, by utilising and promoting the training tools suggested by the industry, such as the Workforce Development Fund and eLearning for Health.

Digital systems can assist you in keeping track of and updating all of your employee management data, including hiring, evaluations, caregiver training and supervision reviews, allowing you to centrally store all records that support caregiver growth.

To find out more about how integrated care management system could support your home care business, call us on 01254 819 200 or book a demo.