Home on recruitment drive

A care home manager is undertaking an urgent search to bring in a number of staff on maternity cover in light of a baby boom in her team.

Six care assistants at Balhousie Ruthven Towers care home in Auchterarder have either recently had a baby or are pregnant.

And the situation has left home manager Emma Roberts with a significant recruitment challenge.

She explained: “Two members of the team have had babies in the past few months and three more recently went on maternity leave.

“Another of our team of care assistants is due to have a baby in the spring as well, so we will soon have six of our full-time care assistants on maternity leave at the same time.”

While delighted to have so many of her team set to be hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet in the coming weeks and months, Emma is actively looking for people to fill their shoes.

Emma said: “By coincidence, they are all care assistants so we are actively looking for people interested in care roles.

“No previous experience is required, you just need to be over 18 years old and enjoy a challenging, but hugely rewarding working environment.”

Two of the pregnant care assistants, Beth Ross ( 22) and Kelly McPhee ( 23), both recently went on maternity leave and are both due their first babies days apart.

“I’m due December 27 and Kelly’s due on the 31st,” said Beth. “Because of the type of work we do, it is difficult to work close to your due date so we have gone on maternity leave a few months before our due dates.”

Emma added: “The work involved in being a carer can be physical so to ensure the wellbeing of our pregnant team members, their finishing dates had to be mindful of how they have been handling the work.

“Kelly, Beth and all of our pregnant team members did brilliantly well and can now relax before they get a whole new kind of challenge.”

To find out more or to apply, email careers@balhousiecare.co.uk or call Emma directly on 01764 664192.