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Private health firm to create 10,000 new jobs for carers


Private healthcare company Cera Care is creating 10,000 new jobs for home carers to support elderly or vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak, and to provide work for those who have lost their jobs.

The firm said it will offer successful applicants training courses and assessments through its digital platform, allowing them to become formally certified as carers and able to start earning money after 10 days.

The home care company said it wants people who have lost their jobs in retail, hospitality, travel or other sectors during the outbreak to apply for the roles, which involve providing care to elderly or vulnerable people in their own home.

Cera Care, which employs 2,000 people nationwide, is creating positions across the UK.

Symptoms are defined by the NHS as either:

  • a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
  • a new continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly

NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days.

If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home.

After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine. But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they’re at home for longer than 14 days.

If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.

If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.

After 7 days, if you no longer have a high temperature you can return to your normal routine.

If you still have a high temperature, stay at home until your temperature returns to normal.

If you still have a cough after 7 days, but your temperature is normal, you do not need to continue staying at home. A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone.

Staying at home means you should:

  • not go to work, school or public areas
  • not use public transport or taxis
  • not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home
  • not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home

You can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, use the NHS 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do.

Source: NHS England on 23 March 2020

Horus Patel, Cera’s chief technology officer, said the firm is using its existing technology to help people return to work, and that the roles are intended to last beyond the peak of the outbreak.

“These are long-term positions within our company, and we hope this will encourage those recently left without work, or even those currently employed, to consider getting trained and becoming part of this crucial community,” Patel said.

The government has advised eight million people aged over 70, or 12% of the UK population, as well as those with pre-existing medical conditions, to remain at home and avoid unnecessary social contact for at least 12 weeks to protect themselves from the spread of Covid-19. Cera Care says on its website that its carers are “trained to reduce the risk of infection”.

The London-based firm, which was founded in November 2016, currently provides more than 10,000 care visits each day.

Cera, which is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, says it improves care services for elderly people through data analytics.

In addition, Cera’s app can provide family members and medical workers with current information about an individual’s health.

Cera has partnerships with organisations such as the NHS, Uber, Deliveroo and IBM.



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