AS MANY AS 500 new jobs are set to be created in Lancashire and the North West as a national care company rolls out a new expansion.

These 500 jobs will be part of a total of 1,500 vacancies advertised by live-in care specialists Elder, who maintain offices in Manchester, London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Leeds.

Successful applicants will be based in the homes of elderly people in need of care and as such job openings will be available all over East Lancashire.

CEO Peter Dowds said: “It’s an open offer, you may have been inspired by the heroic efforts of care workers throughout the pandemic.

“You may be working in the health and social care space but want more flexibility over your schedule.

“You may have spent time looking after a loved one and seen how rewarding this sector can be, or you may be facing uncertainty in your current employment.”

He added: “Whichever of these situations you’re in, we want to hear from you.”

The move comes as the popularity of live in care, as opposed to residential care homes, has seen a rise in popularity in part due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Institute for Public Police Research 31% of families are now likely to look for alternatives to care homes due to the high level of virus-related deaths in such institutions.

Mr Dowds said: “This announcement is the result of COVID-19 accelerating a trend we were already seeing; more and more people want to remain in their own homes – even when the time comes to get that extra helping hand.”

The pandemic has also put the residential care sector under unprecedented financial pressure with job losses likely to follow.

As such, Elder is particularly interested in recruiting experienced carers who have left the residential sector.

Mr Dowds said: “You can be an integral part of a solution that’s keeping people safe especially with winter, and the fear of a second wave, on the horizon”

To find out more, visit: www.elder.org.