care assistant

care worker

caregiver

in home caregiver

home assistant

Alina Homecare

I have nothing nice to say about this company. During the training stages/sorting out references they were rude and accused my reference of lying because she had received no emails, which could have easily been a mistake in the email. When I asked a simple question as to whether I needed to complete my care booklet before I did completion training, I was met with a very rude response when it was a very valid question. When I went to the Eastleigh office to do my final training the staff were very unprofessional, constantly swearing, ignoring me, talking about going out drinking, etc. I was told I would hear from someone that day as to when I would start my shadow shifts, I did not hear from anyone for 5 days and the person who contacted me knew nothing about me, showing no communication between the team. I was then told I would get shifts sorted that day, I then didn't hear from anyone for 2 more days and another person contacted me who also knew nothing about me, but did get shifts sorted for me for the next day. However, when I arrived for my shift the next day, I was sent to the wrong house, but couldn't contact my manager as despite asking 5 times prior, no one would tell me who it was. So I had to contact the person who set my shadow shifts up and they told me that they had sent me to the wrong place and sent me somewhere else. An hour into my first shift and I finally start but it is nothing short of a nightmare. The staff were rude about clients, no PPE was provided, paperwork had not been updated, meds sheets were filled out incorrectly, I was informed about how I would be given only a few shadow shifts and then would be on my own, despite having no experience in this field and the clients require equipment I was not trained to use, I was informed how alina will try to force me into situation i am not comfortable with so to try and say no, I was told how no one uses gloves to administer medication, I was also informed that competency tests were not done correctly, instead of watching you do a task and asking question to ensure you can do them, they just ask a few simple questions and you get to revise it before. However, the thing that I really did not like was that it was the clients responsibility to always pay for your travel when you go somewhere with them, out of their own pocket, despite having limited budgets and paying a ridiculous amount for care as it is, it felt like stealing. 

After one shadow shift I saw nothing good about this company and quit, they showed very poor practice and their own staff had nothing good to say. Do yourself a favour and do not work for them and do not allow your loved ones to be under their care.

I have worked for Alina Homecare in Leatherhead for 2.5 years and have been genuinely impressed by the ethos of the company, and its commitment to providing the very highest standards of care for our clients.  We are a small, friendly and supportive team with a very proactive and supportive Manager, who is always willing to listen, advise and support.   
The company will endeavour to offer the working hours of your choice, which enables each member of staff to achieve a better work/life balance.  
I  was impressed by the thorough induction training which was provided when I first joined the company, and regular training updates are provided, as well as the opportunity to undertake other training courses of interest to the role.  
We are given regular supervision both individually, and also as a group, and our Manager ensures that we are always updated with all relevant information. We have regular team meetings and are always encouraged to voice opinions, discuss concerns etc.
In terms of salary and benefits, we are now being paid for our travel time between client visits, as well as being given a mileage allowance, and I believe our salary compares very favourably with other care providers. 
Additionally, we are paid for our time when on training courses and for attending meetings, and our uniforms are supplied free of charge. 
We have had a great deal support during the Covid crisis, and have been well provided with all necessary PPE to ensure the well-being of ourselves and the clients.
I am extremely happy in my role, and feel well supported and valued. In particular, I enjoy being able to build a rapport with the clients I visit, and I find the work itself rewarding and enjoyable.
I strongly feel that Alina constantly strives as a company to provide the best possible care of our clients, and a supportive work structure for the staff. 


There is no typical day: we receive our rotas a few days before the working week begins so any changes or queries can be sorted in plenty of time. Management will do their very best to accomodate time off if needed which is why there is a work/life balance - you can work all the hours you would like. 

The salary is certainly better than what most Care Companies offer - but then Alina are certainly not most Care Companies! They value their staff, and yes we work hard, but because we want to, not because we feel we have to. The Bristol South Management team are so incredibly supportive and are there to metaphorically hold our hands, put an arm around our shoulders, offer any advice and guidance that is needed - anytime, day or night.  Alina Bristol South encourage a culture where all us carers not only feel incredibly valued but also very involved with all our clients in our care. We have regular meetings (online at the moment) where we can, at different times to make sure everyone can get involved; communication with management and carers and between carers themselves is excellent and always constant ensuring the care of our clients is always paramount.

The hardest part of the job is learning to switch off in "down time". Because we have such a supportive management team, a wonderful team of carers, and to be honest, incredibly lucky and privileged in looking after the clients we do, when I do have time off I still feel the need to know what's going on!!

Whether you are an experienced carer, or about to dip your toe into the health and social care world;  in fact whatever walk of life, I thororoughly recommend Alina Homecare. I have been with Alina for almost a year and am now an Ambassador and taking my NVQs through Alina's academy, as well as doing lots of other relevant online courses that can be done in my own time.  Alina I am sure, are one of the few Care Companies that not only takes precious care of their clients and their families; but the Carers and all the staff that work for them too! 

After working as a Care Worker for seven years, moving into the Care Coordinator role for the past six months has been a rewarding and valuable career progression. A typical day involves coordinating care schedules, supporting care staff, communicating with clients and their families, handling last-minute changes, and ensuring high-quality care is delivered efficiently. Every day brings new challenges, requiring good organisation, problem-solving, and communication skills.

This role has helped me develop a better understanding of care planning, staff coordination, time management, and leadership. It has also strengthened my ability to make decisions under pressure while maintaining a person-centred approach to care.

Management has been supportive and approachable, providing guidance when needed while encouraging professional development. The workplace culture is caring, respectful, and team-focused, with colleagues working together to provide the best possible service for clients.

The hardest part of the job is managing unexpected staff shortages or last-minute changes while ensuring continuity of care. Although this can be demanding, it has improved my resilience and ability to prioritise effectively.

The most enjoyable part of the role is supporting both clients and care staff, knowing that my work helps ensure people receive safe, reliable, and compassionate care. It is satisfying to use the knowledge I gained during seven years as a Care Worker to support others and contribute to the smooth running of the service. Overall, the role has been a positive and rewarding experience, offering continuous learning and opportunities for further career growth.


Your time at Alina starts with the lengthy induction, pages upon pages of paperwork to fill out in a huge binder. You are not paid for your time to do this and it runs over four days. The trainer at my office was particularly nice (apart from nodding off at the end of each session).

A typical day involves feeling highly stressed and rushed between calls. Very little time is given to travel from one destination to another.

The company boasts a salary of £10 PH and £12PH on weekends, but it is near on impossible to earn this wage as calls never reach an hour. Average call times at the clients home last between 20-35 minutes, some calls you earn as low as £2.16pm as you arrive the client wants you in and out (thus bringing you wages right down).

Even worse is the call logging system is faulty. This wouldn't be so bad if you weren't scored out of 100% each each for log in's and log out's, but you are scored and tracked. It's near on impossible to achieve 100%. Every week I worked at the company I saw my managers name in the red.

You can never feel safe in the fact you will take home an average wage each month, even worse the payment run is an absolute joke, you never can be sure what day it will fall on....making life extremely difficult to pay bills. 

Calls start at 7am and end at the latest 10pm. So the days are long and your social life suffers. You are continuously called and text even on your days off making it impossible to switch off from work and rest even for a day.

The type of  clients Alina takes on is a broad spectrum, but mainly they seem to take on very demanding, rude and abusive clients. This includes those who swear at you continuously and bully you through-out your calls. No wonder the staff turn over is so high and many of the carers had expressed their misery to me.

Alina Homecare does not only do home care, they have services where several persons are looked after.
First thing to know, if  you are good friends with management member/s, you will get along fine, your faults will be covered up, even lies will be fabricated to protect the friend.
If you are not "liked" by management, you are doomed. Even if you report something serious that a "friend" staff member committed, you will be the one getting into trouble, they will make sure of that.
All sorts of maltreatments are present daily, support plans are missing basic information especially in risk assessments, so if you are working with less experience you can get into serious trouble due to lack of information. Support is hardly given if you need lets say a vaccination to protect you from contracting a disease from a client. Many staff have minimal or zero background experience, their abilities are highly questionable, some can hardly communicate in English, others are abusive and let you do the hard work while they are having snacks and checking their phones. 
Seen staff spending hours especially at weekends watching their own favourite tv programmes for hours, claiming the client wants to watch it. 
Many clients are high risk in one way or another, study support plans well and only carry out whats written and if you think its safe.
Complaints are not followed up, due to high turnover of even management members, your issues will get forgotten.
Make sure you are at least a union member if you decide to work for this company.
I was not required to wear uniform.

I have had a fantastic couple of months working as the Care - Coordinator alongside my Branch Manager, here at Salisbury Alina on Old Sarum Business Park, starting to build and develop our Salisbury Office is an extremely rewarding and enjoyable job!!!

The Company Management Team although based at Leatherhead are always at the end of the phone and have been extremely supportive with all aspects of my transition from my previous Care Company to working for Alina, it is fantastic to know that most of them have all had hands on Experience In the Care Industry too.

The extensive Training Programme I was inducted into the company on with Alina's in house Trainer was fantastic, I had already had 6 and a half years Care Experience before coming to Alina however the in depth Training I received has broadened my knowledge and understanding tremendously, and in ways I had never been shown before.

I have been particularly impressed with the way in which even the Directors have been in contact with us checking we have settled in, this thoughtful and attentive nature that cascades down through all the levels really highlights the ethos of the company to make " The Alina Difference". 

Also our 2 neighbouring branch's in Devizes and Ringwood that I have had the pleasure of working alongside have been soo supportive and approachable, something that in countrywide companies can seldom happen.

I am looking forward to going to attending Recruitment Fayres and liaising with the local community to be able to promote a brand that already in 4 weeks I have full faith and belief in, this is something that in the Care Industry is paramount.

My typical day at work varies on the amount of client I see daily. Some are busier than others but some can be quieter than others. No matter the situation or circumstances that I face everyday, I go in with a smile on my face to make my clients feel safe, happy and comfortable within the care that they receive from myself. I have always had an urge to support people whom needed it most as I enjoy making the people around me happy. Seeing my clients smile allows me to feel like I have achieved something and that I have made their day, even if it’s the tiniest difference. I believe I have learnt to make a stressful situation into a positive one which then allows me to keep the environment calm and peaceful. The management from the day I started has been nothing but outstanding and supportive. Alina Home Care is the first care company that I have joined. They have supported me when I have found things confusing, stressful at times and for reassurance. As being new to care and for anyone that is/will be new to care will find that care is and can be a hard job but by time you start figuring out/understanding each and everyone of your clients routines and preferences which will make a difference in your work. There isn’t anything specific that I find hard. It all depends on what the situation you are in and how you deal with it. The most enjoyable part of my job is seeing my clients smile after performing my best care to them all. This makes me feel rewarded knowing that I have made my clients days better and made them feel better about themselves.

My day is planned out and sometimes changes have to be made, With Alina you are always contacted with the changes and given a run down of the change. It’s a small team but an amazing one with care workers who want to help you succeed. 
Alina offers amazing training on line via a video with other participants and a trainer. The trainers are on hand to help you through anything you haven’t understood. Training is very much a group discussion. Having been a carer for a long time I found the training helpful and informative. 
Alina in Andover has an amazing manager who goes above and beyond not only caring about clients but cares about her carers too. She would never ask anyone to do anything she wouldn’t. She’s supportive and informative. She wants you to walk into calls feeling confident and will help you achieve that. We have newly appointed care coordinator who is amazing and listens to timing issues and a newly appointed Field care supervisor who equally takes on concerns you have and implements the changes needed within our work space. If it’s not applicable she will explain why and what changes she can make. Within Alina you felt heard. The carers are passionate about the clients and the level of care given is amazing. The hardest part to date was waiting for my DBS not an Alina issue but the support I was given while waiting was brilliant. I’ve been a carer for many years and i’m really enjoying working for Alina. I love seeing the updates from other carers and the lovely way in which our clients talk about the carers. 

So many things that words can't even convey, the level of ineptitude they have shown is beyond an excusable level and far surpassed my expectations on how incompetent a care company can be, I'm surprised the branch I worked with hasn't been shut down by CQC. I will like to state that I'm only speaking of my experience with the Poole branch so this should in no way reflect on the other branches. 
The office staff are so unsupportive and don't even know how to relay the simplest of information with the relevant staff then have the cheek to tell us what we need to do better in our roles when they make it impossible for staff to adequately complete/achieve certain goals. The work like balance is completely disregarded and they will literally have you working all the time if you fall for their coercion. And if you want to move up in the company you might wanna become friendly with admin/office staff as promotions are rarely given due to good performance and largely relies upon favouritism. Then the training to help you into a new role is almost non existent. As much as I loved working alongside other support workers in the care package I was a part of the enjoyment from that was far outweighed by the office's rubbish work mentality and views. Do yourself a favour and work anywhere else other than here, and if you do still decided to get a job there then please please please join a union to cover your back!! I wish I did, i wouldn't have had such a detrimental tarnishing on my working record if I had listened when  someone told me to join a union.

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