You are invited to Leverburgh Care Home

Leverburgh Care Home

Like many other places in the Outer Hebrides, the Leverburgh Care Home are experiencing a staffing shortage. As an essential service provider to the community, the residential home on Ferry Road, Leverburgh, offers a variety of full and part-time permanent employment opportunities. 

Isabel Campbell in front of the Leverburgh Care Home

Leverburgh Care Home is a small and friendly Care Home with a Christian ethos, run by the Free Presbyterian Church.  It currently provides care for 15 residents from around the Islands.

Isabel Campbell, Care Home Manager, has worked at the Care Home for more than 20 years. The current recruitment challenges are having an impact on the day-to-day operations of the Home.  Isabel explains that she has to cover shifts herself when the staffing numbers are low. “We would benefit from two additional senior carers with SVQ Level 3.  Additionally, we are looking for housekeeping staff and relief carers.”

Leverburgh Care Home is a flexible employer and offers work opportunities to help people create a healthy work/life balance. Whether people are looking to work a few hours, a couple of times per week, we are able to offer opportunities within the housekeeping team.  Equally, if someone is looking to start a new career, we offer full-time permanent employment in our Caring roles, which support individuals through SVQs and also career development. Increasing our staffing numbers would not only add comfort to our residents, but also to the current staffing team.

Recruitment becomes increasingly challenging on the islands between April and September, when the tourist season opens. Despite Leverburgh Home being a Living Wage Employer, it cannot compete with the rates for seasonal employment opportunities. Isabel noted that Leverburgh Care Home are fortunate to have occasional support from Agency staff, although this can be a costly arrangement. These expenses are further compounded by the high cost and limited availability of accommodation.

Isabel is looking to reintroduce voluntary work at Leverburgh Care Home. She commented: “Prior to lockdown, we had volunteer visitors who came for afternoon tea and did some gardening with the residents. The social interaction helps reduce the isolation felt by some of our residents. Volunteers could also lend a hand with fundraising.  We very much want to open our doors and encourage people back into the home. Our residents enjoy excursions to Leverhulme Hub and Café 34. Additionally, the local school are regular visitors, bringing singing, laughter, and fun.” 

"Working in care can sometimes be challenging, but making a meaningful difference to someone's life is a truly special position to be in,” says Carer Alex Murdo Morrison. “When you see somebody come in who has been quite poorly and isolated, and then you see them flourishing, that is rewarding,”  Isabel adds. “The involvement and support of our local community, through recruitment of permanent staff and volunteers, is key to the future success of Leverburgh Care Home.”  

If you are interested in taking up one of the many job opportunities or as a volunteer, please email the home at leverburghhome@gmail.com. The door is open!