The rising cost of living, rampant inflation and an increasingly transient workforce are all contributing to the current dearth of support workers. These factors have a knock-on effect for both case managers and their clients, impacting the continuity of care, putting increased pressure on client budgets, increasing admin and recruitment costs.
For traditional care agencies, around 50% of care costs are consumed in admin and fees. There is, however, an alternative solution where technology savings are passed back to the support workers (who earn more), as well as the clients (who pay less). Technology also delivers choice and control for case managers and support workers.
Implementing the use of algorithms and AI also rewards support worker engagement, carer reviews and messaging, improving continuity of care and allowing a better match of skills and experience between support workers and clients.
Curam is the UK’s largest online care platform, with a fast-growing community of 8,000 vetted and approved support workers and 3m support hours already delivered for clients. To date, over 180 case managers have signed up with Curam. Technology savings allow approved support workers to earn on average 50% more than at a traditional agency. This has attracted a cohort of support workers with, on average, 10 years’ experience.
Curam’s rigorous approval process for support workers includes a bank level ID check, enhanced DBS check, two references, the right to work in the UK and proof of any care-related qualifications, before an online interview. This ensures everyone who is approved has been correctly verified and vetted.
Case managers can sign up for free, post a job, or browse and message support workers by clicking here.
Access Curam’s bespoke portal, designed specifically for case management organisations, to improve oversight and speed. Added functionality allows case managers to view and arrange support for multiple clients under one login and they can also view all messaging and invoicing for their clients in one place. This service includes a dedicated account manager to seamlessly get users up and running.
Alex’s story
Hearing real-life stories from clients reflects exactly why Curam’s platform is valuable. Client Alex has benefited by using the technology and quickly finding emergency care on the platform.
He said: “Earlier this year, one of my carers went off sick, so I needed to find someone to cover for them at short notice. I use an agency and hoped they would have someone to help, but they didn’t. The best they could do was send someone the following week, which was not ideal. After looking online, I found the Curam website.
“It’s a platform where people can advertise their care needs, and self-employed carers can apply to help – anywhere within the UK. The great thing about it is that you can find carers incredibly quickly – within hours.
“In comparison, getting a new carer through the agency would take weeks. Firstly, you must wait for someone to respond to the advert, which can take a couple of weeks. Then they need to do all the agency paperwork and training, which takes a couple more weeks. I have found that I can’t rely on the agency to provide someone in an emergency – they just don’t have spare people available.
“I posted my care requirements on Curam, looking for someone to start the following day. Within an hour, I had four people applying who lived locally. If you have an emergency where a carer goes off sick and need cover ASAP, the website is a godsend.”
Curam also receives glowing testimonials from case management companies:
Mel J, from a national case management company, said in March 2023:
‘’Curam care platform has been a life saver on several occasions when I have been left unable to cover a shift for my client at the last minute. The support workers are flexible and happy to travel because they are self-employed, can set their own rates of pay and manage their own work.’’
For further information, please contact niamh@curamcare.com
Tracked link: https://www.curamcare.com/?aff_id=60parl3q