Care work, taken as seriously as the people doing it.
Independent, family-run, and based in Berkshire since 1968. We hire locally, train properly, pay well and stick around — the average tenure of a Gardiner’s carer is over eight years.
Speak to us0118 334 7474
Straightforward hourly rates, well above the minimum.
Three rates depending on when you work. No tiers based on length of service or task type — the rate you see is the rate you’re paid from day one.
Beyond the hourly rate.
Paid training, properly
Full induction at our Pangbourne training centre before your first visit. Ongoing training in dementia care, end-of-life care, moving and handling, and medication is part of the role — not something you’re expected to do in your own time.
Real shifts, not gig work
Your rota is built around the clients you know — not parachuted in last-minute by an algorithm. We agree the contract that fits the role and your circumstances at interview.
A team you’ll actually meet
Our offices are in Caversham and Pangbourne, not a regional hub three counties away. Our care managers have decades of experience between them, and our Head of Care is a registered nurse. You’ll know who to call, and they’ll know you.
Long client relationships
We match carers to clients carefully and keep those matches steady. Most of our carers know their clients well after a few months — not the dozens of strangers a typical agency cycle produces.
Pension and statutory benefits
Workplace pension, paid holiday, sick pay, and the usual statutory entitlements. We’re a long-established business — the basics work the way they should.
Live-in placements
If live-in care suits your circumstances, we offer placements across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire. From two to six weeks on, and one or two weeks off is typical, with accommodation and meals provided during your placement.
I’ve worked at Gardiner’s for nearly twenty years. The clients become part of your week — you’re not rushing in and out, you’re actually getting to know them.
Care experience helps. The right temperament matters more.
We’ll teach you the practical skills. What we can’t teach is patience, warmth, and the kind of common sense that puts someone at ease when they’re having a difficult day.
- Right to work in the UKWe’re not currently able to sponsor visas.
- Driving licence and access to a carFor visiting care across Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. Live-in roles don’t require this.
- An enhanced DBS checkIf you don’t already have one, we’ll arrange and pay for it.
- Two references we can contactPrevious employer, college tutor, or a professional referee. We don’t need them at the application stage.
- The right temperamentWarm, reliable, unflappable, and comfortable spending time with people who may be vulnerable, confused, or simply lonely.
No care experience?
That’s genuinely fine. Some of our best carers came from nursing, retail, hospitality, teaching, or full-time caring for a family member.
What you’ll need is a willingness to learn the practical side — medication, moving and handling, personal care — which we’ll teach you properly during a paid induction before you go out on visits.
From application to first shift.
Most candidates move through the process in two to three weeks, depending on how quickly DBS checks come back.
- Step 01
Apply
Fill in the short form below. It takes about three minutes — we don’t need your full work history at this stage.
- Step 02
Quick chat
If we think there’s a fit, one of our care managers will call you within a few working days for a 15–20 minute conversation.
- Step 03
Interview & full application
An in-person interview at our Caversham office. This is where we’ll go through your full work history, references, and DBS.
- Step 04
Induction & first shifts
Once your checks come through, paid induction at the Pangbourne centre — then shadowing experienced carers before working independently.
What people ask before applying.
Do I need previous care experience?
No. Some of our best carers came to us with no formal experience — from retail, hospitality, hairdressing, or after raising a family. What matters is the right temperament: kindness, patience, common sense, and being someone who turns up when they say they will.
If you’re experienced, that’s welcome too. We’ll match the role to what you bring.
Do I need to be a driver?
For most of our visiting roles, yes — you’ll need a full UK licence and your own car. We pay mileage between visits and a fair rate for travel time. For live-in roles, driving isn’t always essential.
What hours can I work?
We have full-time and part-time rounds, mornings, evenings, weekends, and live-in placements. We’ll be honest about what’s available in your area when we talk — and we’d rather under-promise on hours than over-promise and disappoint.
Do I need an enhanced DBS?
You’ll need one before you start visiting clients, but you don’t need it before you apply — we organise and pay for it as part of the onboarding process. We also take up at least two references, including one from any previous care role.
Can you sponsor a visa?
No. We’ve never held a visa sponsorship licence and we don’t recruit from overseas. To work with us you’ll need an existing right to work in the UK.
Tell us a bit about you, and we’ll be in touch.
A short form — about three minutes. Someone from our office will call you back, usually within a few working days, for an honest first conversation.
Office hours Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm. Evenings and weekends, leave a message and we’ll call back.
