An award-winning, not-for-profit dementia day care service, The Filo Project, is looking for more people to host small groups of people with dementia in their homes in North and South Devon, to meet growing demand in the area.
Just as a childminder opens up their home, The Filo Project’s innovative model sees carefully-selected hosts collecting small groups of people with early to moderate dementia and welcoming them into their home for a shared day and home-cooked lunch together.
The Filo Project is well-established in the South West of England and since its formation in 2014 has supported around 5000 people with dementia.
Jude Pinder, Chief Operating Officer at The Filo Project, explains “A Filo day is like a day with friends and varies depending on each group’s interests and abilities. Dementia can be a really isolating experience, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see people grow in confidence, renew old hobbies and interests, and make friends within the group. It’s a cliché but truly no two days are the same.
“To be a Filo host you don’t have to have previous experience as a paid carer, we have hosts from all walks of life. It’s more important to have a caring nature, a sense of humour and to enjoy socialising with older people, as you get full training.”
Hosts need a largely step-free home with a downstairs toilet and 5-door car to transport clients. They are paid a good day rate plus allowances and expenses work in their own home welcome up to four clients a day
work between 8 and 16 hours per week, 9 am to 5pm are given training in First Aid, Moving and Handling, Dementia, Food Hygiene, Safeguarding, Infection Control and Data Protection are part of a team of hosts, supported by a dedicated area coordinator.
Across the UK there are a record number of vacancies in the social care workforce, in part because caring isn’t acknowledged or remunerated in line with its importance and value.
The Filo Project is proud of the strong support it provides staff, and hosts receive a regular, above-market wage and travel costs. Unlike other care providers, Filo hosts are paid per day not per client, so if clients are unable to attend a session, hosts don’t miss out on their income.
If you are interested in becoming a host or to find out more about The Filo Project visit www.thefiloproject.co.uk or call 0333 939 8225.
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