Career FAQs

Looking for a new job is a big deal. Not only have you got to find a role that best matches your skills and experience, you also have to make sure that your new employer is the right fit for you too.

Hollybank is the biggest employer in Mirfield and, in total, there are around 600 people working for us. We thought you may have some questions to help you decide if you want to be one of them! 

Additionally, take a look at our #BeSomeone Values to find out what it takes to shine at Hollybank.

No, none of our Support Worker roles require you to be able to drive.

If you are looking for a job that fits around your existing commitments, then a Bank Support Worker role might be suitable for you.

Yes. Once you have joined our team, if you refer a friend to work at Hollybank to fill one of our vacancies, and they successfully complete their probationary period, you will receive a £150 award in recognition.

No, we recruit based on our values, that means we look at what you can bring to the role rather than the experience and qualifications you have. We provide all the training you need too. Awareness of Learning Disabilities and complex needs is an advantage; however you do not need to have previous care experience to work for us.

All of our vacancies are posted here – you can apply online, or if you would like to be sent an application form by email or post you can request one by emailing our people team.

Our current probationary period is six months. 

Yes, we will do whatever we can to make your interview accessible and comfortable for you. Just contact a member of the People Team to advise them on what assistance you will need in order to attend your interview. Click here to contact them.

You have to be over the age of 16 to apply for a job with us, but there is no upper age limit.

Yes you can! We have several families who all perform different roles with us at Hollybank, we prefer that family members or partners work in different teams, services or departments though and this will be discussed with you when you apply for a role.

Typically, our Support Workers will work on a rota that is a mixture of early shifts, late shifts and long days. Our care staff also work alternate weekends. We also have roles for people who just want to work the night shifts. Your particular shift pattern will be discussed with you at interview.

As an employer we need to confirm all of our colleagues have the right to work in the UK, which can be demonstrated by producing a British Passport, a Birth Certificate and proof of a National Insurance number, or a Biometric Residence Permit. You will be given a list of documents that we can use for the online DBS check once you receive an offer of employment from us.

For Support Worker roles, the current rate of pay is £10.52/hr for Support Workers and £11.12/hr for Night Support Workers. For any other roles, the rate of pay is included in every job vacancy. We do pay enhanced rates for overtime and working on Bank Holidays.

Hollybank has some mandatory training we expect you to complete when you join us.  You will receive a full induction, relevant to the role you do, which may include Core Skills and the Care Certificate.  There is the opportunity to access other courses including NVQs and professional development, as well as role specific training. We are keen to ensure everyone has the opportunity to develop their career while working at Hollybank.

We accept flexible working requests from your first day of employment.  Each request is reviewed to see if it meets the business needs of the department you work in. Individual managers review the requests, following our flexible working policy guidance, and consider if we can accommodate your needs.  

The only people who will have access to your personal data during the recruitment process are members of the People Team. Your data will only be used for recruitment purposes.  In line with our privacy statement, we do not share personal data with any outside agencies or third parties.

We retain information on our recruitment system via Vacancy Filler for one year after your first contact. We destroy all personal information, application forms, CVs, Right to Work ID and interview notes from unsuccessful candidates after six months.

We retain personnel files and employment data for everyone who works here, in line with our agreed retention periods for GDPR. 

We work with children, young people and adults that would be deemed as vulnerable in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, so we need to keep them safe.  Our activity is classed as a regulated activity, that’s why we need enhanced DBS for Children and Adults for everyone who works here.

By law, Hollybank has to enrol you automatically into a qualifying pension scheme when you join us. You can opt out of the scheme afterwards, if you want to.

Our #BeSomeone Values

Nothing pleases us more than seeing smiles on faces. We know that exceptional care goes beyond making sure individuals have a safe, secure place to live and making sure their daily needs are met. We’ve identified a number of behaviours that will help you shine while you’re working at Hollybank.

This is what you need to be, if you want to #BeSomeone here.

Be confident

Push yourself out of your comfort zone from time to time; don’t be afraid to challenge things; try new things – you don’t know unless you have a go!

Being confident is about: being self-assured, asking your colleagues for help when you need it; challenging any behaviour or working practices that you feel are inappropriate or unsafe.

Be curious

Ask questions; have a voice and share your views; look for new ways of doing things that get better results; be open to learning; show an interest in the job you’re doing and the people you meet here.

Being curious is about: being inquisitive, welcoming change, showing an interest in other people’s jobs, not just your own; asking lots of questions about the way that we do things and why; putting yourself forward to try new things and put new ways of working into practice to see if it’s any better than the status quo.

Be happy

Enjoy your time here; build strong relationships and give your best self; appreciate the difference you are making by being here; do something every day that makes you smile.

Being happy is about: being cheerful and positive, bringing your best self to work and immersing yourself in the tasks you are given; exploring opportunities for development and stretch within Hollybank; sharing your enthusiasm for life with the people we are here to support.

Be kind

Always. Look for ways to help your colleagues; remember to get the work/life balance right; try and see things from a different perspective

Being kind is about: caring and compassion, reaching out to your colleagues if they look like they’re struggling; being an active member of the team, working together to achieve shared goals; taking care of yourself outside of work and seeking support if you need it.