125 care employers in Hillingdon could find you

Working in care in Hillingdon

From Harefield down to Heathrow: how far does care work stretch in Hillingdon?

Further than most people expect of a London borough. Hillingdon covers 42 square miles, making it the second largest of London's 32 boroughs, and the CQC's assessment of the council notes that over half of it is countryside dotted with historic towns and villages. Heathrow Airport fills the far south, while Hayes, Yiewsley and West Drayton are the more built up parts. Uxbridge and Hayes have the most care employers, close to level with each other, followed by West Drayton and Northwood.

Distance is the thing to plan for. A round that starts near Ruislip or Harefield and ends near West Drayton is a long way on local roads, so having a car, and living in the same half of the borough as your visits, makes the work far more manageable. Demand is heading one way, too: people aged 65 and over are projected to rise from about 13.5% of Hillingdon's population to nearly 19.5% by 2041.

The London Borough of Hillingdon pays direct payments, which people can use to employ their own personal assistant. The CQC found take up had been below average, but council action had increased it by 22% in a year and there was a good support service for people using direct payments, so PA work here is growing rather than fading. The borough also has a lot of care home beds, filled not only by council placements but also by people paying for themselves, the NHS and other councils.

For NHS comparison, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust runs Hillingdon Hospital on Pield Heath Road in Uxbridge and Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood, and Harefield Hospital, a major heart and lung centre run by Guy's and St Thomas', sits in the north of the borough. Uxbridge College runs a part time Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care certificate for adults, alongside full time courses and T Levels for school leavers.

95% of the inspected care employers in Hillingdon are rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC, above the 88% across London and above England as a whole (85%).