92 care employers in Gateshead could find you

Working in care in Gateshead

South of the Tyne: what should you know about caring in Gateshead?

Gateshead is more than the town facing Newcastle across the river. The borough stretches from Felling, Pelaw and Birtley in the east and south to Whickham, Blaydon, Ryton and Rowlands Gill in the west, where the streets give way to semi rural villages and the Derwent valley. Care work changes with it. Close to the river, the Metro and frequent buses make it possible to reach a care home or a home care round without a car, while a round out towards Ryton or Rowlands Gill is far easier if you drive.

The work is spread across home care, care homes and nursing homes, with home care agencies the largest group. The population is ageing even as it shrinks slightly. Between 2011 and 2021 the number of residents fell by around 2%, but people aged 65 to 74 rose by almost 15% and the median age went up from 40 to 42.

Gateshead Council lets people use direct payments to take on a personal assistant, and its guidance suggests choosing someone who shares their language or knows their particular needs. The council's Direct Payment team helps those employers with recruitment, payroll and HR, so working as a PA here comes with some backing behind your employer.

For NHS comparison, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sheriff Hill. Gateshead College offers a full time Skills for Care Level 2 course with work placements for 16 to 18 year olds, alongside Health and Social Care courses at Levels 2 and 3 and Access to Higher Education diplomas for adults aiming at nursing.

95% of the inspected care employers in Gateshead are rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC, close to the 93% across the North East and above England as a whole (85%).