J&K RECRUITMENT is branching out to provide care in the home.

The Basingstoke-based company, which already provides staff for Social Services, Scope, Mencap and Maca, plans to provide domiciliary care for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems.

At the helm of this new side of the business will be Tasmin Quinn and she will be based with the rest of the company at Worting House, in Church Lane.

A home care manager, Tasmin has been with the company since it started in 2001 and was, in fact, one of J&K's very first care workers.

"She's a great people person as well as being very professional, reliable and knowledgeable," said company director Darren Lambert.

Tasmin, who's 26 and from Hatch Warren, has been working in the care industry for nine years.

She said: "I studied sports science at college and chose to go to a special needs school for my work experience placement.

"I enjoyed working with people with learning difficulties, behavioural problems and autism so much that I decided to make a career of it.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of my new role because I've never been office-based before. I want to build up the domiciliary side to maintain the consistent, reliable home care service we provide in other areas of our business."

Darren has always been involved in care work, as it was the profession of both his parents. Before starting up J&K, he worked for social services in a children's home, day service and respite home, as well as managing another local agency.

He decided to start his own recruitment agency because he felt that he could give a better service than other local agencies due to his experience.

Since 2001, the business has rapidly expanded and was, this year, shortlisted for the titles of both Small Business of the Year and New Business of the Year in the Basingstoke Business Awards, and is also accredited by the National Care Standards Commission.

When Darren started out he was the only care worker on the business' books. Now he has 70 staff who provide more than 200 hours of care work every week.

Staff members include all different types of people, from students to young mums.

As well as an induction course, J&K offers plenty of training on subjects such as moving and handling and first aid.

The company also offers a large discount on the cost of studying the NVQ at level two and three.

J&K is always looking to take on new carers, especially now that the domiciliary care section is up and running.

So, if you have a caring nature, experience of working with people and are as dedicated to providing a quality service as J&K is - you'll fit right in.

They offer flexible working hours, excellent rates of pay, paid holiday and plenty of training.

If you're interested in becoming a home carer with J&K, call Tasmin on 818777 or, for general information, call Pat Alvey, office manager, or Andrea Knight-Down, care manager, on the same number.