Show them you care
Support work is a growing sector as people age
THE LOWDOWN
Experts predict the social care industry will need a million more workers over the next decade to cope with the demand from an ageing population.
As a care assistant you help people who have difficulties with their daily lives, whether it is within their own home, sheltered housing, a nursing home or at a day centre.
It is not just older people who need support.
There are jobs helping children, people with physical or learning disabilities, and families. Other jobs in the sector include cooks, drivers and maintenance staff.
Working hours are varied and may include evenings, weekends and overnight stays.
FIND A JOB
The industry already employs more than 1.5 million people and we’ve tracked down 17,142 jobs available right now.
At fish4jobs.co.uk there are 3,157 jobs including care workers in Exeter (£7.50 to £10 per hour), care assistants across London (£10) and a senior care assistant in Winslow, Bucks (£8.40).
At gov.uk/jobsearch we spotted 7,556 jobs, from care assistants and home carers to house parents and residential wardens. Jobs we found included a care assistant in Blackpool (£7.50) and a residential night care support worker in Stoke on Trent (£15,600 to £17,680).
At jobs.communitycare.co.uk there are 1,891 jobs. We found 1,924 jobs at gumtree.com/homecarejobs, 1,143 at jobsgopublic.com and 458 at lgjobs.com.
Another site is carejobfinder.org/ jobs that can put you in touch with employers in your area.
Barchester Healthcare (barchester.com), which employs Kim, pictured, has 200 homes nationwide. It aims to create at least 300 new apprenticeships. For apprenticeships in the care industry visit getingofar.gov.uk – we found 713 when we checked.
TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
To encourage people of all ages to join the sector there are numerous training options.
Once you start work as a care assistant you’ll receive on-the-job training from your employer. This will include working closely with experienced colleagues. You may also attend external courses, for example on first aid, food hygiene, health and safety, and how to lift and move people safely.
You may also work for further qualifications, such as the Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care to become a senior care worker.
As your career develops, you can move on to higher level qualifications, such as a foundation degree, social work degree or Level 5 in Leadership in Health and Social Care.
CONTACTS
skillsforcare.org.uk communitycare.co.uk ukhca.co.uk Barchester.com
PAY
Care assistant: £12,000 to £16,000 Senior care worker: £14k to £17k Specialist carer: £18k to £21k Managers: £19k to £40k Senior managers: £35k to £55k
ON THE JOB
Bubbly, vivacious and full of boundless energy, Kim Sharp, 23, loves her job caring for elderly people suffering from dementia. She says: “Yes, it can be sad and frustrating at times but the joy I get when I connect with a person or help them or their family have a good day, it’s immeasurably brilliant. “I come to work cheerful every day and believe my job is so worthwhile. “I treat everyone exactly how I would like to be treated myself, without exception.” Kim, from Telford in Shropshire, grew up around Wheatlands Care Home in nearby Much Wenlock, where she now works. Her mum Fran is the general manager. “I did work experience here when I was 15 helping out with activities,” she says. “I had great fun and loved being in the mix but I didn’t consider it as a career. “To start with I studied hairdressing and qualified but it wasn’t right for me. I tried A-levels but didn’t like that either. I realised I was naturally caring and, with my experience of care homes, I would do that.” Kim started as an apprentice carer at 19 and is now a senior carer, working towards her NVQ Level 3 and hoping to become a team leader. “I am based in the home’s Memory Lane community and I have had specialised training for working with those who have dementia. “Not only do I look after our residents’ general needs from washing and dressing to feeding, I work with families building up memory boxes to help people to connect with their past. When you see a smile as a memory comes rushing in, it is magical.” Always upbeat, Kim tries to find ways to connect with residents, such as dancing to help them relax when she’s trying to get them dressed in the morning. Sometimes days can be hard but she heads home, where she lives with her mum, and recharges her batteries. “We don’t ever talk about work and I rarely see her at work. When I’m at home I like to chill out with my dalmatian Bella, my three chickens, riding horses and keeping fit. All that gives me energy for my job.”