What makes a great carer?

SuperCarers will help you find the right carer for your loved one

Caring for someone can be challenging and unpredictable and carers are often required to spend significant amounts of time with those they look after, and need to be able to connect with and comfort them at their most vulnerable. This makes it vital to choose a carer that has not only the relevant experience, but also the right character traits to provide your loved one with the highest quality of care. SuperCarers, a service that helps families and individuals needing care find compassionate and experienced local carers, have helped put together the following list of qualities:

Passionate

If someone is passionate about their job, they’re much more likely to do it well – and this is particularly true for a carer. Care work can be a demanding job, so it’s important that they are driven in their work. As SuperCarer Eva puts it, “I find great satisfaction in the small things. Helping vulnerable people overcome their daily tasks makes me feel fulfilled, especially when I see improvement in their wellbeing and lifestyle.”

Easygoing

Carers often work with clients for extended periods of time and for some people, will be the only person they speak to on a day-today basis, so getting on and respecting one another is critical. Shared interests can also help, particularly in the early days of getting to know each other.

Trustworthy and respectful

Carers often work with people when they are at their most vulnerable, so it’s essential they have their complete trust. They must be reliable, punctual, and respectful. SuperCarer Victoria embodies this trustworthy and respectful approach in her work: “I made the client realise that she’s the one in charge, she’s the boss, it’s her house. When I want to do things I will ask if she wants me to do them first. The main thing is to involve them in whatever you’re doing.”

Good communicator

A carer communicates well with their client and their family, in order to help them make the most suitable health and lifestyle choices. The carer also needs to be proactive in liaising with other care providers – such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social carers, and nutritionists – in order to ensure the client’s needs are met and their wishes are respected at all times.

Experienced

The right qualifications are an essential starting point although as with most things in life, there’s no substitute for practical experience. Carers need a mix of technical skills, initiative, confidence, and familiarity with a wide range of conditions and situations. At SuperCarers, we check everyone has at least the qualifications and experience required to work as an independent carer, but we also let you see exactly what training they have undertaken recently on their profiles, so you can be sure you’re choosing the right person for your needs. Once you’ve found a carer with the right set of skills and personality, you can be confident your loved one is in capable hands.