Care offers a number of highlyvalued job options

With people living longer than ever before, health services are being stretched to accommodate the needs of those requiring either care provided at home, in a residential home setting or in a nursing home. According to statics from the National Records of Scotland, life expectancy is greatest if you live in Perth in Kinross. It is a fact people are living longer and healthier and as we have all become accustomed to 50 being the new 40 and 60 the new 50, more and more people are staying at home longer, this however comes with its own challenges and often means more specialist care is required by the time care becomes a necessity. From the professional doctors and nurses to carers and support workers, each has an important role to play. Regardless of the level being worked at, the care sector industry is heavily regulated by the Care Inspectorate and Scottish Social Services Council and rightly so, to prevent the wrong type of person coming into contact and working with vulnerable adults and children. Working in care is both rewarding and hard work with many carers becoming emotionally attached to those they care for and often this is for low pay. So what makes people choose this profession as a career? There are the obvious reasons such as helping the less fortunate or some people just have a predisposition to this field of work as a vocation. In some instances it is due to personal experiences such as caring for a family member. Irrespective of the reasons, there are a number of highlyvalued jobs that, with the right education, skills and training all leads to highly satisfying careers in health and social care. Most local authorities provide residential care establishments and there is a growing number of independent care providers across Scotland from the small and personal to the larger specialist residential and nursing care providers. Most providers now offer bespoke packages designed to cater for a variety of lifestyles and care needs and carry out detailed assessments based on personal circumstances and specific requirements.