While the care profession is recognised as being an incredibly demanding job, it is also one of the most rewarding jobs out there. Carers have a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of the ones they work with and are responsible for improving their lives.
There keeps being a high demand for carers in the UK, with the increasing ageing population as well as the impact of the Coronavirus. The Office for National Statistics predicts a 36% growth in people aged 85 and over between 2015 and 2025.
In this article, you will learn what makes a good carer, what are the duties and responsibilities of a carer as well as advice for becoming a carer with one of the top care agencies in the UK, Guardian Carers.
What makes a good carer?
So, what makes a good carer? Being a carer is not a role for anyone. Many carers describe that they have had a true calling for offering care to others. A great number of carers recall being inspired to become a carer after caring for one of their family members.
A good carer should be someone who has a caring trait and is genuinely interested in bringing a positive change into someone else’s life. A carer should be a kind, genuine and compassionate person with an out-going personality, happy to talk to people and share life experiences.
Having the ability to have a profound impact on someone’s life is one of the main motivators of carers. Not only are you helping the person in need of care, but you are also bringing peace to their family. They are not only there to offer care, but also to offer emotional support, which is often lacking when the family cannot be involved too much.
A good carer should be able to be a good companion, able to provide support and a good word when needed, as many of the people they care for are one’s who are coping with illnesses or life conditions.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a carer?
The duties and responsibilities of a carer vary from person to person, as many are faced with different conditions. In essence, a carer should possess the right values and behaviour. Nevertheless, this is a complex role which requires prior training before becoming a carer.
Some of the duties of a carer include but are not limited to helping with personal care needs such as bathing, toileting, continence management, dressing and undressing, assisting with mobility, prompting medication, liaising with doctors and GPs, picking up prescriptions or booking appointments.
Of course, carers are also responsible for the general wellbeing of the person they are looking after. The main duty of a carer is to keep their client healthy and improve their general wellbeing. Some of the responsibilities of carers include supporting in social and physical activities, keeping the individual active and engaged in daily activities, ensure that they are keeping a fit and active lifestyle as well as provide them with a nutritious and balanced diet which promotes health.
But one of the key responsibilities of a carer is to promote and enhance their client’s independence. This can be done by being a good companion to them, encouraging them to continue with the activities that bring them joy and pleasure. Moreover, a carer should ensure they provide care with respect and dignity to the individual.
If you would like to become a carer with Guardian Carers you will benefit from some of the best rates in the industry. Our part-time carers receive a rate of £12 to £16 per hour, while our full-time carers get paid from £11 to £15 per hour. If you choose to work on a live-in basis, our rates start at £100 per day and go up to £140 per day. Depending on your experience level, you can even reach £200 per day.
How can you become a carer with Guardian Carers?
Becoming a carer with Guardian Carers is easy. All that we ask from you is to have a minimum of two years of professional experience in the field of care. Additionally, you should have an up-to-date DBS check, also known as a Police Check and a First Aid Certificate, if required.
Depending on various positions you are required to work, for example working with people with dementia, you must have previous experience in dementia care and additionally, having completed the appropriate training.
If you wish to become a carer with Guardian Carers, you will firstly need to send us an updated CV. Based on the information provided on your application, a consultant will contact you regarding available care positions which are suitable for you, based on your experience and qualifications.
Further on, the consultant will invite you to attend an interview, where they will aim to find out more information about you and go through your experience in-depth, to establish what are the best-suited care roles for you. If you do not already hold an enhanced DBS check, your consultant will assist you with getting one.
After the registration process is complete you will then start receiving care job offers from your personal consultant, based on your skills and experience, as well as location proximity. If you are interested in any of the roles, generally you will be asked to interview with the client as well.
If the interview proves successful, you will then be hired by the client.
You have a choice to be hired on an employed or self-employed basis. Either choice you make, the client will be your employer and thus responsible for your payment and taxes contributions (on an employed basis).
If you would like to apply to become a carer with us, we invite you to submit your CV application to jobs@guardiancarers.co.uk or apply directly to any of our jobs listed on our website.