Guardian Carers Feature on BBC News London

Working as a live-in carer in the UK

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The full job description & main benefits

Working as a live-in carer in the UK is very complex. This is both a rewarding and challenging job that not just anyone can do.

In this article, you will learn what it’s like to work as a live-in carer in the UK and what does it take to be a great carer. We will go through the essentials of the role, the full job description as well as its main benefits.

So far, Guardian Carers has supported hundreds of carers to find great care placements. We are a care agency specialising in live-in care and we are always on the lookout for the best live-in carers in the UK.

What does it take to be a great live-in carer in the UK?

So what does it take to be a great live-in carer in the UK? The right experience is key. At Guardian Carers we only recruit live-in carers with a minimum of 2 years of professional experience. A live-in carer must be able to fit the role well and also be able to go the extra mile, such as providing emotional support when our clients need it.

Some of the key qualities of a live-in carer are being respectful, patient, reliable and qualified. Being determined is also an absolutely key aspect of being a live-in carer, as the role is often a very challenging one, particularly if the live-in carer is required to work with patients with disabilities or cognition problems.

Live-in carers are expected to be understandable and respectful of the care recipient’s needs. A person in need of care will often not be able to do the things they were able to do in the past. This sometimes leads to people or even carers treating care recipients in a different manner, which sometimes may even come across as patronising.

We like to ensure that our live-in carers are compassionate and kind, but at the same time, treat the care recipient with the respect that they deserve. Our live-in carers will ensure that this is maintained throughout the live-in care placement. Moreover, live-in carers are expected to have the client’s independence at the core of what they do.

Another important quality of live-in carers is patience. It can be frustrating at times when everyday and easy tasks are taking longer to complete than usual. Therefore it is hugely important that the live-in carer is able to keep their calm and be patient with you in any type of situation. Losing their temper is not something that is acceptable from a live-in carer.

What is a live-in carer’s job description?

Live-in carers are in charge of people’s care, healthcare and well-being, as well as looking after their homes. A live-in carer’s job description will include:

  • Assisting with personal care
  • Looking after teeth, skin, hair and nails
  • Assisting with bathing and dressing
  • Assisting with eating
  • Safely using equipment
  • Assisting with mobility
  • Managing medication
  • Liaising with doctors, nurses and GPs
  • Provide emotional support
  • Recording and reporting to family members

We believe that the ideal live-in carer needs to be a reliable person. Being reliable is paramount in the care industry. As time goes on, the client may need to start relying on the live-in carer for more important tasks, such as home administration.

This can be anything from being expected to run important errands, liaising with contractors or doctors, helping with payments and bills, just to name a few. A live-in carer, depending on the type of household they work in, can even be expected to run a bigger team as they advance in their role.

A live-in carer’s job description is not limited to the care aspect. A great live-in carer will also be expected to perform certain housekeeping tasks. Some of these tasks are:

  • Cooking
  • Preparing light meals, snacks and drinks
  • Dusting
  • Hoovering and mopping
  • Doing the laundry
  • Changing bed sheets
  • Taking the bins out
  • Looking after pets
  • Running errands
  • Doing grocery shopping
  • Booking appointments

Certainly, these tasks can differ from household to household. Nevertheless, a great live-in carer will have to ensure that every duty is completed and are done in the correct manner, and timely fashion.

What are the main benefits of being a live-in carer in the UK?

Being a live-in carer in the UK comes with many responsibilities but also many benefits. The care industry in the UK is very broad. As the ageing population increases, more and more people are in need of live-in care. This means that live-in carers who work in the UK can benefit from many job opportunities.

A live-in carer who has a minimum level of professional experience of 2 years and who has completed their essential training will be able to open themselves up to many opportunities and increased salary rates. As the live-in care market becomes more and more competitive, live-in care rates can vary between £100 to £150 per day. These rates differ based on the complexity of the role, the location of the role and the level of experience that the live-in carer possesses.

Live-in care also offers carers flexibility. They can choose from temporary or permanent contracts. They have the option to take up ongoing work placements with 1 or 2 days off per week or work on a rotational basis. This can be in increments of 1 week on, 1 week off or 4 weeks on, 1 week off, for example.

Another benefit of live-in care is that the carers are provided with free accommodation. Generally, clients will provide them with their own room and bathroom or some will even provide studios for the carers to live in. Working as a live-in carer also means that food is provided by the client or a weekly food allowance is arranged.

Live-in carers who work with Guardian Carers have gone on to have long-lasting care placements and create beautiful relationships with their clients. They receive our ongoing support throughout their placement and after.

If you would like to know what it’s like to work as a live-in carer in the UK, our consultants are available to speak on 0207 183 1395. You can also make an enquiry with us if you want to know what job opportunities we have available.

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