Working in a care home environment can no doubt be challenging, but – for the right kind of individual – a career in care can be exciting, fulfilling, and extremely rewarding. If you are a ‘people person’ who yearns to make a difference and is looking for a role where no two days are the same, this may be just the job you’re looking for. So, why work in a care home?
A chance to make a real difference
Working in a care setting can be emotional at times, but it is always interesting: no two days are the same. Individuals providing care services make a real and tangible difference to the lives of others. Every day, you have the privilege of enhancing the quality of life of older people and other care users – and you make a lasting impression on the people you work with.
You’re part of the family
Through choosing to forge a career in a care home environment you get the chance to build lasting and meaningful relationships with both long-term residents and their family members, who you may be working alongside for months or even years. Care workers also often comment on the close bonds that form between staff members and among wider teams as – along with service users – they habitually share special occasions and celebrations like Christmas and birthdays. An everyday nine-to-five job just doesn’t have the same social element.
As care home activities coordinator, Bronwyn Goodrun, recently told the BBC, “It is a really good sector to be in. I like spending time with all the residents and getting to know them and obviously trying to help them when they need help. It is definitely like a second family which is always welcome and open.”
Work hours to suit your life
Care home residents require support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As such, care home workers can enjoy flexible working hours that fit around their life and other commitments. For individuals who may need to be available on particular days to accommodate the diaries of other family members, study at college, or collect children from school, for example, working in a care home can enable you to maintain your financial independence without compromising on your busy schedule. The majority of employers also recruit for core values and potential, rather than skills and experience, meaning that – for the right kind of person – finding a role in care can be relatively straightforward.
Opportunities for career progression
Working in the care industry offers plenty of opportunities for career progression. Entry-level jobs in health and social care, including care assistant and support worker, can lead to a wide range of professional roles with the right training – and many great private care providers offer fantastic support for employees looking to broaden their horizons.
Ambitious professionals can take advantage of training, learn transferrable skills, and rapidly climb the career ladder. With experience, you could take on more responsibility as a lead care assistant, progressing to care manager – and enjoy the extra financial security that these roles offer. Working as a care assistant also offers an ideal foundation for individuals who aspire to train to become a nurse or social worker. For those with the right attitude and motivation, care work opens the door to a myriad of exciting opportunities.
Why work in a care home offers unrivalled job satisfaction
Working in care is never easy: meeting complex care needs can be both physically and emotionally challenging. However, a career in the sector is also extremely fulfilling and the majority of individuals who work as carers agree that the sense of satisfaction you gain from helping and supporting others is unrivalled. If you’re questioning why working in a care home may be the right choice for you, ask yourself if you are compassionate, thrive on variety, love problem solving, and want every workday to be fresh and exciting. If the answer is yes, you may be just the type of person we’re looking for.
The care workers we support tell us the sense of satisfaction they gain is unrivalled, and as a 21-year-old care worker, Abigail Hudson, recently noted, “I would definitely recommend care work to other young people. The best part of the job is the satisfaction you get from helping others.”
Working in a private care home is more than just a job. And at a time when there are currently over 100,000 open vacancies across the care sector, there has never been a better time to build a career in a care home.
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