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Original poster

If you are a care assistant, do you like your job?

10 replies

TempyMcTempyface · 13/08/2018 21:12

I'm looking for some work at the minute, and getting really interested in care work. Healthcare is something I've been interested in for a long time, from a different angle, I've never been in the front line before. I have experience providing care to close family members so have an idea of the more difficult and emotionally upsetting bits, ie person with dementia being distressed etc. Not squeamish about bodily fluids.

If you are a care assistant, how do you find it? Would you recommend it?

OP posts:
FannyFifer · 13/08/2018 21:16

Do not work for an agency or nursing home, stick to NHS or Council, better conditions.

Original poster
TempyMcTempyface · 13/08/2018 21:18

From what I can see so far, NHS want people with qualifications, so I think a route in to getting experience and NVQs could be through an agency even if conditions are crappy?

OP posts:
MyNameIsFartacus · 13/08/2018 21:20

I work on an acute ward in a hospital now but prior to that I did care work and overall found it very rewarding. Yes it's hard, and can be difficult emotionally, and some of the care agencies are rubbish, and some of the other carers were awful, but I got a lot of satisfaction knowing I had made a positive difference to somebody's day, which really is what it's all about. You build up a good relationship with a lot of the clients and their families.

Not sure what else to add but I hope to do my nursing training at some point, it was definitely care work that opened my eyes to that idea.

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Care homes
Ollivander84 · 13/08/2018 21:23

I do home care 2 evenings a week. Hard physically but I do enjoy (some of!) it. Not much time to spend with people as most of our calls are 20-25 mins
Not well paid either

Original poster
TempyMcTempyface · 13/08/2018 21:27

Thanks for replies Smile

Yeah I know it's not well paid. As mentioned though, I'd love to feel I made somebody's day a little better. That really appeals.

OP posts:
Pinkstars2501 · 13/08/2018 21:40

I work in a nursing home, used to work in residential, don’t fancy the hospital or community to be honest.

It’s hard, physically and mentally. I rarely get all my breaks, when I do they get interrupted. You build a relationship with the residents and their families, which can be a good and bad thing because it’s so easy to then become attached to them which makes it’s a lot harder when they pass away. The pay isn’t great as you know, coupled with not really getting the recognition you deserve considering you get shouted at, abused verbally and physically at times and you can walk in to a situation (with all sorts of bodily fluids) that you wouldn’t even imagine possible sometimes. It’s also bloody annoying the amount of people who come to work with us and don’t really understand (or pretend not to), that they need to pull their weight and do some fucking work, I’m carrying you and it’s not just sitting and chatting to old people Hmm......

All that said, I love it! It’s incredibly rewarding. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve worked in offices and shops too, they don’t compare.

MarthaArthur · 13/08/2018 21:45

I used to be one. Physically and emotionally demanding. I worked for a care home which was horrible. The job itself was hard but loads of rewarding moments too. I did night shifts as i much preffered them to the day. It was so busy all night as people with dementia donttend to sleep at night. Also no 2 days are the same. Depends on what you want to do. When i dealt with terminally ill people it was emotionally very stressful. When i worked with dementia it was stressful but sometimes fun when everyone was in a good mood and our residents were happy. Its not for everyone but i always found it ok. The only issue with care work is who you work for and who you work with. If i had the good staff in it would be a quick good minimal stress night. If the bad staff were on it was hard and stressful.

NightOwl101 · 13/08/2018 21:46

I work in care for the nhs and didn't have any qualifications when I started (happy to PM if you need any help with applying) and it's hard the hospitals are short staffed and often over capacity on wards but it is so rewarding. There are times that really stick out like when I was helping looking after a lovely lady closer to 90 and she was off her feet when she come in but fiercely independent and by the time she was leaving we were walking up and down the ward having a chat every day and when she left she told me how much it ment to her me taking the time to walk with her when she wanted even though she knew how busy we all were but she wouldn't be going back to her own hone without all the assistance we gave her and it's a great feeling, I knew looking at her how much it ment and I felt proud I could help her in that small way

GremlinDolphin1 · 13/08/2018 22:28

Hi Tempy, I have just got a job as a HCA in our local hospital! Start date to be agreed but it’s in Acute Medical Unit and I’m very excited! I have done care work in special schools before but have wanted to work in a hospital for a while. We shall see!

PixelDust · 13/08/2018 22:47

I am a recruiter for the Health Care Industry. Most agencies require you to have 6 month experience in a care setting. I believe that England is a lot less stringent than Scotland so this might not be the case for you.

I would recommend that you do not do home care and stick with Nursing Homes or Hospitals as they can support you with SVQ's or the English equivalent.

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