After come career advice about HCA's/Carework

[Beebityboo]

Now my DC's are older I'm looking at training and starting a career for myself. I'm really interested in working in the care industry. I would have liked to have done nurse training but unfortunately it won't be doable with the little support I have with childcare etc.

I think I'd eventually like to be a HCA in a hospital or elderly care home so am thinking of doing a health and social care degree full time through the OU. With no practical experience do you think this would be enough to get a stable HCA job? I've applied to several jobs but as I've been out of work (for ten years!) it's been difficult as I've no qualifications (some unrelated A levels) or experience.

Just after some guidance really!

Bump

You don't need a degree to be an HCA, unless you specifically want to study. Our hospital has a "Talent Academy" that can advise you further on healthcare jobs - your local hospital will probably have a similar set up. Or just go to NHS jobs and browse their job vacancies. There will be an outline of requirements needed for each job so this may help you further.

I've had a look at the NHS jobs site and many of the posts want experience or NVQ's. Would a degree be valued the same as an NVQ or would I be better off doing an NVQ/BTEC at a college as it's more practical?

Finding it a bit depressing looking at the jobs, tbh. I've been out of work/training for such a long time that it feels impossible and overwhelming.

You seriously don't need a degree, most care homes just want you to be able to read and speak English!

If you don't have your NVQ2 the home will usually train you for the qualification. NVQ2 health and social care is incredibly easy.

You apply in a care home first, they will fund your diplomas in h&s care

Ultimately I would like to work in a hospital/palliative care setting. I have had looks at lots of care work and most require a drivers license.

I guess I just want a clear path to follow that will almost guarantee me a job iyswim. I'm in a position where I don't have to work but I really need to for my own mental health!

Also I have nothing to put on my CV that isn't from ten years ago

I work in the admin department of a care home and deal with recruitment.
We have over 200 homes nationwide and we run schemes to promote people, we’ve had people who have come in with no qualifications as a care assistant and have gone on to be nurses! So HCA and senior HCA is certainly achieveable.
Feel free to message me directly if you want me info as we must have a home near you.

Have pmd you Original [smie].

Really I'd be happy doing anything in the Care sector I think but would really like to end up in a hospital setting and then maybe doing nurse training in a few years when life has settled down a bit.

Oops, meant to be a .

Agree totally with the others, don't bother with a degree if you want to work as a HCA - an NVQ is a very entry level qualification, the basic requirement for care home and domiciliary care work (being a carer in someone's home) is reasonable spoken English, able to follow instructions and a generally caring attitude and TBH they often seem to waive at least one of these round our way, so desperate are they for staff! I'm sure they'd snap you up. The NHS may be more competitive because the pay and terms are better. Maybe start looking on indeed or other job sites rather than the NHS, here's some random examples in London for you...

total jobs

home instead

indeed

Be aware though that it is very, very hard work physically and, at times, emotionally being a carer, and it is incredibly badly paid. If you have childcare issues you may also find the hours difficult as even if no nights are required, you may be rota-d on early or late shifts with little/no control.

If you have the academic capacity for a degree, how about considering some of the other allied health professions such as SALT, physio, radiography/radiotherapy, dietician? Not saying these are 'easy' routes at all and are definitely competitive to get into, but fulfilling careers that can be family friendly (or at least, more family friendly than nursing) as well!

Look at care homes, not agencies. Don't worry about lack of experience, few care, if you can wipe your own arse and dress yourself then you can do the work.

Are work is very rewarding but demanding. Can you deal with being shouted at, watching a slow death, possibility of getting hit? Dealing with infected poo and vomit?

Honestly care work is so easy to get into.

I mean this nicely as i can, but they will take anyone at all.

The people I've seen come & go through the years is hideous really!

You need not worry about your CV, just add a good covering letter, show willing be nice & you will be absolutely fine.

If you don't drive you need to look at care homes, a walking route for dom care is crap. Most places are zero hours too.

Ideally you want a care home & check out the reviews/QCC before applying

Good luck!

I have a stomach of steel TakeDown .

There is a wonderful care home within walking distance of my house but it doesn't seem like they are hiring anyone at the moment. I may just send my CV in with a covering letter anyway. Have nothing to lose really.

I'm sure they will still look for bank staff or weekend cover.
At very least they'll keep your details which is good.

Honestly care work is the best job I've ever ever done and I will probably do it forever! It's very rewarding.

There will be more opportunities in a hospital setting, you don't need experience or a qualification, look at your local nhs site at band 2 jobs, they usually train you up. From there you can go on to do an NVQ and promote to a band 3 or band 4. You could apply to work in a medical ward or care of the elderly, you would gain valuable general essential experience if you want to go into palliative care. You could also look at any local hospices to see what their recruitment process is. Starting off doing a volunteering role is a great way to see if you feel it's for you, either in a hospital or a hospice.
You do not need a degree for HCA work.
The NHS usually offer better conditions, some carehomes don't offer sick pay, the hours can be long, understaffed and offer little in the way of training but there are some good ones too.

Would a degree in health and social care be looked at as favourably as a NVQ/BTEC? If I want to take the study route that is.

In a purely box ticking sense OP, yes a degree is a much higher level qualification than an NVQ/BTEC so you would meet or exceed that requirement on a person spec. If anything, you'd be considered over-qualified.

But unless the degree also includes an element of work placement, I don't think it would necessarily lead to the kind of automatic/walk in job you are after (albeit as I've said I think you could walk into an entry level care job now with no qualifications), as employers for this kind of position, given the choice, would always prefer someone with solid practical experience but little qualifications over someone who has done lots of theoretical study but never applied it in the real world.

Given what you've said about your aspirations I'd say your time would be better spent on getting some practical experience now (a paid permanent position if possible but if not then casual or even voluntary), you'll need to study for a degree if you want to eventually be a nurse so I'm not sure what doing a first degree now would really add - unless some of the modules of this degree could be counted against/towards a nursing degree eventually - worth checking?

Why not see if you can speak to the manager of the nice local care home or local hospice and find out what their entry requirements are in general for care assistants and whether there's any scope to train on in post? Even if there are no vacancies at the moment or you aren't in a position to apply at least you can then direct yourself and prepare accordingly rather than embarking on a potentially long term and expensive course of study that might not get you where you want to be?

Would a degree in health and social care be looked at as favourably as a NVQ/BTEC?

Don't do a degree if you only want to be a HCA! NVQs and BTEC are lower than a degree, why are you making this so hard for yourself?

I suppose I just feel overwhelmed and looking for a clear path to take. Applying for jobs with no relevant qualifications after ten years out of the workplace is frightening and want to do something to give myself a better chance of success.

Care is so easy to get into. We just had some new starters and they include a lady who had worked for several years at Mcdonalds, an ex-hairdresser, couple of students and a mechanic.

Its more about your personality. You need to be caring, compassionate, think on your feet and enjoy a challenge. Many places will put you through your NVQ level 2 and possibly 3. ONce you have some experience you can then move into a hospital environment.

If you have been caring for children or relatives thats a big positive.

Do some voluntary work for a few weeks. Then apply to care homes. They'll snap your hand off.

Do NOT go down the degree route. Total waste of time and money. Don't do the NVQ yourself - again your employer will fund that.

Honestly, you won't need any qualifications, just a willingness to work hard and take on board any advice and training given.