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!

Ok I think I will knock up a (probably pathetic) CV with some covering letters and send them to local care homes as a first step. I'm willing to work nights/weekends so hopefully that will work in my favour.
Mainly I just desperately want out of this horrible rut I've been in since DD started full time school in September.

Nights and weekends?
You won't have any problemsBeebityboo

I used to run a care agency and i would echo many of the comments above. A degree would be quite confusing at entry level.

With the right personality and attitude, you can achieve a good career in care. So many people start and fall by the wayside early on, that anyone kind and competent will be noticed. Evening and weekend capacity is brilliant.

Add to all this, being flexible, reliable and trustworthy and you can go far fast!

And if you then want to train further, they will be desperate to keep you!

Most of the jobs I've seen ask for experience but will apply to a few anyway, the worst they can do is say no!

I think most employers prefer experienced staff but don't let that put you off as if you have the right attitude they can train you up.
Get writing and see what happens - good luck!

Before you just send a CV off it might be a good idea to look at hospitals or homes where you would like to work and ask for a visit, you dont want to end up somewhere that has a poor reputation. Your local adult education centre might offer health and social care courses.

If you're happy to tell us what area you are in we might be able to recommend some homes for you

Ask here if need any help with the letter or application statement.

I'm in Walsall Happy.

I brought in my application form/covering letter to the care home nearby today. It was a terrible application so I don't expect to hear anything.

Feel really demotivated and sad today. I have no real relevant qualifications aside from some unrelated A Levels and no references that aren't friends or family, plus been out of work for ten/eleven years. It all feels a bit hopeless .

Sorry all, just needed to have a whinge.

Do you drive? Have you considered home care?

Look at the big providers like Bupa, HC One or Four Seasons. They are more likely to take you on with no experience because they have the capacity to train you.

You could also look at doing a level 2 course in Preparing to work in adult social care, which would look good on an application. Also, have a look at supported living services for adults with LD, these tend to accept people with life skills more readily because those are the skills service users needs; life skills. Look at Mencap for example.

Dont be disheartened. Honestly there will be a job for you out there. Care homes and the care industry industry in general are always looking for staff. I have worked in care for several years and have never worked for a company that hasnt needed staff because of a high turnover.

I’ve worked in NHS management and hired HCAs. The degree is unnecessary. Experience is key though. There are 2 ways of getting it in your situation: volunteer or apply for an apprenticeship in the NHS (no upper age limit and you do NVQs as part of it. Only pays band 1 or 2 AFC, but plenty of progression available up to band 3, and frequently secondment opportunities thereafter to train first as an assistant practitioner and later as a nurse and be paid to do it.

Link to apprenticeships in Walsall here:
www.walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk/work-with-us/apprenticeships/
If you complete an expression of interest, remember to include any caring experience on a personal level too (family members etc)

Why don't you get a HCA job then either do an apprenticeship Nursing Associate ( 2 year Foundation Degree) or Nursing degree. ( 3 year) ( or 4-5 if apprenticeship) ( I'm a nurse lecturer) . Don't waste valuable time doing H&SC degree. It's a waste. If you do your course as part of apprenticeship you get paid whilst studying.

I got an interview!! I am genuinely shocked. SO nervous.

When is it for and in what role?

We can help you prepare. Well done.

It's for a care assistant and it's on Wednesday .

There's known to be a national shortage of care workers - and it's certainly biting, we've had trouble finding sufficient domiciliary care workers for an elderly relative.

Go and have a chat to a local care home and ask if they're currently recruiting, and how they would view an application from you. If they say you need more experience, ask if you could come and do some unpaid work experience shifts. If they say you need a specific qualification, ask if it's possible possible to train on the job.

You certainly don't need a degree to be an HCA. You'd be much better off getting some care work now and going for a nursing degree when family circumstances permit.

At my trust at least they do level 2 apprenticeships now and no longer an NVQ, there were a variety of people on it when I did it including a 16 year old straight out of school and women who previously worked at Sainsbury's. None of them had care work experience as such so may be worth looking to see if you could get your foot straight in the door as an apprentice at your local trust.

Care agencies are desperate for carers and very easy to get a job as a carer as long as you can communicate in english and a half decent person with no criminal record. No point doing a degree to get into it. After a couple of years you could apply to hospital as there is more competition to work in hospitals than care homes but it comes down to experience than having a degree at that stage and some agencies let you do nvq at the same time which is more useful.
Care work is one of the easiest to be accepted for...i found bar work and supermarkets far more picky. The reality is care work is very hard, demanding and some jobs are incredibly personal like trimming pubes or manually evacuating bowels. You clean a lot of bodily fluids and movements and have time targets. Good luck, im sure they will hire you.

Friend has a PHD & still had to do the full HCA training.
She loves being an HCA, btw.
Still does some lecturing to make real money, though.
She worked supply HCA for ages to get experience.
Being a supply HCA around here only requires 3 days of training, and flexibility to work at short notice.

HCA training is its own thing, other qualifications may not be helpful.