Carer / Support Worker job types

[CheeryCat]

Hi. I’m almost an empty nester. Currently teaching but looking for a career change. I like the idea of fostering at some point but in the nearer future, some sort of caring or support worker role appeals.

I like the idea of helping someone live a more independent life, but don’t feel drawn to working with the elderly or doing roles with lots of personal care. And my poor back wouldn’t allow me to do much manual handling!

I’m very interested in mental health and have some lived experience (through family members).

Can anyone help me think out of the box and suggest a role I might not have thought of?

Activities coordinator would use your practical skills, I know your not drawn to working with the elderly but it involves very little personal care.

A lot of the work is helping with crafts, organising events such as outings, playing games and just having a chat with people.

@Yoloohno gosh, I’m no good at art or craft or anything. Wouldn’t you need to be able to knit and organise a sing song and such like!?

Possibly not the best idea then, arts and crafts are a large part of the job.

yes it’s arranging for people to come in and do sing alongs, armchair aerobics.

id love to do it but I’m like you absolutely useless at anything arty.

I’m really drawn to working in a children’s home, actually but there seems to be a very high turnover of job vacancies locally, which rings alarm bells.

@Yoloohno my mil would’ve been amazing at this!

Not necessarily mental health related but there are many agencies who provide PA's for young adults with special needs either at their own home, in a supported living scenario or by taking them out.

Each council will have a day centre where they organise activities too, worth checking in your own area maybe.

Youth Work, or being a Personal Advisor for a Care Leaver? (you'd be employed by the Local Authority for the latter).

I know you said fostering is further down the line for you, but if there is a Supported Lodgings scheme local to you that might work well as a stepping stone. That's also supporting care leavers who are between fostering/childrens homes and independent living.

There are also Mental Health Support Worker roles, some are more physical than others, you might have to do a bit of searching to find the right fit.

Thank you very much @MoreTeaLessCoffee and @YogaLite so interesting ideas…. But I don’t feel cool or youthful enough to be a Youth Worker!!

PAs are not about youth workers, young adults who are transitioning to some sort of independence are usually 20-30+

Thank you @YogaLite I have found one or two similar roles but they seem to almost need the person spec of a qualified social worker but are minimum wage! (No surprises with the latter point)

Google Think Care Careers
and A Question of Care

Have you thought about retraining as a education mental health practitioner? Through the nhs.
I work as a independent living support worker and the personal type care is minimal. Not like working with the elderly. It’s my student job as I can work my hours in one hit.

@Bertha21 funnily enough I do hold a similar qualification already but it was obtained a few years ago and, for various reasons, I’ve never used it professionally. Roles in this area are few and far between locally:(
Do you get paid minimum wage in your current role?? The pay is just shocking on social care, isn’t it?