Would you take a job in care if you needed a job?

[whydoesitalwaysrainoe]

Pretty much that
I'm admin trained and office roles but I'm having no luck at all
Had a interview yesterday but not hopeful
I have been offered a job as a home carer
The company seems pretty flexible and I can pick my hours etc
It's more pay than the role I applied for yesterday too
It basically entails going around your community and washing /dressing etc
I used to care for my gran myself and nothing phases me really.

Would you take this job until something else comes along ?

Yes definitely. I worked in homecare as a student and loved it. The hours are flexible too. Go for it. If you've got previous admin experience it might be a stepping stone to an admin role in the care sector too. Good luck x

Well, if you need a job, have been offered a job and have experience doing that job (for family) I don’t see why not, especially as it’s flexible and better paid than some other options (which might not materialise anyway).

Yes, and I have in the past.

Of course.

I have done and would do so again, albeit for a more reputable company than the last one (not in the UK).

Thanks everyone
I know a lot of people are judgemental about care work
I am going to give it a go
Still apply for other roles but if I like it then stay
One of the jobs I applied for was over 1 1/2 hour commute and £200 travel costs so being able to walk around my community will save a fortune in time and money

If I needed a job I’d do anything necessary to feed my kids / keep a roof over our heads.

It’s flexible.
Its more money.

go for it!

Yes I have, it’s not glamorous but it helped us when we were in a tight spot. It’s given me a new perspective on life which was an unexpected bonus!

I’ve worked in care for most of my life. I had no idea that people were judgy about it.

How amusing. What on earth is there to be judgy about?

I done accounts for 26 years
Loved it
Done care work in the side
Now I only do care work
Money is good and I find it rewarding

I don't think it's anything to be judgemental about, but I know I couldn't do it.

I think care work must be bloody hard & have huge respect for people who do it.

I would never judge anyone badly for working in care. I am eternally grateful to all the carers ( and cleaners) who have made my life liveable for the last 10+ years.

I couldn't but I know people who have and have gone on to do qualifications and really enjoy it.

Yes I would give it a go. If it’s not for you, you can look for alternative jobs. People judge the care agencies who pay little above minimum wage, not those who work as carers.

It can be hard work but rewarding. I loved chatting with the people I cared for and hearing their tales.

There are some truly lovely carers who look after my mum.

She thoroughly enjoys them coming to her and helping with dressing etc.

They talk about nurses being angels but these caring staff have been like angels for her.

So I'd 100% go for it. Many people highly value what they do.

It's just a shame that we live in a world where the wrong jobs get high pay. Usually the ones men have traditionally wanted. Where the part time and after hours jobs seem to be paid less, the ones that women traditionally wanted/had to take to work round school hours. (And yes it's not always like that before others plough in and twist what I'm saying).

You'd be better thought of by any future employer for the fact you are working rather than unemployed. I've taken crap jobs when made redundant in the past for that exact reason.

A job's a job.

I'd take a care job if I needed a job and had a healthy back!

I would have thought it's an admirable job anyway. I'm surprised people are judging care work. But ignore them if they are.

The old adage is true, it's much easier to find work when you have a job, even if it's in a different field.

Care work isn't for everyone, but as you have some insight from caring for your gran go for it! Sadly some people are ignorant and look down on carers, but they do an incredibly important job and really do enhance the lives of people they care for. Give it a go and see how you go, you don't have to stay forever if you don't get on with it, and can keep applying for other jobs in the meantime.

Do you not need qualifications to work in care in the first place?

I’m a ‘professional’ running my own marketing business. But my favourite most rewarding job I’ve ever done was as an elderly carer. I started doing it at as a holiday job when I was 16. A huge eye opener but for all the ‘unpleasant’ aspects of the job - attending to hygiene needs etc, it actually felt like such a privilege to look after these mostly wonderful people. There is so much fun involved too - and I’d often spend after hours sitting with one of my ladies watching Corrie or flicking through old photos etc. At this point in the late 90s I was being paid £2.50 an hour. Turn the clock forward and after working in journalism and pr for about 8 years post uni, I had my kids and didn’t want to go back to working full time in a demanding job with unsociable hours. So I contacted a local home care agency and then worked weekends doing care in people’s homes. I loved this too and developed a real soft spot for my regulars. The pay was better £8.50 an hour and it gave us a bit of extra cash that allowed us to go on holidays, do a nice Xmas etc. I stopped in 2014 when I built my business but have kept in touch with my old company and would go back in a flash of money was tight. Certainly it’s something I’d like to do again when I’m older. You won’t regret it. The key is to thinking am I providing care that I’d be happy for my parents/ loved ones to receive. Good luck!

No you need the right attitude.

It is hard work and that includes emotionally as you are dealing with people who can deteriorate quickly.

Without the carers some of my friends have had their lives would have been a lot worse.(Some of the carers have been students while the others have gotten better jobs.)

This is one of those situations where if people are judgy about something then their opinion isn't worth taking any notice of.

Carers provide a vital resource to some of the country's most vulnerable people, often for not very much money. It's also physically demanding and includes elements that many find off putting/embarrassing (washing/toileting/dressing another adult). It's a role that deserves a huge amount of respect.

You have experience, the money is actually more than the admin role (which is often quite poorly paid, NMW or not much above) and if you can just walk around your local area that's great. Go for it.

Go for it!

Anyone who judges you for this is an idiot. Carers do such an important job.

EmpressaurusDeiGatti · Today 08:12
I think care work must be bloody hard & have huge respect for people who do it.

Quite. If these carers were valued as they should be, with decent wages and conditions (some companies are better than others) more people who actually want to be carers could afford to apply, and further their training.