Any Care Assistants here?

[DoloresMontenegro]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here has experience of working as a Care Assistant and would be willing to share how you find/ found it?

I used to be, came out of the job 15 years ago.

ive done home care, residential and nursing.

ive worked in 3 care homes.

some are better than others, it’s a very hard job. It ruins every social occasion as it’s shift work 365 days a year.

theres a lot of heavy lifting, most care assistants have a bad back.

there’s always someone on the sick or being short staffed in general and there’s a lot of pressure to take extra shifts.

why do you want to do the job?

Yes I worked in a nursing home (84 beds, mostly bed bound/disabled residents) and then also community care.

Truthfully, it was the hardest job I've ever done both physically and mentally. I wouldn't go back to it for anything. The shifts alone completely mess up any form of social life/family events. You're told over and over about health and safety but then when you're short staffed, are told to break all those rules and use hoists alone etc. The residents/patients were lovely, the management less so.

I've been a carer for 33 years. Mainly home care. I wouldn't work in a care home again out of choice.

I worked in a nursing home then did home care. The nursing home was very full on. Sometimes worked double shifts if they were short staffed. Home care was better but first call was 6.30 am then last one 10.30 pm. Was out for most of the day. Sometimes I used to get a sandwich and sit in a supermarket car park to save going home for an hour.
So breakfast calls, then an hour break before lunch calls. Then a couple of hours off before the tea time calls. Another couple of hours break then out for the bed time called.
Regularly used to drive 150 miles or more in a week.

I’m training as a Care Assistant at the moment. I have to do a block placement of work experience soon. I’ve been having some second thoughts it and I think this has confirmed my suspicions. Thanks everyone.

I used to be, worked my way up. Funnily enough it’s not the actual job itself that is the hard part, it’s usually unsupportive management, bitchy and cliquey staff, understaffing pressures and unrealistic expectations for time management. With that being said, find the right home with the right staff and management and it’s the best job.

That all sounds really tough. I think I’d better look for something else. I don’t think I’m up to it. I was going to try to finish out the course. It’s only a year. But I think I’ll just start to look for something else now. I don’t think I even want to do the work experience placement.

Would you consider an hca position in a hospital?

I’m not qualified for that.

My daughter has been a home carer for the past two years since her A Levels. She really loves it and is good at it, but she is only PT which probably helps with the job satisfaction! It is a tough job and not well paid. She gets back ache quite a lot which isn’t great for a 21 year-old! She’s just started a degree course in Occupational Therapy and will continue to do some care work while she studies.

I was an HCA in the Dark Ages (Sister now!). In your situation, I’d finish the course (because then at least you’ve done it), and then maybe research HCA jobs in GP surgeries, on the community/district nursing teams or in hospital outpatient departments. It’s worth a look in :)

Fair play to her. She sounds amazing and very motivated.
My situation is completely different. I’m a lot older, have dc etc.

It’s Social Care I’m studying, not Health Care Assistant.

What qualifications do you need for hca, that you don’t need if you’re a care assistant? Both have on the job training. All you need by way of qualifications are basic literacy and numeracy, surely?

I don’t know. I don’t know anything about being an HCA.

A HCA is the hospital equivalent of being a carer in a care home. The qualification you’re doing will most likely be ok. The vast majority of hospitals and care providers provide all the training you need. So there is no reason you couldn’t be a HCA.

I’ve worked in the care sector for the past 16 years. I now am self employed running my own care business. I have worked in care homes of all descriptions, worked for agencies providing domiciliary care. I have also done night work, live in care and community based enabling. I now work for myself as it gives me much more flexibility and financial freedom.
It is a tough role there is not doubt and it is massively undervalued in my opinion. But it is worthwhile and rewarding in its own way. I have met so many truly amazing people with fascinating stories and life experiences. I’m currently working with an elderly client with an incredible story of their life throughout the Second World War. I’m helping them sort through their things and write down some of their recollections so that their story is known and remembered.

It is incredible work but not without its challenges. There are good providers and less good ones. I remember I often felt when I was going for job interviews that I almost was interviewing the job and provider as much as they were me. To remain in the job you need to have a clear idea of what is and isn’t an acceptable level of care and be prepared to vote with your feet and move on if the provider isn’t a good fit. I have reported several homes to CQC on my way out the door. But there are good places out there.

Apologies, you said Care Assistant- and me being an old dinosaur thought you meant the same as the HCAs in the hospital.

I've worked in an LA care home, private care home and also home care. If you are considering becoming a care assistant try to find a small, private care home. I've been shocked and quite saddened to see the difference in care between private and LA. It's hard work, but I have enjoyed it and never really dreaded going to work. Staff turnover and sickness was difficult in home care and the LA home though.

No one is going to ask you to do anything to difficult on a 12 week placement.
Do it.
You might enjoy it and atleast you will finish the course.

You don't need hca qualifications. Generally its experience with basic maths and English. The hospital i work in will help you obtain the care certificate

What qualifications do you need?

What does your course teach you, being an hca in a hospital or any NHS setting will be better, you get a good pension, sick leave, , training, work with all sorts of people. You don't need qualifications, look at your local hospital website for band 2 opportunities.

You might love it OP. You don’t know til you try. And like others have said after your course you have options other than just working in a care home.

Do you need any qualifications for it?

What do you need these days ?
When i was a nurse HCAs didnt need specific qualifications.