To leave my supermarket job to work in a care home?

[leosmummyx]

OH thinks it's stupid off me to want to go and "wipe bums" his words not mine when I can get paid the same where I am working now in a supermarket.

I'm not enjoying my current job and I find majority of the time I am stood around looking for something to do.

If I was working as a carer I would constantly be on the go. I also think it would be more rewarding.

AIBU? I don't want to take this care job and regret it.

Is it an actual care home or going around to people's houses as a carer? Because there is a big difference

Depends, you might love it you might hate it. I know people who fall in both categories. It's hard hard work and sometimes thankless I think. But rewarding if you enjoy helping people even when it means doing unpleasant things sometimes.

Use the time stood around doing nothing to get a qualification?

One of our warehouse lads got his open university degree done almost entirely in work

I'd go to peoples houses, but no way a care home.
I have friends who all without exception caught covid at work in care homes, not one from a supermarket, although there have probably been some, obviously.

How are you stood around looking for something to do in a supermarket?
I’d talk to your supervisor about the lack of work before quitting. Increase your workload and look for progression where you are. Likely to be more opportunities and less stress where you are, I reckon.

I am studying part time, I mean at work I'm always just stood around as I do mornings it's very quiet.

Going round to peoples homes.

@Elsewyre

Use the time stood around doing nothing to get a qualification?

One of our warehouse lads got his open university degree done almost entirely in work

Maybe she doesn’t actually want to do that?

OP, what I’d do is work part time as a carer first. See if you like it or not. I found it extremely stressful when I did it.

They've just taken on more staff and theirs not even enough work for the people there. These past two days I've just been stood greeting customers and I can't bare it.

By rewarding, do you mean because you think everyone will be thanking and praising you or because you would feel more satisfied and find it more purposeful?

OP carers that go round to peoples homes do not tend to get paid for the time between visits so you will find you are earning a lot less than you think so have proper look at that. Also you may have days where there is a lot of time between visits that you wont get paid for. So you'll be sitting around in your car not even being paid and more bored than you are now.

I work in a care home....and there is never a dull moment. Yes there is a lot of the "care" needs given including "wiping bums" but there is so much more.
There's the relationships you make with the service users, they have some fantastic stories, they really are an extension to my family now.

The hours are long too, but whereas before I was working 5 days in a school, I can cover the same hours in 2 days. So it leaves me more days at home to spend with my family.

Is it a care home or caring in the community?

Are you sure the salary will work out to be the same and that the cost of your travel time/ petrol will be covered in full? People I know who've worked as home carers did not seem to get paid fully for travel time between houses in many cases.

I did community home care for 10 years. It's a job that you have to love, and really do need to put your all into. It's rewarding but thankless. Agencies tend to take the piss with hours going up and down weekly, they take the piss with mileage pay and also don't pay travel time. Long hours, split shifts. It's not just a quick cuppa and a microwave meal. There's full personal care, cleaning, meal prep, shopping trips. You have the fuel outlay, business use to add to your car insurance. And you will need to work towards your level two in health and social care. I miss the job, but not the crap that comes with it.

I couldn't do it. I've spent a lot of time im care homes just visiting for years between my grandparents. A lot of the staff have back problems from lifting, the patients can be aggressive and get very upset. My granda used to smear his shit on the walls when he was stressed (dementia). O work with kids and do spend my life "wiping bums" but there's something about doing it for the elderly, I just couldn't do. I have so much respect for people that do, and they just don't get paid enough by a long shot.

Going round to peoples homes.
No chance. From what I have seen in this area, you will be constantly short staffed and unable to fit in what you want to do in your time slot. One of my friends left her job, as as a newbie was given all the 'crap' shifts including all over Xmas. She left and went back to her old job within weeks

Is it care in the community?

Are you sure you'll earn the same once you factor in travel time and petrol costs? Most carers don't get paid travel between jobs, or for things like fuel or breaks.

I suspect you're better off staying where you are.

As a pp mentioned, caring in the community it's very likely will have you sitting around waiting for hours for a 15 min visit etc. Very tying and you could end up out of pocket very easily with travel.
I've worked in a care home and not a chance I'd go back whilst we're living through Covid.
The risk just was not worth it for me.
I'd be sticking with my supermarket role.

I can see where you're coming from OP but caring (even in people's homes) is hard slog for very little money. I think they do a fantastic job but are undervalued, pressured and stressed for very little money. I know you say you hate your job as it is now, could you ask to be transferred to a different part of the supermarket, or look at other jobs elsewhere?

Would you have time to volunteer in a caring field to see if it’s for you?

If you can cope with cleaning up after someone has had an upset stomach, which won't be every day but will happen, then care work can be extremely rewarding. There are many people working in care who absolutely love their jobs and the people they work with. There are also plenty of others who do it because 'they have to' - and it shows.
If you do decide to look into it further contact the manager of homes close to you. Tell them of your interest and ask if you can look round (well that's the advice I would give in normal times - obviously can't be done at the moment) The alternative is to really read the full CQC report for the place. There will be quotes from staff and relatives as well as residents where possible.

Don't wait for job adverts, contact the homes you like the sound of and speak to the manager.

Find out what training they offer. They will all offer training, but some have a good system of recording what is available and who has done it. The manager should be enthusiastic about what they offer rather than umming and ahhing about what can be done. The whole ethos of the home depends on the manager, so if you get good vibes from them it's a very good sign.

If you are thinking of home caring I would get a job in a care home first anyway, you will get good transferable experience and you will be less fazed by different home situations.

If you feel like a change, go for it. If you realise it's not your thing after a while, I'm sure you can find another job. If you are studying I'm guessing you'll be looking for a new job in that area at some point, so it's not like you were going to stay at your current job for life.

If you want to work in care check your local hospital for health care assistant roles, the pay is so much better than home care or carehomes.
And you will work for a reputable company, as alot have mentioned these agencies and homes can be very life consuming

I did community care for 3 years, and it was a thankless job. The agency constantly taking the piss with my hours, either not giving enough or too many. Constantly ringing me to cover shifts and sometimes just single visits that wasn't worth my time.

I did get paid mileage but not for my time between calls, which sometimes there was high gaps and sometimes no time at all, so my shift would run behind and i'd end up working an extra hour finishing my list but for no extra pay.

There's also the extra wear and tear on your vehicle and extra insurance you'll have to pay for.

Many of the clients were grumpy and rude. Some hated that they had to have help with things and resented you being there. Not all though. Some were lovely and truly thankful you were there.

Out of community care and a care home, community is better for the type of work that you'd be expected to do and more varied. But the pay is worse.

Not at all it’s a very rewarding job but also mentally draining.

Make sure you go into it with open eyes; staff turnover is high for a very good reason. A friend of mine who I would call a born carer has recently resigned due to the mental strain; she has gone back to hairdressing. Among other things she was bitten three times by different dogs. The salary is also incredibly poor once you have factored in unpaid travel time. I have a relative in a care home and he has hit and kicked staff, thrown things at residents etc he can't help it, it is his dementia but doesn't make it any easier for the staff.