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.

There’s some miserable people on here telling you not to do it but I think you should go for it. It’s low paid and hard work but if you’ve got the right caring personality for it you’ll be fantastic and make a real difference to people’s lives.
I would look for care home or hospital care assistant work though so at least you are paid for all the hours you put in.
I’m a hospital care assistant and I love the people I work with and the patients (mostly!). Yes there is plenty of bum wiping but the way I see it is making someone comfortable, looked after and keeping their dignity when they can’t do it for themselves is 100 percent more satisfying then scanning endless items through a till for hours in end.
Go for it, be proud of what you do and bring kindness to those you look after.

Being a residential carer wouldn't be worth it financially. Most companies try to get out of paying a full wage and compensating you for use of your car.

You should also be aware of the physical side of working in care. People always discuss the low pay and how rewarding it can be but fail to mention the abuse you might face. Violence isn't uncommon when dealing with residents who have MH issues, dementia etc.

@leosmummyx

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.

To be honest with you OP I would rather stand at the door and greeting customers. I have worked in the care homes & nursing homes for years and I injured my back and left care job about 7 years ago and now I have back pain problem

And it was constantly short staffed and hard work

Care home work is hard and thankless. It's a constant round of getting people up, meals, toilet, sticking them in front of a television, more meals, toilet than back to bed. Some people need to remain in bed and you'll have to turn them two hourly to prevent pressure damage.

It's a constant rush, you're under pressure to cut corners, there's very little time for meaningful interaction.

The work is physically demanding, even with modern moving and handling aids. Colleagues can be difficult and there is a significant amount of bitching, backbiting and even bullying in some places.

You will be expected to do training - most of which is unpaid. You will be expected to turn a blind eye to things which you may struggle with.

My advice would be to join a care bank somewhere and try it out first. You might be okay, but don't quit a job to do it.

There’s some miserable people on here telling you not to do it but I think you should go for it. It’s low paid and hard work but if you’ve got the right caring personality for it you’ll be fantastic and make a real difference to people’s lives.

Not miserable, just realistic. Care work is a hard slog - having a caring personality doesn't change that. Especially care in the community. You don't get paid your travel, you have to get round all your clients even if that means you start early or work late. You often have lots of "dead time" where you don't have clients, but don't have enough time to go and do something else, so you just have to wait around.

Financially and emotionally, supermarket work a is much better option.

Thanks everyone I guess I will just stay where I am for now, I finish my qualification next year so hopefully I will be able to go into my dream job. I just need to try and ride it out until then.

I used to work in 'care in the community' setting for older people. it can be rewarding, very much so. but I found I didn't have the organisational skills to do what I was expected to do, though some of this is due to the nature of the job.
Example: get Mrs J's dinner in the microwave and help her change into night clothes, ensure she's been to the toilet, in 25 minutes. Clocking in machine at opposite end of house to front door. Mrs J wants to talk. you cant get past to clock in - you also want to talk to Mrs J as that's why you took the job - not just to help with personal care but to provide human interaction. you end up spending 45 minutes with Mrs J as she's upset about her husband who is in a home and she misses him. Your next client is 20 minute drive away, you get stuck in traffic, and struggle to get him into the hoist when you get there, so the job runs over as the other carer didn't turn up.
The roads are icy and you can't drive fast enough between clients houses so you finish late.
Your car breaks down because of the extra mileage and wear and tear.
You are paid minimum wage for this.

Caring roles are hugely rewarding and some people excel in the role you're looking at - I still am in a caring one now, and I love it, it is very fulfilling, but hard.

You can however, use this role as an opportunity to gain your NVQ level 3 in care, and springboard from that into a hospital as a HCA, then get onto your nurse training, then go on to develop further as a practitioner - the NHS will be your oyster (or private).

I work as a Support Worker in a Supported Housing project for adults with Learning Disabilities. It is Care Work but I work in the same house every shift and have got to know the clients well. It's actually more like being a housekeeper/cook with some personal care thrown in. The clients require support with all aspects of life, housekeeping, shopping, cleaning, laundry etc. They do go out on social trips both with the staff and with personal support workers from outside agencies. The clients are aged 40 to 65 and watch TV, play board games, chat with their Co tenants and staff. I've been doing this for 2 and a half years. Previously I worked in Child care then as a Teaching assistant. I enjoy this work more than anything I've done previously. It's very rewarding and is not such hard work as a normal care home for the elderly or care in the community going from house to house. I'm contracted to work 30 hours per week and cover those hours in two shifts, meaning I have lots of free time.

Turnover for community care workers is around 40%!

Why not look at healthcare assistant jobs in the NHS? Better benefits and career progression and they may fund further qualifications.

Depends entirely on you OP. There are pros ‘ cons to care work, completely down to the individual whether they enjoy it or not...

Home caring will be great. Will be so much more rewarding than the supermarket.