To think people look down on care assistants

[Fjdowkrialkakvk]

And many other low paid jobs in general.
I went to university but I work predominantly as a HCA. I also work one day a week in a 'professional' role related to my degree.
Fortunately I am a relatively well-paid care assistant, earning £2 an hour more than the minimum wage. Many care homes or companies pay the bare minimum wage. I also get time and a half on all bank holidays which not everyone does.

Part of my role involves community care. I've had a client's daughter tell me she was 'surprised' i was in this role as I seemed intelligent and like I had more to offer.
I just take comments like that as tone deaf. I've also had some families of clients who clearly look down at you even though you're assisting their family member to live.
Just earlier I was at a lady's home and her granddaughter was there staying for a couple of days. She asked me to go and do her Grandma's washing up.
The Granddaughter could have bloody done it herself, it's just laziness and probably thinking they're too good to do it themselves.

It's considered a low skill role, and there's a common misconception that high pay must always mean high responsibility and vice versa.

I am physically and verbally assaulted by dementia residents, deal with medication and care equipment, I believe care assistants have a lot of responsibility. Luckily we have many appreciative residents and families.

Has anybody ever felt that such work is looked down upon or considered lowly?

Too many think the limit on pay in certain job roles, also relates to a limit on intelligence.
Far too many are completely ignorant as to what a hca actually does, and the amount of responsibility they have.
As a hca in a hospital you will often look after 12+ patients on your own, many acutely unwell. You are the person in the position to notice when a patient's condition deteriorates, and to then act accordingly.
You monitor observations, and blood sugars. Do pressure ulcer care and prevention. You do bladder scans, ecg's, catheter care and many other things. You do well above what is included in your job role. You're told that the trust 'appreciates' that you have formally trained through them, and now competently do these things. Even though it's not in your job role, and you are not paid for these competencies.
You are absolutely overworked and underpaid, but you love your job. Not the hours without a sip of water or a wee! But the interaction with your patients, and the knowledge that you have done your very best for them. However, the shifts where you try so hard to do your best to provide the care everyone deserves, but are unable to due to staffing etc, absolutely break you.

Bloody hell, no.
Spent a few days in hospital last year. Noticed the HCAs were never off their feet and their patience throughout the night as an elderly, obviously confused gentleman a few yards from me shouted repeatedly for them…( he couldn’t understand the call button, even tho they patiently demonstrated it each time they went to him)

I’ve also seen care staff go the extra mile for their residents with special needs. Country would soon grind to a halt without you.

You've hit the nail on the head there @Xpologog. The country would absolutely grind to a halt without carers, HCAs, and other low paid workers doing essential work. Because these roles require no formal qualifications they are grossly undervalued. What a piss take to expect carers to undertake mandatory training in their own time.

I was a Special Needs TA for 17 years and am now working in Adult Social Care. I have a good degree, various other qualifications, but I do the job because I want to do a job that matters. It's that simple.

I could have done something 'better' for sure (when I graduated I joined a major bank on an accelerated graduate scheme ..and HATED it) but most of us doing care work do it because we CARE and because the rewards of helping people who need us, building relationships with the most vulnerable in our society, is something that can't be replicated in the money making jobs.

I wish we were better paid and at the very least, recognised for what we do. I don't just do personal care. I can carry out gastrostomy feeds, Catheter care, deal with epilepsy, challenging behaviour. I have BSL and Makaton signing. PECS training..and more.

I am not low skilled.

But yes it pisses me off that I am assumed to be someone who can't do a better job!

@XenoBitch

I was a hospital cleaner. I was in a corridor one day cleaning a door, and overheard a lady telling the child with her that they need to do well at school, otherwise they would end up like me.

All jobs need filling, even the ones that many would consider the bottom. If no one filled those roles, society would be absolutely fucked.

Stone the crows! - I can hardly believe this.

I get more than irritated by the academic emphasis in schools - hand in hand with that goes a devaluing of non-academic jobs.

I know so many people with good degrees who jettison their qualifications to do something worthwhile for lower pay - I take my hats off to you.

There are many different forms of intelligence - some are academic, some relate to empathy.

I trained as a social worker, but refused to climb the greasy pole and finish up pen-pushing and budget-juggling behind a desk. I stayed in the job that I wanted to do. People were puzzled that I did not seek promotion, but I knew where my skills might best be used. Moving "up" into management demanded that you harden your heart and put budgets at the top of your list rather than people.

What a pity that low pay is associated with the idea of low skill. The way our society values occupations is askew.

I totally agree that we are by and large snobbish in this country about what work people do which is a huge problem considering we rely on everyone from the bin collector to the hospital consultant.

In other countries like Denmark and China people are made to feel proud of supporting their family and less emphasis is on what you do.

Some people in life just want a job and it will always be like that, so why make people feel like shit?

OP I came to the conclusion some carers we're better suited to the role than me. Many tough ladies with no self esteem issues that could separate themselves from perhaps the muckier parts of care, they knew that wasn't 'them'.

If a part of you knows this isn't you I'd start looking at how you can develop, work in a different part of the industry, or just do something completely different.

As another poster wrote, slowly I thought that what I was doing was all I was good for. I walked away from the industry and it was the right move for me although there are aspects I miss.

I absolutely don’t look down on cate assistants

I do regard it as a very very unappealing job that is the antithesis of what i would want in a job

I think care assistants are fabulous and so necessary. It's a hard job and one that I know I couldn't do. Thank god for those who do.

www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/care-workers-change/

Unison is working hard to bring about change. We can all take action. Like it or all of us are going to be involved and reliant on care either for ourselves or our loved ones.

I think its insecurity coming out from people a lot of the time, the requirement to voice anything you've mentioned is fucking despicable, given that YOU are the one who is providing care for their relative that they either cannot provide or have the inclination to provide.
Personally- and I'm ashamed to admit it, the time will come that my FIL needs help with his Alzheimers (I do not possess the right skill set or temperament to care for him. He is getting to the point where he does get aggressive and I would struggle to not rise to it) personally I'd be making you a cup of tea if I'm ever there when a carer is there, all respect given- because someone like you will ensure my FILS needs that I cannot meet are met.

In my view, that makes you special. I could not do it.

I am in a higher paying role, when I am at work (off due to illness throughout pregnancy) my flat rate is £27 ph, 1.5x for evenings and Saturdays, twilight shifts x2. I do have stress when I'm at work, just different stress.

I have however discussed with DD that there is a disadvantage to lower paid roles that is more than what hits your bank account at the end of the month.

I've worked as a cleaner, I've worked at Mcdonalds, I've worked as a shop assistant.
In those roles, there's been a uniform to wear, time keeping has been closely watched, there's often a manager just waiting to pull you up, there's a lack of control in your work schedule, there's a lot of stuff that you are just expected to put up with.

It's harder in those terms than my more recent roles.
I decide the hours myself and my team work, I decide (within reason) what I wear to work, I can work as I wish to, I've got a framework that I work with, but other than that, decisions are my own. If there's a meeting and I cannot make it, I cannot make it and the time is changed.

There is a huge amount of freedom that comes with people having some respect for you as a professional and it is shit because I'd honestly say that providing care, or providing a clean environment, or keeping a supermarket running is just as important as my job is... or even more so! My projects were halted during the first lockdown.

Yes, they are as I think any low paid job is, and bizarrely the more the job is relied upon, the more it seems to be looked down upon.

What's driven me out though is the blame culture, that as care assistants we seem to be blamed for everything from the symptoms of someone's illness to the systematic failures that mean standards are impossible to meet, because as 'unskilled' and low paid, what we have to say is dismissed as laziness or inability, instead those with a vested financial interest in keeping costs low and fees high are the ones who's voices carry weight and the care assistants are the easy scapegoat when things go wrong.

There's usually a story that hits the headlines every few months about abuse or poor care, and usually you hear nothing about what the staffing ratio's were, if there were enough staff to meet the needs of the clients present in real terms, where the provider was in all this - it's always how shit the carers involved were, who may well have just been the unfortunate sods on shift when something went tits up, and then got the blame for the systematic failures that led to the situation in the first place.
I'm not saying there aren't bad carers because there are, but the system demands far higher standards than the resources put in allow for, and for the most part, the staff on the floor are the ones getting the blame.

Imlovinglife
“I don't know if "look down" is the right word.

I will, however, admit that when I see people doing hard and low paid jobs, I quietly thank my stars I was born with a good brain and the ability and discipline to learn and study.

Obviously, I keep that to myself.

We all think that a bit sometimes. Admit it!”

What an absolutely appalling comment that has no place here.

I have a degree, am a qualified teacher and also got into law school so am not without a good brain or the ability and discipline to learn and study. I was a carer due to mental health issues and not being able to commit to other things.

Echoing another pp, it is awful how some families treat you and your time. I’ve lost count of the number of times families demanded I do a food shop on the way to their parents’ home, but instead of me being able to bill for that time from the shop onwards, to have to leave home early, do the shop and arrive at work on time as usual. They would then say “oh, bill the agency”, rather than pay me, so I often had to go £40 into my overdraft (young and broke).

And if something was missing or moved, of course it’d be my fault! And they’d be furious when I cleaned out the fridge and threw away ancient opened foods, even though if their parent became ill eating it, of course that’d be my fault again!.

What I do think is worrying is how basically anyone can get a care job, whether they actually care about the job or not. Currently, some employers are still offering welcome bonuses to new carers (as often occurred during the pandemic) as they are so desperate.

I'm glad others will do this job. I only just cope with old people I'm related too.

I started as a HCA before going on to nursing degree.

I have the utmost respect for HCAs, when I worked in ITU we couldn't do our job without them, they were the backbone of the team

One of our consultants used to wear the HCA uniform sometimes and often spoke about how people would treat him differently in the canteen or lifts, he would wear nurse uniform, domestics uniform too.

I'm sorry that people behave this way, but it says a lot about them! Not about you
There are wankers everywhere like people who are rude to waiting staff, just wankers

What I do think is worrying is how basically anyone can get a care job, whether they actually care about the job or not. Currently, some employers are still offering welcome bonuses to new carers (as often occurred during the pandemic) as they are so desperate.

I think this boils down to the attitude that other than lip service, many aren't bothered if the job is done well, as long as it's done. The qualifications you need to work with some of the most vulnerable people in society are a covid vaccination and not to have been convicted of certain crimes, and with the exception of a few like sexual, violent or fraudulent crimes, that decision is left up to the provider.

I quietly thank my stars I was born with a good brain and the ability and discipline to learn and study

Because someone earning less than £45k doesn’t have a good brain? Do you make that immediate judgement when the cleaner comes in as you’re leaving work to make sure it’s a nice clean tidy environment for you to work in?

We all think that a bit sometimes. Admit it

Nope - definitely don’t think my brain is any better than someone on minimum wage, because it isn’t.

Some of these comments are so disgusting.

'Lower' paid jobs don't mean lower intellect.
Carers have the patience and desire to HELP others regardless of what they're earning, i think that alone speaks volumes about a persons character.

I'm literally floored by the judgement of those thinking their any better due to salary. A lot of complete ignorant arseholes earn millions, doesn't mean anything.

@alittlefickle absolutely but if you strip it back British culture is lacking when it comes to looking after their own. Its mainly Asians and other other ethical minorities that willing to look after their own family members.

There was a thread not too long ago... several people turning their noses up but "claiming" they could look after their own. I mean I doubt believe it because you wouldn't speak about someone so degoratory doing a care job.

Its the usual MN land where people can't understand that someone has to be a lower, mid a d higher owner. There's some very very privileged and clueless people on this forum

[quote Countdownis35]**@alittlefickle* absolutely but if you strip it back British culture is lacking when it comes to looking after their own. Its mainly Asians and other other ethical minorities that willing to look after their own family members*.

There was a thread not too long ago... several people turning their noses up but "claiming" they could look after their own. I mean I doubt believe it because you wouldn't speak about someone so degoratory doing a care job.

Its the usual MN land where people can't understand that someone has to be a lower, mid a d higher owner. There's some very very privileged and clueless people on this forum[/quote]
I agree, if everyone could look after their own, why do we need so many care homes and home carers?

In reality they're relying on the people who do these jobs to ensure they can go out and use their 'good brain' to earn a lot of money and have a lifestyle they want. Admitting that though for some, would mean admitting that they're quite happy using the services of the low paid jobs to advance themselves, and they like to think it's all hard work and good brain that got them where they are.

I was told the same op.
I was also called a "shit shoveller" by a family member of a person I was caring for...
Needless to say, I'm no longer a carer
Why would you?
You can earn more stacking shelves at tesco.

Plenty of Asian and other minority residents in my Mother's care home. Times are changing and due to the economic need for 2 parents to work full time there is not always the ability/time to take on the caring responsibilities of our parents.

@Maverickess I know everyone can't do it as its not practical and living costs are high. I notice even things like a weekly visit... bring basic toiletries in for relatives in care homes it doesn't happen. There's online shopping this can be done from your home. It's really shocking the culture here in UK.

@mrshoho

Plenty of Asian and other minority residents in my Mother's care home. Times are changing and due to the economic need for 2 parents to work full time there is not always the ability/time to take on the caring responsibilities of our parents.

I didn't see this before I posted. It's not just the looking after though is it? It's the lack of visiting and checking if loved ones need things... clothes and personal items. It's not really about living costs.... although the point is valid and I agree. The INTENTION and the WANT is simply not there.

I've worked in a care home myself. I remember one Asian lady and she visited her husband every day granted she was retired. But still.... British culture regarding looking after their own is a disgrace. Read the comments on the thread.... the relatives will be the first to complain though about their relatives care if something isn't right though.

As a ward sister for many years I couldn't have survived without those excellent health care assistants. It's about having a great team around you?

I don’t look down on anyone. Some people take a job below their ability for personal reasons, such as less stress, childcare, elderly relatives.
As a nurse I know that HCA’s work damn hard and are the backbone of any hospital.