To think carers are classed as unskilled but expected to be skilled when things go wrong.

[JonasBogeys]

Maybe it would be a good time to look at the skill set needed for care work and PAY THEM MORE MONEY.
Most carers I meet through my job seem exhausted by working the amount of hours needed to get by.
They receive inadequate training at times.
They get punched and abused (a lot!)
Is it any wonder things go wrong?

That post is perfectly explained. I one hundred per cent agree.

Excellent post. The same applies for teaching assistants.

I work in care (management). There is no more money unfortunately. Most clients we have are LA funded and they've already put council tax up more than inflation and cut services to the bone. I'd love to know where this magic money tree is ...

I do agree with that, they should be paid and supported and generally valued more.

Much like everything, there is nuance though. There is a wide range of situations from "tried their best but stuff still went wrong" and "neglectful".

i agree but surely wages are comparable
how many qualifications are needed?

Hugely undervalued profession with so much responsibility. People underestimate how much hard work it is until they have to do it.

Carers need to be paid much more.

I think that in light of certain events in the news we do need to look at the role of a carer and really consider the level of responsibility that they may have the the potentials of things going wrong.

I completely agree. I work in school
admin. It has huge safeguarding responsibilities but I’m paid slightly more (20p p/h) than the cleaners.

@WhatNoRaisinsbut did no one know that before?? Surely we all knew that carers don’t just do personal care for old people? Surely we knew that they often manage risk for people with LD, autism, severe mental health?

Agree with you OP. It's a very difficult job.

I used to work on MW serving olives to posh people in shops. It was nice, I got a bottle of wine at Christmas, I just used to chat all day about food. Why would I choose to manage an impulsive, angry person with a significant learning disability for the same money?

I don't know the answer to this so I am genuinely asking, what are the profits of care homes? Do the owners make a huge profit?

It sounds like it's time to bring care provision back in house then
Presumably as it's such a loss maker the private owners will be mightily relieved to have these jokes taken off their hands

Yep. A world of difference between tried to intervene and didn't even notice as scrolling insta reels on phone.

Carers are not unskilled workers, they’re low paid workers, earning minimum wages or slightly above but not unskilled. There are levels of training too, they’re often beaten up, scratched, abused and no one cares as long as the client is okay. They’ve a huge responsibility and know it.

@icybreezefromanairconditionerthats what needs to happen but would be a huge undertaking.
Where I am, specialist 1:1 support is 4K a week. Thats for 24/7 1:1. You can bet the actual carers see less than a quarter of that

I don't think it is something that everyone has appreciated. Many of us on threads around this topic have seen poor practice by carers out and about and come across very dismissive attitudes.

@EmeraldShamrock000 but do the general public know it?

They should do, it’s obvious they’ve a lot of responsibility. Any care role, adults, special needs or children’s carer/ crèche worker has massive responsibilities. It’s not a job that anyone can do. It takes a special person to do the job they do, it’s about helping and earning, they know that they can earn as much in retail but many enjoy the work.

I completely agree.

Caring for vulnerable people and the elderly is such an important job and yet it pays poverty wages which leads to difficulty recruiting and keeping good staff.

It is the same thing with people who work in childcare.

Until these roles pay a decent wage then we will continue to have issues with the care provided.

Yep this

All these threads blaming the carers for that man throwing the child in the zoo.

Yet anyone complaining about poor service in a coffee shop gets told 'well they're on MW so you cant expect much, why should they have pride in their job or go out of their way to bring you a serviette'

Yet all of a sudden, these MW (or thereabouts) carers are to blame for the actions of another person and should have stopped it?

You're right. I had so much respect for the people who cared for bedbound DH in his final illness, but his care was already very expensive for those payjng. I just don't know where the money comes from to pay them properly (whether paid by the state or privately) If you can fix that, of course they should be better paid.

Even if it paid more, and there are massive structural barriers to that because of our dependency ratios, I suspect we'd see some improvement but probably not enough. It's just not a job most people want to do. That's the inherent nature of the work.

Most LAs are 'commissioning' LAs which means they're not allowed to bring things back in house

Its what people voted for.

I agree Op, but in answer to answer to the pp who questioned what qualifications are needed ?

Patience, empathy, interest in your client; dexterity, stamina, strength- these are basic skills needed in a good carer.

What I have learned is that, that it’s really not a role for everyone - I could not do it .

It’s a job many of us wish to outsource , with good reason, but the value is not reflected in the wages.