Working as a domiciliary carer

Rosieblue12 · 2024-01-30T10:29:46+00:00

Ive just started 16 hours a week as a home carer visiting people in there homes. Never done any sort of care work before, they gave me 2 days training, then i shadowed someone for 2 days, then out on my own. Im finding it very stressful and just wondered if there are domiciliary carers here that can give me advise on how to cope and not worry so much. we have to work on a really tight schedule visiting clients throughout the day . find myself in panic mode all the time worrying about being late for my next client. not having time to get everything done on the list of things i have to do for each client, what if ive had to leave dishes in the sink because ive had to leave for my next client and not had time to do them etc. I know the most important things are making sure the people is cared for but i worry about everything. i wonder of working in a care home would be better because then i would not be constantly traveling for person to person trying to find houses in the dark, its a wonder ive not had a crash.

Original poster

Rosieblue12 · 30/01/2024 19:01

Any other Domiciliary care workers here? just want a bit of moral support :/

OP posts:

PutMyFootIn · 30/01/2024 19:11

It sounds as though you might be better suited to working in a care home. Much less stressful.

I always said about domicilliary care that the care was the easy part. The hard part was all the driving. It's honestly like doing 2 jobs at once.

Munchyseeds2 · 30/01/2024 20:54

I assume you are working for a company who does short visits with v little travel time?
My advice would be to look for a company that does min 1 hour visits with regular clients
I always try and visit new places in the day light so I don't have to try and find places in the dark...its much less stressful!

Original poster

Rosieblue12 · 30/01/2024 21:13

Munchyseeds2 · 30/01/2024 20:54

I assume you are working for a company who does short visits with v little travel time?
My advice would be to look for a company that does min 1 hour visits with regular clients
I always try and visit new places in the day light so I don't have to try and find places in the dark...its much less stressful!

Yes some are 30 mins, some 45 mins, up hour, they allow travel time but its strickled and no leeway for anything unexpected happening, like traffic or getting lost in the dark because i can't find an obscure hidden house that has name and no house number and its pitch black , its stressful, im hoping i can cope with it better in time, im very new.

OP posts:

MamaBearThius · 30/01/2024 21:25

Hey :) I’ve been a dom carer for years! It seems very daunting doesn’t it, just take a breath. Is there a group chat you can talk with other members of the team on? They’ll probably have some good tips for time management. We constantly chat about the best order to do our rounds in, from previous experience. You’re only human and no one can expect miracles from
you - chances are the clients/service users won’t expect you to be on time as they know it can’t be done. We have an option to view phone numbers on the careplan so we can phone ahead and let people know if we are running late , it keeps people happy :)

SkaneTos · 30/01/2024 21:42

Hello!
I used to work as a domiciliary worker.
It can certainly be a stressful job!
But also very interesting and rewarding.

I agree with a lot of the advice from @MamaBearThius

I will write more tomorrow!

Original poster

Rosieblue12 · 30/01/2024 22:07

MamaBearThius · 30/01/2024 21:25

Hey :) I’ve been a dom carer for years! It seems very daunting doesn’t it, just take a breath. Is there a group chat you can talk with other members of the team on? They’ll probably have some good tips for time management. We constantly chat about the best order to do our rounds in, from previous experience. You’re only human and no one can expect miracles from
you - chances are the clients/service users won’t expect you to be on time as they know it can’t be done. We have an option to view phone numbers on the careplan so we can phone ahead and let people know if we are running late , it keeps people happy :)

A group chat would help me a lot, I’ve not need informed about one with my company but I will ask about it thank you.

OP posts:

Snowpatrolling · 30/01/2024 22:15

Been a dom carer for 10 years, it does get easier with time. I’m a supervisor now so more office based, but if we get a new client always ring office for info, routine of calls so you have a vague idea of what your doing.
in our team if something unexpected happens and the carer is going to be late, one of us or another carer will take a call off to make things easier.
I have worked for a few companies and it took me a few years to find one I’m happy with.
however you dont sound like you’ve had a lot of training which I think is pretty standard. The company I work for you have a week training and around 10 shadow shifts or more if you need it. Less if you’re pretty confident.
with our shadow shifts we always make sure the trainee goes with a carer to the most difficult to find clients so they know where they are going. We also have a group WhatsApp which makes it easier.
with the time management you will find your rhythm. Some clients in the morning I wake up with a cup of tea in bed, prepare as much as I can like breakfast things, meds etc whilst they are waking up so I’m good to go when they’ve finished their tea! (Some are a lot more cooperative after a cuppa!!!)

SkaneTos · 31/01/2024 22:31

Hello @Rosieblue12
Like I mentioned, I used to work as a domiciliary worker. (I should mention that it was not in the U.K., though, but perhaps I can share some useful advice anyway)

First of all, both @MamaBearThius and @Snowpatrolling have good advice.

Here is some advice from me!
The day can be hectic and intense, but you are new to the job! It will feel better soon. Most important, you will soon know the persons you care for better, which will make everything easier. You will know their routines and their habits. Soon you will also know your way better around the clients houses, and you will be able to be more efficient.

I always used to think "One client at the time, one task at the time" when I sometimes got overwhelmed. When you have a list of 10 people you shall visit during a day, it's no help to think about client nr 8 when you are at client nr 3's place. Of course you have to plan your day, and plan ahead, but you have to focus on the person you are helping at the moment. Be present for that person.

Like @MamaBearThius wrote, the persons you care for are most likely used to that the domiciliary worker does not arrive on exactly the same time every day - things happen, there might be traffic, etc. If you think you are going to be very late, stop the car and call, so they know where you and that you are on your way.
Or ask someone on your team if they can help you out.

Enjoy your time in the car! That was one of my favourite parts of the job, driving around in different neighbourhoods, looking at interesting houses and beautiful nature (I worked in the countryside, so I sometimes had to drive quite a distance between the clients.)

Good luck!

Original poster

Rosieblue12 · 01/02/2024 13:12

Snowpatrolling · 30/01/2024 22:15

Been a dom carer for 10 years, it does get easier with time. I’m a supervisor now so more office based, but if we get a new client always ring office for info, routine of calls so you have a vague idea of what your doing.
in our team if something unexpected happens and the carer is going to be late, one of us or another carer will take a call off to make things easier.
I have worked for a few companies and it took me a few years to find one I’m happy with.
however you dont sound like you’ve had a lot of training which I think is pretty standard. The company I work for you have a week training and around 10 shadow shifts or more if you need it. Less if you’re pretty confident.
with our shadow shifts we always make sure the trainee goes with a carer to the most difficult to find clients so they know where they are going. We also have a group WhatsApp which makes it easier.
with the time management you will find your rhythm. Some clients in the morning I wake up with a cup of tea in bed, prepare as much as I can like breakfast things, meds etc whilst they are waking up so I’m good to go when they’ve finished their tea! (Some are a lot more cooperative after a cuppa!!!)

Thank you, i have spoken to the company i work for yesterday, and they told me not to worry and that, im not expected to be there on the dot with each person as things happen, that eased my anxiety a bit.
Also all of the people on my round are lovely but there is one elderly man that is quite mean and i dread going to him, i have to visit him 3 times in a day
talks to me like im a domestic servant rather than a carer.
I feel like i can't ask him not to speak to me like that because he is an old and ill man.
what would you advise someone in this situation , just grin and bare it?

OP posts:

piscofrisco · 01/02/2024 14:02

In that situation you will have to wear it until
He gets used to you and you to him. Try to do things just so for him. And Try to find something to talk to him about -if he has any interesting pictures up try that- or whatever else you can find. You may never get anywhere with it-in which case please try not to take personally-some clients are just that way out. I used to regard the more cantankerous ones as a lovely challenge (none of this applies if he is being abusive in any way rather than just a bit abrupt/demanding).