Stuck in a care job...how do I get out!?

[CloudyIvy55]

Hi, looking for some advice or ideas on what I could do....

I suppose I never took work/education too seriously when I was younger. I was too busy having fun. Fast forward to now and I'm so unhappy in my job.

I fell into a job in a care home. Mainly because my friends worked there and I've now been there 15+ years. I've stayed because I love the team I work with, but to be honest, the job has never been for me. Don't get me wrong, I've put my all into it. Been promoted twice and enjoyed parts. But now, I need out and I need a change.

I want to word this next bit carefully... no disrespect to care workers..I am one after all! But I'm worried that care work comes with a stigma that leads potential employers to think I may not be very capable, intelligent or ambitious. One look at my CV and it will be a no. Is this true or am I wrong?

I've applied for several jobs and not even got an interview. I've got good A levels but no degree. I would love to study towards one.

What also doesn't help is that I've got no idea what I would like to do!?!?

Has anyone escaped the care work trap? How did you do it?

I've got good A levels but no degree. I would love to study towards one.

Nursing? Something else but still NHS orientated? Physio?

Something ‘peopley’? Social work?

There are tests you can do that narrow down your interests.

Care homes but Management?

You might have to update your A levels by doing eg one module of something.

If you happen to be here on a working visa it looks like we may be evicting you anyway. Not that we have anyone to replace you of course...

You’d be great in the ambulance service. You only need maths and english gcses and can eventually be funded through a paramedic degree.

Ask if you can do a different job in the care home like kitchen assistant, do that for a year and then get a kitchen job in a bar or restaurant. The hours of a restaurant work well around a student timetable. Best of luck.

What do you actually like doing?

Could you look at moving into Local authority or NHS community teams? Reablement, dementia, MH or learning disability team?
Then you could use that as springboard onto a course like social work, nursing, occupational therapy. You may be able to go a part-time or apprenticeship route

This is basically exactly what I was going to say. Or the community / voluntary sector

I was in your exact position 15 years ago. Drifted along in a care job for a few years. I moved into the charity sector, first as an advice worker and then project coordinator. Then I moved on to Local Authority and have continued to work my way up, I work in service planning now. However, all my jobs have been in social care even if I've moved on from directly providing care. What do you mean by it's not for you, which parts do you want to leave behind?

Your experience in the sector will be very valuable if you want to stay in that area of work.

The Director of Adult Social Services in my old local authority started as a care worker.

Lots of adult social care teams will employ assistant care managers or social work assistants. You'd be arranging people's care, assessing them for whether they need a care home etc.
there could then be the opportunity to get qualified and do a similar job but for much better pay.

If you want to do something else entirely it might be more tricky but not impossible!

Wow... thank you everyone for your replies! They've really given me something to think about.

I've never considered the ambulance service and didn't even realise it could be an option without a degree!

I've looked into social work before and it's something I think I would be good at - my only slight reservation is that I've had people tell me social work is under funded and they are over worked... but I suppose that's true of most sectors at the moment!

I've recently seen a job advertised working for the LA, helping to create care plans. I'm going to apply 🤞

I guess I still want to do a job where I'm helping and supporting others, just not in a front line care role. I would love to stop working shifts and find somewhere with opportunities to progress.

Thanks again