Any carers help me in a new job

[Miracle29]

Hi everyone I've been out of work now for 10 years whilst bringing up my DD. I felt that now was the time to start looking something and I've always wanted to be a carer but the shift times never suited me due to my partner's hours. I applied for a job at a home which is 6am until 2pm. I got the job and told they'll train me before either start so it will be face to face training and online for a bit. The hours and the money fits. I don't drive due to an accident I had that put me off I lost all my confidence so will rely on walking, buses and taxis for a while. I really want to start driving again so this will be my next task hopefully.

I'm just really nervous about the job. I'm excited as it's something I really want to do but as I've been out of work for so long I'm nervous I'll get it wrong or won't beqbke to do it. What if people don't like me? Residents don't like me? What if I can't do something? Any carers that can help me on some things to expect? I love elderly people I could spend all day with them but sometimes I feel like I'm not sure what to say to them etc. any advice would be appreciated

Thankyou

Are you working with older people? When I was recording ECGs in the NHS most older people had photos near their bed. I would ask who it was and a bit about them.

This was a couple of decades ago so lots had war experiences and I learned some fascinating stories. One lady smuggled Jewish children in coffins!

Good luck with the job

In my longstanding experience as a nurse I would say the main tip is to just be kind. If you are kind then you are 90% of the way there. The people you care for will guide you. ‘Put that there love, help me on with my sock, you need to do it like this love’ . You can learn skills but you can’t learn kindness and it’s fundamental.

You will be supported via shadowing shifts for a couple of weeks which will help you get to know the residents.
You will have access to read their personal plans to know their care and support needs but initially focus on their biography or 'about me' section that should tell you all about them.
If you're expected to just get on with it wothout knowing a person's care and support needs I'd be asking many questions as that's not ok.

Yes it's older people. I'm looking forward to the stories I absolutely love hearing them so this will be a perk for me. I start training on the 8th which is in house followed by online and shadow shifts.

As others have said just be kind, show interest in them. always listen to their concerns and what is important to them. Treat everyone as if they were your relative or how you'd like to be treated yourself.

Thanks for your replies. I'm so excited. The downfall is the working Xmas but it's something I've wanted to do for so long but due to child care I couldn't until now. The only fault I have is I thought it was 5 days a week 8 hours a day but it's actually 4 days and every other weekend so less pay than I thought.

I'm very kind natured I love helping people. More so older people. I'm just scared I'll get it wrong or they'll think I'm not capable. I think it's also being out of work for so long and I've thrown myself into something that's not exactly easy but it also seems so rewarding and something to be proud of doing.

Just wanted to say congrats on the new job op and good luck :)

I volunteered as a teenager in a place specifically for respite care, and i have to say all the residents were lovely. Even as a shy teenager, i found them easy to talk to, so i’m sure you’ll be fine. They appreciated lots of cups of tea as well!

Treat the residents how you would like to be treated. So have a chat, tell them what you are going to do (washing/shaving etc). Good luck with the new job x

Thankyou so much for your replies and support means alot

I am sure you will find you can pick up extra shifts. My Mum’s care home always seems to have extra shifts.

I'm going to tweak this a little. Treat the residents how you would like your grand parents treated.

If I want a cup of tea I get one, if my parents were still around they would get a mug of tea if my grandparents were still alive they would get a pot of tea and some biscuits or a piece of cake.

Oh and another thing I picked up in the NHS. If you do have a resident who is nasty treat them like the most lovely person ever. I don't know why but it takes any stress away.

As a disabled person it is so nice to come across someone who is actually excited to be a carer. Really you are 90% there with your attitude.

As for Xmas, at the home my Nana was in lots of the carer's volunteered to work Xmas day. One got one of those nail kits that look like a min power tools (it was a few years ago) her own Xmas present and brought it in to do the nails of some of the residents.

Some even came to my Nana's funeral.

Please come back after your first couple of shifts to let us know how you are getting on.

Thankyou I was also going to ask how would you treat a resident who doesn't like you or is being nasty. My partner's nan had dementia and she could be so lovely to me but with my mil she was so mean. Obviously she couldn't help it and I completely understand that so I'd never become annoyed at a resident who was this way but wouldn't really fully know what to say to the person to keep them calm and get them to trust me.

Christmas shifts I struggled with due to me having a 10 year old but I don't think it would be every Christmas I'd be working and my hours are until 2pm so I can sort my family Christmas once I finish it's just finding an adjustment. Me and my partner have spoken about it and the hours do suit our home life. It's taken ages for me to find a job that fits around my partner's job and childcare so I don't want to mess this up. I still can't believe I was offered it in the first place due to my gap in work.

I have my training on the 8th so I'm getting more nervous about it but I really want to get this right.