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Original poster

What is working as a Care Assistant like?

38 replies

FourArms · 09/01/2009 15:04

I have just got a job interview for a Care Assistants role in a care home specialising in care for people with dementia.

Any tips for the interview? Thoughts on what the job might be like? Anything? TIA.

OP posts:
Lauriefairycake · 09/01/2009 15:07

emphasise non-squeamishness with faeces/urine/blood

emphasise respecting the dignity of the elderly

Original poster
FourArms · 09/01/2009 15:17

Thanks

OP posts:
nailpolish · 09/01/2009 15:23

its really really hard work
mentally and physically
there will be a lot of manual handling, showering, washing, feeding, etc
patients can sometimes be violent and inpropriate. but it can also be fun and very rewarding

tell them you are not afraid of hard work, you are not afraid of being so close to people, you have lots of patience and you are a people person. you dont mind long and unsociable hours (you will have to work xmas, new year etc)

tell them you also have an interest in things like infection control, occupational therapy etc

lots of luck

MinaLoy · 09/01/2009 15:25

I did this job for years on and off. Everything depends on the management. If they are nice and really care about the staff it can be a lovely, rewarding job. The place where I worked, the boss was much more interested in cleanliness than the emotional welfare of the old people. So, if we had finished all our tasks, and there was nothing really to do, we couldn't go and sit with an old dear and look at a photo album or chat with them, we had to "wipe down the paintwork" or go and neaten underwear drawers. It was that aspect that really made it a heart-breaking job sometimes. Because all too often the rezzies (as you will learn to call them) are dying of loneliness. If you are ALLOWED to spend quality time with them, it's the best job in the world...I would be brave and actually put this example to your interviewer. That's if you have the luxury of turning down the job if you don't like the answer you get. If you're anything like me you don't have that luxury. So I'm crossing fingers that the management of the home are lovely............ GOOD LUCK! Oh, and there's lots of wee and poo but so what?

tiredemma · 09/01/2009 15:32

I worked in a care home for people with dementia (its not in bham yours is it).

tbh, I hated it- the management were absolute arseholes, I worked like a dog for minimum wage, was frquently attacked by clients etc etc.

I LOVED the clients, they were the best thing about the job.

There will be lots of personal care on a dementia unit, feeding etc.

Its very rewarding, but hard work.

tiredemma · 09/01/2009 15:34

Oh yes, as Minaloy says, sitting an chatting about a residents life etc is by far the most rewarding of the role.

tryingtocookacurry · 09/01/2009 15:37

I worked as a care assitant in a private nursing home fr the elderly for about 3 years and loved it! That was from when I was 18-21. I gained all qualifications and now work in a college for physically disabled young adults. I have worked my way up in the profession and still love the job.
Being a care assistant is not like it used to be years ago - its not a job people do because they can't do anything else - it is a well respected profession and the money is now being implemented and if you wanted to make a career out of it you can.

brimfull · 09/01/2009 15:37

You will have to have bucket loads of patience
I agree totally with minaloy post, if the residents are happy and well cared for the job will be much better.
I would be sure to check the staff turnover though.If it's high then I bet there's a problem with the management.
Are they constantly advertising for people?
Do they use a lot of agency staff?

Original poster
FourArms · 09/01/2009 15:38

Thanks for all of those replies.

The home looks lovely, website looks great. I've also just noticed (on v.close inspection of the website) that a friend of mine is actually the nurse for the home, and she's really lovely and they've treated her very well, so hopefully it's a nice place.

No TE, it's in Devon

Hard work is fine. Poo etc is fine. I know it's different when it's not your own child, but I think having had kids does open your eyes to bodily fluids a bit.

I love your analogy MinaLoy - I am only looking for a job for a bit of 'something' outside of home, so I could turn it down if I didn't like the answer. I will be asking that question at the interview. I couldn't work anywhere where I didn't feel like people were being treated nicely as my GMIL had dementia, and TBH I don't think she got the best treatment possible at her care home.

OP posts:
tryingtocookacurry · 09/01/2009 15:41

In interview it would be nice to explain how you are aware about different forms of communication and can adapt to this e.g. body langauge, active listening, eye contact and space and positioning, how to show somebdy you are listening and interested. There might also be the possibility of extra training if it is with people with dementia - that will be really interesting.
How you understand everybody who you work will will have different needs,preferences, opinions, cultural and religious beliefs and that you will ensure you adapt your working practice to siut these differences (diversity) For example - not everybody wants to have a shower everyday, some pople like to have a bath at night instead. Everybody has their own routines in the morning and would like choices such as what to wear, what toiletries they would like to use etc

FAQtothefuture · 09/01/2009 15:44

my experiences echo cloesly to tiredemma's, I was never attacked by any of the residents, but the management was horrible. Worked long hard hours, 2p over the minimum wage - and it was night work - we got the same rate as the day staff.

tryingtocookacurry · 09/01/2009 15:48

You will have to do your NVQ level 2 - this is mandatory training

Original poster
FourArms · 10/01/2009 07:52

Thanks for all of those tips. Shame to hear that some of you have had such a bad time working in care homes. I'm not sure what the actual rate of pay will be, but I'm hoping that it will be a bit more than minimum wage, esp. for nights.

NVQ shouldn't pose a problem - I used to be an NVQ assessor in a former life.

OP posts:
FAQtothefuture · 10/01/2009 08:11

FourArms - is it an NHS home or a private one? The one I worked at was private, and the pay was bad. (and the same for day staff as night staff).

However I believe that NHS ones do tend to pay better - obviously still not fabulous pay (Care work sadly rarely is) but definitely better than most private.

I must say I did enjoy the work, and the residents (majority had dementia) and they were well loooked after in the home, but my life was made hell there.

Sadly it's put me off ever going back into "direct" Care work, although I am about to embark on an OU Course - Introduction to Health and Social Care, with a long term view of a degree in that subject - so still interested in working in the Care/Social setting, but not in a Care Assistant type role.

ssd · 10/01/2009 08:43

these replies are really interesting from my point of view too. I'm starting to look into care homes for my mum and its breaking my heart. I can't bear the thought of her going somewhere that the management or staff aren;t nice to her and all you hear in the news are horror stories. When I visit should I ask the manager about staff turnover/agency staff(does every home use them)/how much time staff are allowed to sit with the residents? Can anyone advise me what else to look for/ask about?

oh and fourarms, good luck with your interview!

FAQtothefuture · 10/01/2009 08:48

ssd - not all homes use agency staff. the one I worked in never did, which meant that we workers took the brunt if someone was off sick/on AL or whatever.

I don't know what a manager would say about staff turnover. I can't imagine many would be happy to admit if they had a high one. If I was you I'd try and sneak a quiet chat with some of the care workers on duty at the time and ask how long they'd been there.

We had high staff turn over, but the residents were well look after.

PaddingtonBore · 10/01/2009 08:55

ssd - are you in north or east London by any chance? I have lots of recommendations in these areas.

To reassure you, I have come across at least as many good homes as dodgy ones, and I know of several older people who have really thrived on having good quality care which has improved and extended their lives. Look closely at CSCI reports, and decide which criteria matter most to you and your mother.

Also, please don't be put off by some of the scruffier (for want of a better word) homes. Obviously there are certain minimum hygiene standards, but outside of these, IME the scruffier homes where the staff focus is on chatting with residents and taking them out, rather than cleaning rooms and organising repairs.

FAQtothefuture · 10/01/2009 08:58

"Look closely at CSCI reports,"

oh this scares me when people say that. Ours was a good home no argument. However some of the stuff that was in the CSCI reports about it were positive bull-shit. Stuff that was described as good that only ever happened when they had an inspection (or didn't really happen at all - ie apparently there were always 2 people on at nights - true - but that apparently there was alwyas one Senior there, if there was no senior down to work that night then one would sleep over ).

I clearly recall working with people who yes, had more care experience with me, but were working for the NVQ2 along side me and were new to the home.

ssd · 10/01/2009 09:03

I'm in the west of Scotland

tbh LOOKING at reports doesn't do it for me, I've seen glowing childminder reports and I wouldn't leave my hamster with them, I've seen great caring girls get crap reports cos they didn't spend their lives doing the paperwork

sorry to paddington, didn't mean to rubbish your advise, I do understand what you mean. (I'm just cynical about inspections), thanks for all suggestions, will try to have a chat with staff if I can.

PaddingtonBore · 10/01/2009 10:27

That's what I meant when I stated "decide which criteria matter most to you".

Glancing through a report to see how many 2 and 3 s a home has will not help.

However, reading reports in depth and thinking about what has not been said about a home is just as important. eg is there any mention of "warmth", or simply "efficiency" when describing homes? what level of positive service user and family feedback has been given? good reports will feature lots of direct quotes. Equally, if a home only falls down on paperwork (though IMO some aspects of paperwork and record keeping are very important when working with non-verbal vulnerable adults) this will be clear from a detailed reading of the report.

I am not saying that a good CSCI report is enough - just that it can help you to weed out those which you wouldn't visit to begin with. CSCI inspections are unannounced, btw.

PaddingtonBore · 10/01/2009 10:32

btw, I have both worked in care homes as a care assistant, and also visited them (usually unannounced) in my role as a community health professional.

ssd · 10/01/2009 11:39

thanks paddington, you've opened my eyes a bit there!
I understand what you are saying.

will definately remember this when I visit

ssd · 10/01/2009 11:40

also I didn't realise visits were unannounced, thats good.

FAQtothefuture · 10/01/2009 11:40

yes they're unannounced, but generally on a reguarly timescale, so we always used to get told "we're due and inspection" - and sure enough in 2/3 weeks we'd have one

ssd · 10/01/2009 11:44

ah, thats not so good!

when ds's school had a visit recently, the projects going up on the walls were unbelievable, great for the kids, but I fear we won't see that sort of thing till the next inspection is due