Working as a carer, you will be responsible for someone who isn’t able to look after him/herself due to her/his illness or condition. Medication, food hygiene and personal hygiene are some of the things that need to be taken seriously. You will also need to be organised and efficient.
Do you think you are a patient person?
In most aspects of the job, the best quality a carer can have is patience. Being patient and giving your Customer your understanding, perhaps when his or her behaviour challenges you, is one of a good carer’s key skills.
Are you happy to carry out cleaning and other household chores?
As part of your care routine, you will have to do some cleaning that the Customer isn’t able to do by themselves. However, as you may also be living there on a temporary basis, if you are a live-in Carer, this may be much like cleaning your own home.
Do you like meeting new people and socialising?
Most Customers lead a very active, full life and you will meet their family, friends and social circle.
The job description of a carer is vast as tasks and responsibilities vary from Customer to Customer.
The fundamental attributes of a good carer are:
Are you considering becoming a Community Support Worker?
If you are willing to learn, care about improving others’ lives and have a positive attitude your skills will come together to give you an excellent grounding in best practice in care. Most importantly, many of the things you will do as a carer require basic common sense and life experience.
Being away from friends and family for a period of time
Becoming a live in carer means you will be away from home for up to four weeks. If you have never been away from home for this length of time, you need to think carefully about how you will cope with this aspect of the job. It would not be fair to your Customer if you left the assignment early because you feel homesick or missed your friends and social life.
Your main role and responsibilities will generally include, but are not limited to: