There are many career options in the health care industry, and being a care assistant is one of the most rewarding. Care assistants may take on a range of responsibilities but they primarily focus on helping someone who has difficulty performing everyday tasks to live their daily life - for example, older people or people with physical or learning disabilities. Many men and women in the UK are already functioning as care assistants if they spend a lot of time looking after an elderly or disabled relative. However, if you're thinking about becoming a professional care assistant, here's a few things you'll need to think about.
First, consider exactly what the job will entail if you become a care assistant. Care assistants, also known as auxiliary nurses, can work within a hospital or from home. Basic tasks will vary from assisting clients with everyday hygiene - washing, dressing and helping them go to the toilet - to general healthcare, like ensuring that they eat properly and monitoring their temperature and weight. However, working with clients in their homes may involve added responsibilities, like going shopping for food if they are unable to leave the house, helping out with budgeting and bill paying, and taking care of laundry and correspondence.
Since working as a care assistant requires so much interaction with people, many employers will search for candidates whose personalities are well-suited to the role. For example, if you have a caring and friendly personality and a genuine desire to help people, you may be considered naturally suited to a role as a care assistant. Other personal specifications may include being sensitive to other people's needs, the ability to relate to a wide cross-section of society, an aptitude for working independently, patience and the capacity to be calm when under pressure.
Personal experience also carries weight when applying for a position as a care assistant. If you've already spent many years caring for a relative, for instance, you'll have experience that you can cite to potential employers as evidence of your suitability for the role. Being able to drive may also be a requirement since you might have to travel long distances to visit clients, particularly in rural areas. And flexibility is also key, since you may have to visit a client at short notice or be required to stay overnight in some cases.
Generally, care assistant jobs can be found across the UK in a variety of environments. Potential employers may include the National Health Service, private hospitals, agencies or care homes and voluntary organisations that provide social services. Whatever type of organisation you end up working for, you'll most likely be provided with on-the-job training and will have to attend an induction programme if you're based in England. Some employers will also encourage you to complete QCF qualifications in health care.
First, consider exactly what the job will entail if you become a care assistant. Care assistants, also known as auxiliary nurses, can work within a hospital or from home. Basic tasks will vary from assisting clients with everyday hygiene - washing, dressing and helping them go to the toilet - to general healthcare, like ensuring that they eat properly and monitoring their temperature and weight. However, working with clients in their homes may involve added responsibilities, like going shopping for food if they are unable to leave the house, helping out with budgeting and bill paying, and taking care of laundry and correspondence.
Since working as a care assistant requires so much interaction with people, many employers will search for candidates whose personalities are well-suited to the role. For example, if you have a caring and friendly personality and a genuine desire to help people, you may be considered naturally suited to a role as a care assistant. Other personal specifications may include being sensitive to other people's needs, the ability to relate to a wide cross-section of society, an aptitude for working independently, patience and the capacity to be calm when under pressure.
Personal experience also carries weight when applying for a position as a care assistant. If you've already spent many years caring for a relative, for instance, you'll have experience that you can cite to potential employers as evidence of your suitability for the role. Being able to drive may also be a requirement since you might have to travel long distances to visit clients, particularly in rural areas. And flexibility is also key, since you may have to visit a client at short notice or be required to stay overnight in some cases.
Generally, care assistant jobs can be found across the UK in a variety of environments. Potential employers may include the National Health Service, private hospitals, agencies or care homes and voluntary organisations that provide social services. Whatever type of organisation you end up working for, you'll most likely be provided with on-the-job training and will have to attend an induction programme if you're based in England. Some employers will also encourage you to complete QCF qualifications in health care.
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