Why choose a career in care?
Breaking the stigma of caregiving
Published: 05/05/2023
How many of you can say that in your current job you look forward to go to work everyday and leave smiling because you know you have made a difference to someone's life?
There is a common misconception that working in care is stressful, underpaid and low skilled with no progression opportunities. This however couldn't be further from the truth! Work in care offers progressional opportunities, it pays well and above all else, it is an incredibly rewarding job where every day is different.
Let's look into becoming a caregiver with Right at Home Isle of Wight.
What is it like to be a caregiver?
Caregiving is a fulfilling and rewarding job, every day you are changing the lives of the individuals you meet. Each day can be different whether it is to help someone with their daily living needs, keeping them company by going out for a cup of tea or supporting them with their medication and appointments.
Building a relationship with your clients means that their needs can be met in a person centred manner and providing support to your clients becomes second nature.
If you are kind, patient and respectful then you already have the skills to be a caregiver.
Some roles and responsibilities of a caregiver:
- Support with morning routines - getting up and ready for the day
- Support your client to make their meals
- Ensuring and encouraging healthy meals and keeping up fluid intake
- Companionship- going out for a walk, having a cup of tea and a chat, playing cards or jigsaws and supporting to maintain hobbies
- Assisting with the food shop
- Attending medical appointments to ensure appointments are missed
- Medication administration
- Working towards your clients goals and outcomes
What roles are there in care?
There are many different roles within the care industry, this also means that there are opportunities for progression which de-bunks the common myth that 'care jobs don't go anywhere'.
- Caregivers- visiting your assigned clients in their home to support them with their needs, Right at Home Isle of Wight will personality match you with your clients to encourage positive relationship building.
- Live-in Caregiver- clients who need more frequent care may require someone to live in their own homes. This helps them stay at home for as long as possible whilst you support them with their health, wellbeing, personal care, domestic and fluid and nutrition needs.
- Senior Caregiver- you will have a high level of responsibility whilst also looking after your clients. Senior Caregivers can be responsible for compliance, paperwork, changes in support and highlighting any additional needs required for your clients and team members.
- Care Coordinators- this is an important role in the organisation of schedules and keeping everyone informed and up to date. Coordinators will plan and book care visits as well as matching new caregivers to clients. You will work closely with clients, families, caregivers and managers.
- Deputy Manager and Registered Manager- with the DM working closely with the RM these roles support the managing of the business. You play a key role in maintaining the service, keeping up compliance, providing leadership and support to the highest of standard. Regulations must be followed to provide safety to your team and clients.
- Recruitment and Marketing- as business grows, a homecare provider will need to recruit new caregivers and raise its profile. Recruitment and Marketing will arrange community events, attend recruitment fayres, raise the businesses social media presence and more.
- Training coordinator- in order for Caregivers to work confidently and safely, they need to be trained and continuously updated. Trainers are key to compliance, staff retention and Caregiver competence.
Jenny | Caregiver"they have given me back my passion for care "
Why choose Right at Home?
Training and support
From the very start you receive full comprehensive training to ensure you are kitted up with the skills and knowledge required to carry out your role as a Caregiver.
From there you will spend a week shadowing with an experienced Caregiver so you can meet your clients and get to know their routines. You are encouraged to feel comfortable within your role and if you feel like you need some more time to find your feet this is given to you. Right at Home will not send you out on your own until you feel ready.
The door is always open to our Caregivers to come into the office for a cup of tea and chat. Concerns and worries are always listened to and support is given. Having a caring team extends to the Caregivers too! Happy Caregivers makes happy clients.
The phone is always manned 24 hours a day too, so even if you're on a visit on your own, you are never on your own. Questions, concerns and anything other needs are always encouraged to be phoned in and are then dealt with promptly.
Excellent Pay and Incentives
Beating the myth that care-work is low paid, Right at Home Isle of Wight starting pay is considerably higher than the national living wage and increases yearly to ensure cost of living is maintained.
At the start of employment, new Caregivers attend training and shadow shifts, these are all paid for too, this ensures your time is taken into consideration. On top of this, your Mileage between calls is covered too!
To thank our caregivers for fulfilling their rostered hours every month, every month you are given a Gift Voucher. If you saved these up every month you would have yourself £360 to spend at Christmas.
Alongside this, another way to thank our Caregivers is the Extra Visit Reward Scheme. For every extra shift a Caregiver picks up or any thing you go Above and Beyond for (where you go out of your way for their client that goes above your expected duties) your name goes into our virtual hat. At each staff meeting, the wheel is spun and a name is drawn, you then spin the prize wheel for one of the following:
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A meal for two & bottle of wine
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Weekly grocery shop
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A tank of petrol or diesel
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Tipsy afternoon tea at Albert Cottage with Prosecco
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A Holistic therapy, Prosecco & Strawberries
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A paid day off work
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Take away meal for two
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Return Wightlink Ferry ticket for Vehicle and 5 people.
Making a difference everyday
Beating the myth of care-work being stressful, our team is full of Caregivers who love what they do and enjoy coming to work. Being surrounded by a supportive team means that you can work your hours that fit your personal life, your managers will ensure you are happy, encouraging the open door policy so you can speak your mind and air any worries. As mentioned above mileage is paid, during your client rounds, we keep them small to ensure you are not spending your day driving round, with nearby clients meaning you are not stressed by time.
Our clients time is important to us, that's why we do a minimum of 1 hour calls with clients who you have built up a rapport with. Say goodbye to 20 calls a day at 15 minutes, say goodbye to visiting clients you've never met before and say goodbye to rushing around. Quality time with your clients is at the heart of what we do, being personality matched means you can both enjoy each others time, delivering quality care to clients who know who is turning up to their home and comforted to see a familiar friendly face.
It's smiles all round!
How do I apply?
What's next?
If you want to discuss our current vacancies with someone from our friendly team, please contact us by phone at 01983 218318 or you can email us at paul.butler@rightathome.co.uk
Any questions or would like to meet us? Come in for a cuppa! We are on 7 High Street, Bembridge (just above the fishmongers)
We are recruiting! You can apply to join our team today.
Jennifer | Caregiver"I have spent time with a client making her birthday as special as possible and I can easily say it was the best day of my working life, EVERBODY should experience that joy! "
