If you’re looking for a rewarding job where no two days are the same, a career in adult social care might be for you. There are no set entry requirements, but if you’re compassionate, chatty and make a good cup of tea this could be the ideal job.
Maisie, who’s 20, worked in customer services when she left school, but realised she wanted to do more to help the people on the other end of the phone.
“Where I worked, it was mainly older people and I’d always get told off for chatting for too long!” she says.
“My mum was always a care worker and absolutely loved her job. I worked in customer services, taking orders over the phone and I noticed the people I talked to were quite lonely and I always wanted to help them.”
So Maisie took time out to train as a care worker and has never looked back. She now works with people over 60 and loves the flexibility of the job as well as the feeling that she’s making a difference.
“Now I work with people over 60 and I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s what I love to do. I work in the community, doing home care for people who are trying to remain independent for as long as they can. We give them extra help with all the bits they need support with.
“The training was quite exciting. You start from scratch and mix with people who are all going into similar care jobs.”
No two days are the same for Maisie and she admits it’s not the easiest job in the world – but the emotional rewards are worth it – plus it’s a secure role where she can see the chance to progress and develop her career.
“It’s super rewarding and people are really grateful. Wherever I go, I’ll always be thinking of them. It’s so much than just a job. You get that one on one and you can build up that rapport and have that trust and relationship.
“A typical day does vary a lot. For some people, it’s just checking in on them because they don’t see anyone in the day, so you make sure they’re OK, that they’ve got their medication and have a cup of tea and a chat. You could be assisting them getting up, dressed and out of bed. We do teas, breakfasts and all that. You don’t realise that as you get older you need a helping hand with daily tasks and that’s what I’m there to do.
It’s not a job that you can come home and think: ‘Right, that’s done.’ You come home and you think: ‘I wonder how so and so’s getting on.’ I support a lady who’s in her hundreds and she’s the most amazing person to talk to. You’re always learning from older people. It’s fascinating – they’re so much wiser than we are.”
Maisie often puts herself in other people’s shoes to think about how they’d like to be treated. “I would want my grandma and grandad to be treated nicely so I do things to the best of my abilities, even if it’s just making a sandwich or a cup of tea, it’s always 100%,” she says. “Always be kind and compassionate – and always bring a smile. We’ve got masks on at the moment, but you can tell if you’re smiling.
“If you’re thinking about going into care, definitely do it. I’d say you’d have to have certain qualities, like understanding different people and if you work in retail and you’re good with your customers you can take those skills to your care. Go for it – you won’t look back.”
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