Support work with no personal care involved

dmg24

If you are not comfortable with personal care, are you sure that this would be the right area for you to work in? Even where there is no care of the type that you describe, how would you cope with aggression, self harm, people exposing themselves etc? Perhaps you could do so voluntary work to see if you are really suited to such a role?

I would also look at your view of Care Assistants. You put across the impression that you feel they are inferior to Support Workers, but in reality they often work alongside each other, and in organisations where both roles exist, a SW would be lost with CA's, and vice versa.

doodlesmum

dmg24 wrote: »

If you are not comfortable with personal care, are you sure that this would be the right area for you to work in? Even where there is no care of the type that you describe, how would you cope with aggression, self harm, people exposing themselves etc? Perhaps you could do so voluntary work to see if you are really suited to such a role?

I would also look at your view of Care Assistants. You put across the impression that you feel they are inferior to Support Workers, but in reality they often work alongside each other, and in organisations where both roles exist, a SW would be lost with CA's, and vice versa.

Excellent post dmg :T

Doodlesmum.

Errata

Thifor me is a "care assistant" role.

The role is Care Worker, which is what you will be.

top_drawer_2

I am sure its the right area for me to work in. I am aware enough to be able to accertain that and have done volunteer work in this area and know that a role involving personal care is not for me. I have no issues with aggression/self harm/mine or others body issues and in fact dont see how the two have anything to do with each other. If an administrator applies for a job stating that they dont want to be involved in data input, how does it have anything to do with their willingness or not in answering the telephone? It seems that somehow this area of work it has somehow become acceptable to blur the lines between the roles.

I dont have any inferior views on Care Assistants they do an amazing job and are very much needed, but I am not willing to do those types of roles. I would also be unwilling to do a number of other roles such as vet nurse (nasty iccy stuff involved there too), bricklayer (hate cold weather) or as a TV reporter (hate people looking at me) but these are very clear unambigious job titles so I wouldnt apply.

I am good with people, apparently I have a calmness about me and I have good listening/problem solving skills. I am supportive, kind and have a lot of brains about me to get around most issues, people do seem to listen when I advise so I must be doing something right. I am applying for roles such as project worker (another job title which has been blurred) and support assistant and so on but keep finding they have sneaked a mention of personal care in there somewhere.

I sought advice on making sure I dont get into this type of role by "accident" I didnt think I was asking anything too controversial!

Errata

The problem you face is that some people with mental health problems may also have disability problems. They may not be able to wash their own hair properly, may need someone on standby when they bathe or shower to assist them if necessary.

top_drawer_2

So any tips ....

doodlesmum

I think you will find any sort of job in the care industry be it care assistant or support worker is going to have personal care however small somewhere along the line.
The thing is people who need support are needing support for reason,mental health,age so on.
An example could be supporting a service user who as a general rule does not need the personal care.Then however there may be a case such as illness or an emergency where they may not be able to manage to change themselves or need assistance to the toilet how would you deal with this ? I am not intending this as a go at you at all but what i am getting at is you cant treat support/care work as a job you can completely guarantee there will no personal care ever as in the 20+yrs i have done support,community work i have always had personal care involved.

Doodlesmum.

EllieA_3

Your also forgetting that peoples needs change, when hiring there may be no personal care required due to the people on the books but people come and go and in some cases the requirements of the people on thier books change.

We have a "support worker" come in for my gran and grand-dad when she started she helped my gran shop, did the ironing, cooked, helped sort out the finances and other chores. My gran and grandad where fairly independent at the time however as time has gone on both my gran and grandad's needs have changed, thier health has deteriorated and now my grandad needs help in and out of the shower and getting dressed.

If the worker they had grown to like and trust (baring in mind these bonds take time to build) had suddenly said ... ooh no im not doing that. then we would have had to go though the whole interview/trust process again and i don't think it would have done anyone any good and my grandparents care would certainly have suffered.

I think when you take on any sort of care work you have a accept that needs change you are there to "support and help" with whatever the clients are stuggling with and those needs change.

Don't get me wrong i think there are some "support roles" you can do without the ikky stuff as you put it, such as a deaf centre (they are unlikely to ever need wiped bums) or a center for disruptive kids however i would strongly stear clear of elderly work or anyone with mental or physical disabilitys was for those people needs can change and it can take you in a direction you don't want to go.

It's not just about what you ask at interview it's about sitting there and thinking "can caring for XX type person lead me into the stuff im not comfortable with" unfortunatly i suspect in most cases it can.

beth58_2

I think you'll find the work is similar only the words may change depending on the organisation. Either way duties will be within the job description so if you don't like the discription DON'T APPLY.

My daughter is employed as a support worker however, organisational changes changed her job title and role.

Oldernotwiser

You might find yourself in a role where personal care wasn't normal but where the client hit a bad patch and, say, had an accident. Would you just ignore their needs and say that it's not your job to help them or would you pull your socks up and make the best of it without making the client feel uncomfortable?

In this area of work, things aren't always black or white.