How To Become a Nursing Home Carer ?

JAYMARSH2005

My Daughter is 17 Years old and she has always wanted to be a Nursing Home Carer, I am looking for advice on what steps she will need to do to get her started on her path for her dream job. She doesn't have any qualifications and has just been made redundant from her part time job in a call center, even if it is just some sort of work experience there she doesn't mind, she just wants to get some either training or experience at the job. She lives in the Oldham area of Greater Manchester and I have asked at the Job Centre and they didn't seem to be of much help. So any help or advice would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks
Jay

Person_one

Apply, get hired.

It's possibly the easiest job to walk into with no qualifications or experience, and lots of nursing homes love employing younger staff because they can pay them less.

A good employer will invest in some training, but I'm afraid many care home owners are not good employers!

What are her longer term ambitions? Is she looking to work full time or us this part time alongside a college course or a levels?

Indie_Kid

Apprenticeship?

doodlesmum

I started in a nursing home when I started 20 yrs ago, i did it for 3 yrs when I decided I wanted to do care in the community which is supporting people In their own homes, i do the adults with learning difficulties side of support, I currently support adults with learning difficulties in a residential home but I am missing the community environment I really did enjoy the community so I can feel the lure .
I really do love working in a care environment it isn't the best paided job in the world but the reward is in the fact you are making a difference to a person.
There are also down side's too as in any job , it can be physically and mentally demanding but if you enjoy helping people and don't get upset easily you will be fine.
A lot is common sense and being able to use your own initiative.
Has your daughter looked at the jobcentre online or tried contacting any homes to see if they have any vacancies. A good employer should put her foward to do her NVQ 2 at least, I did my level 3 but most employers now tend only to do level 2.
As Person_one said it is also a good stepping stone to pursue it futher such as college , for me I started with a nursing home but when I went into the community I decided that I wanted to do the learning disabilities side and I wouldn't do any other job now, over the years I have worked with some wonderful people.
Hope this has helped a bit , if you want anymore info on the job please feel free to pm me I could write forever .:D

doodlesmum

Just to add aswell your daughter will need a Disclosure and Barring check done, some employers will pay but a lot ask you to pay yourself.They used to be called a CRB , the enhanced one usually cost around £56 .

Nebulous2

This is an area where there is usually a lot of work, particularly if you are in an area without high unemployment. Voluntary work or befriending is a possible way in. Some places will be reluctant to employ under 18s.

Personally I would pick the care providers you work for carefully, check out the local views on whether people and families are happy with the service they are receiving. They range from extremely good to pretty awful!

I would also think carefully about location and transport links, especially if your daughter doesn't drive or have a car. It is no fun finishing a shift at 10 pm in pouring rain and having a long walk to a bus stop. You also need to think about early Sunday mornings and public holidays, all times when care needs to go on, but public transport may not run.