Why Working in the Care Industry is Rewarding
Discussed by Bristol Care Homes
The care sector is a broad industry with lots of different jobs and opportunities within it. Whether you are caring for people, treating people or supporting the people who do the caring you are classed as working in the care sector. The people caring wouldn’t be able to do their job without the support that goes on behind the scenes so the jobs are all equally important. Bristol Care Homes has 4 Nursing Homes in different locations around Bristol and we pride ourselves in providing exceptional care to our residents as well as looking after and caring for everyone who is a team member at our nursing homes. We are always looking for new carers and support workers to join our team and this article explains why working in the care industry is so rewarding.
Working in the care industry and in a nursing or care home is an extremely rewarding career choice for anyone who is passionate about helping others and loves making a difference in peoples lives.
Bristol Care Homes is an incredibly rewarding place to work. Do you think you have the personal attributes and skills to become an outstanding care worker? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today and we can answer any questions you may have and tell you why we are such a progressive employer.
So, Why would you want to work in the care industry?
Many people who work as a carer or in the care industry love helping and supporting others. Some do it as the shifts fit around their family commitments and others because it is a progressive career, where you can learn on the job as well as gain qualifications whilst you are working if that’s what you want to do. Working as a carer makes a huge difference in peoples lives, has a positive impact and contributes to making people and their families feel better, happy and content.
Working as a carer is rewarding, it gives you job satisfaction and you are paid to do it so is a great career to start, continue in or go back to.
What is so rewarding about being a carer?
Helping the people you care for to maintain their independence, taking their worries away about not coping is an extremely rewarding experience and job. When you provide your clients with what they need on a daily basis seeing the results is extremely rewarding
What are the benefits of working in the care industry?
Job stability – people will always need to be cared for and it is one of the largest growing industry
Fast-paced – no workday will be the same and the job needs you to be physically and mentally active
Varied – no day is the same and you will interact with different people you care for and different colleagues
Career Opportunities – you can learn on the job and gain qualifications as you progress
People Focussed – if you love caring for, looking after and building relationships with people this is the job for you
Job Satisfaction – the role is extremely satisfying and you get paid to do it
Shifts and Hours – the hours often work to peoples advantage
What are the qualities of a good carer?
- Caring
- Empathetic
- Compassionate
- Supportive
- Helpful
- Respectful
- Reliable
- Patient
- Happy personality
- Good communication skills
- Practical
- Understanding
- Trustworthy
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to relate to another person and how they are feeling
- Good listening skills
- Flexible
- Emotional Stability
- Attention to detail
- Physically fit and able to support someone who isn’t physically able
- Great problem-Solving Skills
- Excellent Time Management
- Good organisation
No one is going to have every one of these skills and attributes, however, if you are a caring individual who wants to make a difference in peoples lives then these skills are normally part and parcel of you.
What attracts people to the care sector?
Having the above qualities will often draw people to working in the care sector generally or in a nursing home. Often, a personal experience can make people decide they want a career caring for people as they want to offer the same personal and compassionate experience to others.
What is the most difficult part of working in the care industry?
Sometimes the people you are caring for don’t want, or resist the care you are providing and this can be quite challenging. Often this ceases as you get to know them and they get to know you.
Managing the different hours of work can be a challenge for some people, although for others it is an advantage.
Working longer shifts and weekends, although this normally balances with getting more rest days in a row compared to other Monday to Friday roles.
Losing people you have built relationships with
Seeing a decline in peoples health who you have cared for and built a relationship with
Finding the right care provider/employer for you
What are the responsibilities of a care worker?
This will vary by role and employer, however, generally, you will be required to:
- Support people with day to day activities
- Interact with people
- Spend time, listening
- Being involved with social activities
- Taking someone out for a walk, this can be in a wheelchair
- Helping with personal care such as washing and dressing
- Heping people eat
- Sorting out someone’s washing
- Helping someone with tidying their room
- Supporting with the administration of some medicines
What skills do you need to work with dementia?
Generally speaking, you would need the skills listed already and even more so when caring for a person with dementia you need understanding, patience and adaptive thinking skills. Being able to be calm and quickly react to situations to defuse them are also required when you are caring for anyone suffering from dementia. You also need to understand the effect the disease has on someone and be empathetic to them and their family.
So here are our Top 10 Reasons Why Working in THe Care Industry is so Rewarding
Making a difference in peoples lives every day
Whether you are a frontline carer or you work behind the scenes when you are working in the care industry you will be playing a huge part in making a difference in peoples lives every day. Spending time listening to someone you are caring for, supporting them in a caring and compassionate way to do everyday things will make a huge difference to that person, making them feel valued, supported and listened to.
Immense Job Satisfaction
Caring for the elderly or anyone who needs additional support in everyday life is hugely satisfying and rewarding. You will work in a fast-paced and changing environment, however, at the end of each day, you can reflect on the difference you have made to someone’s life. Whether that’s as a nurse, a care worker or providing administration support you will have had a huge impact on them.
A job in care is an opportunity to give assistance to others who need it and you will be playing an important part in helping people in sometimes changing and challenging situations to still enjoy their time without worrying about how they will cope and manage.
No one day will be the same and the time will fly by as you will be busy and active all day as well as being varied throughout each day.
Helping People Every Day
A job as a carer is an opportunity to do something you love every day, giving care and support to others and being an important part of peoples lives which is not a common feeling found in a lot of corporate careers.
As a carer just talking to someone and listening to them will brighten their day and in turn, make you feel positive about what you’re doing and the impact you are having.
You will build relationships with the people you care for and this is a huge positive to you and who you care for.
Everyday Will Be Different
Working as a carer means you will care for different people with different needs and this means no two days are ever the same. Working in a nursing home means you will work different shifts and with different people, learning from a diverse range of people, skills and abilities.
The care needs of residents can also change from day-to-day and this also makes your role varied and every day different.
Your role will be busy and active with lots of fun in a family-focused home from home environment. Together, you and your colleagues will create a fun and enjoyable environment for the people you care for and this makes your role enjoyable in itself.
A Sociable Job
If you are an outgoing, friendly person who loves to talk and listen to people then a caring role is probably right for you.
The social aspect of a caring role means you are not only physically looking after and caring for people but you are also involved in the social aspect of their care. As an example as part of your job, at Christmas, you may be singing carols with the residents, at easter knitting easter bunnies.
A carer needs to be compassionate, empathetic and positive to ensure they are able to brighten someones day and bring laughter to their lives. As a carer, you will build relationships and be involved in supporting residents emotional and social needs.
Another part of your role is to interact and communicate with family members for many different reasons. You may be updating them on how their family member is or how they have settled into their new home or you may be having a sociable chat with them. You will also need to be empathetic and show understanding in certain situations when they may need support.
Flexible Work and Family Friendly Working Patterns
Many of the people who work as carers do so as the shifts suit their family commitments. They may work nights whilst a partner works days. Often there are part-time roles that can fit around your needs, some carers only work weekends at the times when they have someone else able to care for their family.
Some nursing homes will offer compressed hours so you fit your full-time hours into a few days, the options are available and often suit the care or nursing home as it helps them ensure they have the carers they need 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In summary, the shift element for some is a huge benefit and can really work around your family, as well as there being plenty of opportunities to work hours that suit you and your life.
Benefits of Working as a Carer
- Job stability
- Fast-paced environment
- Changing environment
- Varied workday
- Opportunities for development on the job
- The satisfaction of helping people
- The shifts and hours
- Holiday pay and pension
- Paid breaks are often a benefit
- Ongoing training
Career Progression
Care work is not seen as just being a job as you bring your own personality to your role and have a huge impact on peoples lives.
You can start as a carer with no experience and learn from experienced colleagues, as well as taking formal qualifications as you progress if that’s what you want. This sets you up with lots of potential opportunities to progress if you want to and if you don’t that’s fine you can still be a carer. If you want it you can even work towards degree-level qualifications, as you work and earn.
Extremely Rewarding
Extremely RewardingThere are few things more rewarding than caring for other people and supporting them to live their lives feeling happy and contented. Whether it’s empowering older people to enjoy their day, providing short or long term care, or even caring for someone and making sure they feel loved and cared for at the end of their life.
At the end of each shift, you will feel like you’ve made a real difference to the quality of life of the people you have been caring for. The care you give to people on a daily basis will be valued and appreciated and will improve their quality of life.
Working with Diverse and Interesting People
When you work as a carer you will get to know and build relationships with many different residents, all have different backgrounds, experiences in life with lots of interesting stories to tell which you often learn a lot from and never forget.
Opportunities to be involved in the arts and singing
Working in a care home isn’t just about carer for people physically but it’s also about supporting their mental wellbeing as well which includes being involved with the activities and entertainment that are arranged within a home.
Care and nursing homes arrange regular activities for their residents which can be social activities or other more creative ones and you’ll often be asked as a carer to lead or be involved in them. There aren’t many jobs out there where you will be paid to take part in activities like art, gardening or singing perhaps.
Fast-Paced Environment
No two days will ever be the same in a caring role and you’ll never do the same thing for your whole shift like you will do in other careers. It will be a fun fast-paced and changing environment and before you know it you will often look at the time and your shaft will be coming to an end.
The physical and mental daily challenges of being a carer will be full of learning and you will go home feeling like you have achieved a lot and earned your salary.
Roles for all Skill Sets
There is a broad range of skills and experiences needed in a nursing home environment and this means that a career can be started as a carer with little or no experience. You will learn on the job and from the people you work with and often your employer will support you to gain caring qualifications if this is what you want.
Earning Potential
The earning potential of a carer is often based on the hours you are able to commit to. Often carers will do lots of overtime and this increases their earning potential twofold. The salaries are competitive as well as being extremely rewarding and this isn’t something that is possible in many sectors.
About Bristol Care Homes
Bristol Care Homes has 4 high-quality nursing homes all located around Bristol offering different types of care for individuals. Find your perfect role from our current list of jobs in care available.
We are always looking for compassionate, kind, friendly, understanding and caring individuals to join our established teams. Working with us you can be sure of working in a fun, supportive and inclusive team as well as having an extremely rewarding career with us.
Our Registered Care Categories with the Care Quality Commission (CQC):
Dementia
Old Age
Physical Disability
Sensory Impairment
Our Specialist Care Categories
Bariatric Care/Obesity
Cancer Care
Challenging Behaviour
Colitis & Crohn’s Disease
Head/Brain Injury
Hearing Impairment
Huntington’s Disease
Motor Neurone Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Orthopaedic
Parkinson’s Disease
Speech Impairment
Stroke
Visual Impairment
Other Care Provided
Convalescent Care
Day Care
Own GP if required
Palliative Care
Physiotherapy
Respite Care
Separate Specialist Dementia Care Unit
About Our Nursing Homes
- Beautiful gardens with plenty of greenery, trees and flowers
- Environmentally designed buildings with 24/7 air circulation always keeps the atmosphere fresh and airy
- Different social areas
- Communal dining rooms
- Spacious bedrooms with increased ceiling height giving a sense of spaciousness
- Wide corridors for easy access
- Television, DVD Player and direct line telephones in each bedroom Internet access across all of our homes
- Customised top-of-the-range wheelchairs
- Cutting-edge technology in showers and baths
- Minibus services with a schedule of trips
- Regular maintenance and replacement cycles for new carpets and decoration
- Delicious, nutritious and varied meals prepared by our highly qualified chefs
- Interesting and varied social activities for all our residents
- Warm, friendly, and caring staff
- Nurses are available 24 hours a day, 365vdays a year
Our team members are all committed to providing professional, compassionate and excellent care to all of our residents.
Do you think you have the personal attributes and skills to become an outstanding care worker? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today and we can answer any questions you may have and tell you why Bristol Care Homes is an incredibly rewarding place to work.
