A career in the care sector can be one of the most profoundly rewarding things to do with your life. Although this profession is undoubtedly not for everyone – because it makes emotional and physical demands – it is something that some people are drawn to because it gives them a true sense of purpose in their working lives.
Few other jobs mean giving to and helping others in quite the same direct way as being a care worker. That said, there are multiple responsibilities you will need to take on board about care work. If you are considering training to become a care worker or would like to retrain so you can move into this line of work, then it is worth bearing in mind that there are multiple routes into the profession. Many care companies will aim to support you as you take the necessary steps. One of the most important things to take on board from an early stage, however, is what sort of responsibilities you will be expected to handle as a care worker.
Read on to find out more about what the job entails and how responsible employers, like Anglian Care, can help you to discharge your responsibilities properly by using the latest tools such as Ask Emma’s virtual care manager service.
In-Home Care Delivery
At Anglian Care, we provide in-home care to people. This means taking responsibility not just for people’s care needs but for delivering services with respect in their own homes. The ability to get to care appointments promptly is important, of course.
When care is being delivered, it could be about taking responsibility for everyday help, such as shopping, performing household chores or even preparing a meal. However, in-home care delivery can also mean adhering to care plans that are much more personal in nature, such as helping people to wash and dress themselves. We support our care workers with care plans that can be updated at any time using digital technology.
Emotional Support
In many respects, care workers undertake tasks on behalf of their clients that they are not physically able to do for themselves. This sometimes comes down to ageing and sometimes due to physical disabilities or limitations. However, care work is also about supporting the whole person and this includes their emotional needs. Emotional responsibilities can sometimes be discharged quite simply with an informal chat, something that can stave off social isolation and loneliness, but it can involve other aspects of emotional support, such as addressing issues like loss and grief.
Healthcare Responsibilities
Although care workers are not there to provide the same sorts of services that trained medical professionals will, healthcare is an important part of care work today.
Sometimes, this might come down to taking responsibility for checking whether medications have been taken by the care recipient. At other times, care workers may need to apply topical treatments to those they care for. Basic medical training and first aid skills are a part of modern care work and policies and procedures are in place to help guide care workers.
Interpersonal Responsibilities
When you work in someone’s home, providing sometimes intimate levels of care, you will need to take responsibility for your own conduct first and foremost. However, interpersonal skills will also help you to take the necessary responsibility for the person you are administering care to.
Care recipients should always be afforded the respect they deserve. Moreover, this extends to friends and family members of the person receiving care. The Anglian Care app allows nominated individuals to follow the progress of our visits and to ensure all care tasks have been completed as they happen. Of course, care recipients are entitled to privacy but, if they choose to, then they can nominate others to advocate for them. This means care workers need to take responsibility for dealing with care recipients as well as those who advocate for them. Such interpersonal skills are particularly useful when delivering respite care or when live-in care is required for a time within a wider family context.
Professional Responsibilities
Care workers do not operate on their own without support and nor should they. This means that care workers must take responsibility for their own professional conduct.
Meetings with managers and supervisors should be conducted professionally, for example. Carers who witness malpractice should be confident to report problems because safeguarding should always be the paramount concern in any caring profession. As such, you’ll need good communication skills with your colleagues as well as other professionals you might come across in your work, such as social workers, podiatrists, therapists and medical professionals, to name but a few.
Discrimination in the care and helping fight it
In addition to the various responsibilities outlined, care workers must also be vigilant about recognizing and addressing any form of discrimination, whether it is directed at the care recipient or occurs within the working environment. Discrimination can take many forms, including but not limited to, ageism, racism, sexism, or discrimination based on disability. It is crucial that care workers take responsibility not only for their own behavior but also for ensuring that they are working in a discrimination-free environment. If any form of discrimination is witnessed or suspected, it is the duty of the care worker to report it immediately. Anglian Care takes a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, and we provide clear policies and procedures to support our care workers in maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone. By staying vigilant and taking prompt action when necessary, care workers play a vital role in safeguarding the dignity and rights of those they care for, as well as fostering a positive and supportive work culture.
