JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016 - 76

FOCUS :

CARE

in jobs right across the board, from
carers to senior management.
Elderly, disabled, those with special
needs, young people in crisis and people
with chronic and terminal illnesses all
need care - given by specialists and in
various different ways.
Most of those needing care in the UK
are looked after informally, by family
or friends. More formal care is
given through either an
independent or
NHS-funded
company. These
healthcare
providers can
allocate carers to
go into homes to
help out, or run
care homes which
give specialised
residential support for
those who need it most.

By 2025
another million people
will be needed to cope
with demand, from
carers up to to senior
management

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARE

Formal care is usually either:
* home-based, helping elderly and
disabled people to live independently in
their own homes.
* day care, perhaps taking people out for

0 7 6 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

It's a job with variety - no two days are
the same. Hours are usually flexible with
plenty of part-time positions too, so this
is a career which will fit round a family or
other commitments.
For most people, working in care isn't
about the money. It's about helping people
out and creating a decent society. A recent
survey showed almost all - 99% - of those
working in the industry like the
feeling they're helping people
and 96% felt their work made
a difference. Furthermore,
the huge majority,
88%, said they were
happy with their jobs.
Most importantly,
working in social care
gives people a real sense
of personal achievement.

outings, giving informal carers a break,
or helping young people and adults with
learning issues or physical disabilities.
* in care homes, working alongside
qualified nurses.

What to expect

Your first rung on the care
ladder will probably see you as a
social care worker or care assistant.
The job includes giving help and support
to people having difficulties in life
- perhaps the elderly or those with
disabilities. You could be working in
a care home, day centre or visiting
people at home.
Your job will revolve around the
person you're looking after, so building
relationships and having an interest in
people is essential. Talking and listening,
making your client feel valued and
understood is an important part of
the job, as well as helping them with
personal care, housework and cooking
and serving food if helping them at home.
Working as a carer means you can
usually fit your job around your lifestyle
- there will also be weekend and evening
work. If you enjoy your work and can
prove you're committed and competent,
you'll be offered training and can work
towards more senior and perhaps
managerial jobs.

How much can I earn?
Starting salaries are close to the
national minimum wage, although
you'll get more for shift working. As a
care assistant, you can expect to start
your job on £12,500 pa, but this rises
significantly for jobs with more
responsibility.

Words: Tilly Hutchings. Images: Getty Images. Wage information provided by National Careers Service unless otherwise stated.

he population is
getting older and,
as a result, the
chances are we'll
all need some form
of care in the future
which makes the
job of the carer ever more important.
Do you have the right qualities needed
to work in the sector?
Although the financial benefits don't
compare with a career in, say, finance,
and the hours are more antisocial than
many other jobs, working in the care
industry can give you a great chance
to progress and develop your career
long-term. It could also give you a
real sense of achievement, knowing
you're helping other people.
It's a sector that's growing. Currently,
around 1.5 million people work in care,
but by 2025, another million will be
needed to cope with demand, working

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