How to Become a Carer or Home Help for the Elderly

At Home Instead, our CAREGivers come from all walks of life, and have entered into the caring profession for a number of different reasons. Some people were looking for a way to supplement their current income, some people have actively pursued a career in caring, some people want to do their best to help others, and some people simply enjoy getting to know new and interesting people.

A lot of people can initially be put off pursuing a career in caring. There is a common misconception that you are required to have a number of different qualifications, such as health and social care GCSEs or NVQs, or even certain medical qualifications and experience. While these things are clearly incredibly useful, whether you choose to be a carer or not, they are not at all necessary to enable you to enter into one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.

How to Become a Home Help for the Elderly?

At Home Instead Swansea, the only thing that we ask of anyone interested in a position as one of our CAREGivers, is that they have a naturally caring and empathetic nature, and generally enjoy helping others in any way they can. Of course, a good deal of common sense is required, and it goes without saying that you need to be responsible, reliable and trustworthy. No other qualifications are required, although we do welcome anyone with any level of relevant qualifications.

We also do not require you to have any specific experience, although due to the nature of being a carer it would be useful if you had some experience in a caring environment. For example, you might have personal experience in caring for a friend or family member when they have become ill or elderly, or you could consider volunteering at care homes or senior care centres where you can regularly interact with older people.

The only other requirement of Home Instead CAREGivers, is that you hold a full driving license and have your own car. This is purely for logistical reasons of getting to and from client’s homes in the Swansea or Neath areas, and also to take clients out for shopping, social activities, or other appointments when necessary.

Providing you can meet our minimal requirements, then you are already well on your way to taking your first steps to becoming a home help for the elderly in Swansea or Neath.

What Happens Next?

Providing there are suitable home care vacancies, and you are approved as a CAREGiver, then Home Instead will carefully match you with a select group of clients, based on similar personalities and interests that you will visit on a regular basis. This way, you can be sure that all the clients who you assist will feel more at ease with you, and you will build lasting bonds of trust and friendship.

Once you start at Home Instead Swansea, we will take you through a comprehensive induction programme to ensure that you are comfortable and capable in what you are doing from day to day. This includes 3 moth mentoring support from our team, as well as consistent on-going industry training and development. We also provide our carers with the opportunity to achieve a QCF qualification in Health and Social Care.

In your training you will learn the safest and most efficient ways to help with important daily tasks such as bathing, grooming, and taking medication, as well as practical things like cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, and buying the shopping. You will also provide essential companionship for all of your clients, and assist with social activities such as going for a walk, attending local community activities, or taking them on an interesting day out.

As a CAREGiver, you will also complete our own specially designed Alzheimer’s and dementia care training. In this training you will learn the latest in Alzheimer’s education and home care techniques that involve managing challenging behaviour, maintaining a safe environment, preparing nutritionally rich meals, and providing mind-stimulating activities and social interaction.

Being a CAREGiver with Home Instead in Swansea means that you will be part of one of the most admired care agencies in the UK. You will find a wealth of information and education resources to aid your personal and professional development, but you will also be improving the quality of life for so many people, and making a difference in ways you could never have imagined. For a lot of people, you can be their own personal superhero.

Do you think you have what it takes to become a superhero and a CAREGiver with Home Instead? You can find out more information about becoming a carer and home help for the elderly on our CAREGiver page on our main website.

Home Instead currently has a number of home care vacancies across the Swansea and Neath areas. Please contact us on 01792 761800 for more information.

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