Just a carer, that’s what they say

Having worked in Health and Social Care for as long as I have, I have seen the good, the bad and the absolutely terrible examples of care.

The media only highlights the negative

More and more national and regional media outlets are highlighting the negative elements of social care and although they would like you to think that they are placing some focus and highlighting the need for more people to enter this profession ( Yes Care is a profession contrary to popular belief ) they are in fact doing the opposite.

When your passion is social care and you sit at home and watch the news after working hours and hours in the field, and you hear what they have to say on the sector, a sector they have absolutely no idea about and know that what they are saying, whilst truthful, is only a small proportion of what Social Care really has to offer.

Social care is seen as a poor relation to the NHS

For many years Social Care has been the poor relation to the NHS, now don’t get me wrong, I worked for the NHS for nearly 12 years and take not an ounce away from them, but they are a middle piece to a very large jigsaw, a jigsaw that only shows the bigger picture when complete.

Giving us a green badge is a cop-out, whilst it was nice to have, what traction has that given the sector?? Nothing!! chucking money at us in terms of recruitment and retention is great, but when you are fighting all the negative reports of 18-hour days, high-stress levels, lack of work-life balance, having no time for lunch breaks, who in the right mind would want to work in that? If I was new to care, I certainly wouldn’t.

During the pandemic

During the pandemic, the nation was on the streets clapping for the NHS and eventually all Keyworkers, and now those same people we were cheering on, are being penalised.

Now whether you agree or disagree with people’s choice to not have the vaccine, the point is, we are losing highly skilled, knowledgeable professionals, across the Health and Social care Sector and being unable to replace them, and whether directly or indirectly, this affects us all. But this is being exacerbated by negative press, deterring people from entering the rewarding vocation of health and social care.

In turn, increasing pressures and demands on the jigsaw that is Health and Social Care, I emphasise the Health and Social Care, because although we do very different jobs, they should be seen and treated as equals.

It's all about cause and effect

We are constantly hearing of the long wait times in the NHS, the backed-up ambulances at A&E, the delayed response times for paramedics (because they’re in a queue ) the lack of beds etc, but where in truth, are you hearing that some of this is due to delayed discharges, medically fit individuals that require some assistance at home, but are unable to be discharged until a package of care has been sourced.

In reality, some of these problems could be overcome with an adequately staffed Social Care Sector.

The carers myth!

• People who work in care just wipe old people’s bottoms • Managers don’t care (again the exception as opposed to the rule) • You’re JUST a carer. • You have no career progression • Caring is NOT a profession/vocation

The reality

• Social Care is such a rewarding vocation • Every day gives you a different challenge • You can go home at night, knowing that you have helped someone and made a difference to their day • You can take knowledge in the fact that you have been there, in a client’s final minutes when their family were unable to be, so they didn’t go alone. • You can be there when they take their first independent steps after an illness impeding their mobility. • You can rejoice with your clients when they receive good news. • Families take comfort knowing you’re there looking after their loved ones.

The poem below captures all the bits that no one sees

Carer Emma’s poem in full:

Just a carer, that’s what they say Just washing and making tea all-day That’s not a job, just to wipe bums Easy work, nothing hard to get done

But what they don’t see, behind a door A carer, a professional and so much more A counsellor, a friend to wipe away their tears To be strong and supportive, to end all their fears

The job is hard, and you challenge each day Dodging the punches and hurtful wordplay But a smile and a hug are rewards of their own The best job I’ve had is the place they call home

Just a carer, that’s only a word My job is more than what you’ve heard An adviser, a coach, so much more than what you see It’s a blessing and an honour to take care of your family

Just a carer, no that’s not me I’m an angel in scrubs, serving the tea Wiping your tears, being your friend Your loved one’s guide, until the very end ----

The perception of what social care is, needs to change now. The social care crisis is so much more than long wait times at the NHS, it's about a frontline of care that gets ignored, social care is bigger than you think.

Author: Joanne Godsall

click here for more details or to contact Hygea Homecare