Of the 1.5 million people who work in adult social care, more than half are care workers – a broad category of ‘direct care’ roles that includes care assistants and support workers.
These are the professional carers who help the elderly, or those with disability or physical or mental illness, to live independently and maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.
If you’ve decided to start a new career as a carer, we want to help you get ready.
Keep reading this short article to discover:
- How a care home Care Assistant spends their time
- The essential skills for a care home Care Assistant
- Qualifications and experience needed to become a Care Assistant
- Which FuturU courses are perfect for an aspiring Care Assistant.
What does a Care Assistant at a care home do?
Many care assistants or care support workers work with clients in their own homes. But in a care home setting, a Care Assistant will spend their time:
- helping residents get dressed, wash, move, eat and use the toilet
- making beds and maintaining a safe, clean and tidy environment
- engaging residents in stimulating activities and conversations
- helping residents take their medication, and taking their temperature or pulse.
Learn more about who does what in our article on care home roles and responsibilities.
What skills does a care home Care Assistant need?
We’ve looked previously at both the essential skills for care work, and the transferable skills for a career change to care – check out those articles for deep dives into this theme.
But to recap briefly, here are five of the most important skills required to make a successful career as a carer:
- Desire to help – it starts with compassion and empathy for those who need support
- Patience – can you remain calm in stressful and high-pressure situations?
- Resilience – accept constructive criticism and bounce back from adversity
- Teamwork – are you able to work well with others and value their contributions?
- Communication – communicate clearly, listen well, and understand people’s needs.
Do I need qualifications or experience to become a Care Assistant?
Not usually, no. Most care home employers will provide a mix of on-the-job training and formal, accredited learning once you start.
You’ll work under the guidance of an experienced senior carer, which makes the role a perfect entry point for a new career.
Which FuturU courses should an aspiring Care Assistant take?
As we’ve seen, a lack of experience isn’t a barrier to becoming a Care Assistant. But having training and qualifications on your CV before you’ve even started your career is a great way to get noticed by recruiters – and to feel confident in your potential as a carer.
Here are three FuturU online care courses to get you ready for your new role.
1) Personal Care
As a Care Assistant, you’ll provide hands-on support – an extremely rewarding but also highly demanding job. Having an understanding of proper hygiene, dignity and personal care tasks allows you to meet residents’ needs with respect.
Our free online personal care course equips you with the knowledge and skills to deliver exceptional personal care. Here’s what you’ll learn:
- what personal care is, and why it’s important in supporting individuals
- how to assist with daily living activities and manage personal items
- why it’s important to respect individual preferences and tailor care accordingly
- how to show compassion and respect for people within your care.
About this course:
- Duration: 45 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 24 months
2) Moving and Handling People
Some 45% of UK adults over State Pension age have a disability – and 64% of those report some kind of mobility impairment. As a Care Assistant in a care home, you will spend a significant amount of your time helping residents move around.
Our free online Moving and Handling People course teaches you the proper techniques for safely moving and handling residents. Take the course to understand:
- the potential hazards associated with improper lifting and carrying
- how to lift and move people correctly to protect yourself, and your residents
- how to identify and assess potential hazards in your work environment
- your rights and responsibilities regarding manual handling.
About this course:
- Duration: 60 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 12 months
3) Dementia Awareness
It’s estimated that 70% of UK care home residents have dementia or severe memory problems. As a Care Assistant, you are highly likely to be supporting those living with this condition – even if you don’t work in a specialist dementia care home.
Our free online Dementia Awareness course equips you with the knowledge and skills to provide effective and compassionate dementia care. Take the course to learn:
- everything you need to know about dementia: causes, symptoms and progression
- how dementia affects people differently and the importance of person-centered care
- communication and mental stimulation techniques to build meaningful relationships
- practical tips for creating a safe and stimulating environment that promotes wellbeing.
About this course:
- Duration: 60 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
Why not keep going and complete every course on FuturU?
That’s exactly what Jacqueline did. She became a professional carer in her late 50s, after several years providing care to her ex-husband following his brain injury.
After obtaining the eight certificates she needed to work in complex care, Jacqueline continued to learn with FuturU and has now completed every one of our 100+ courses!
